It's been a fair number of years since Xena graced our televisions with the leather-clad warrior princess of the same name, but according to NBC, a new Xena reboot is coming. Writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach who helped Lost get an Emmy in 2004 will be joining the new team as executive producer.
Fans of the series will no doubt rejoice that the series is one step closer to starting up production, albeit the quintessential Lucy Lawless is not expected to reprise her role as Xena, though the 47-year-old has lost none of the charm that drew a large following in the original Xena series. However, it hasn't been ruled out yet that Lawless might have a role in the upcoming reboot, with NBC Chairman Bob Greenblatt stating "We'd love to have Lucy be a part of it, if we felt that her presence didn't overshadow the direction we take with it. I'm not sure how she could be part of it if she wasn't playing Xena, so I don't know if that's a direction we'll ever go."
And considering how well Lawless played Xena in the original, those concerns are certainly legitimate. Of greater concern, though, is finding a replacement for Lawless. With several very strong female heroes/leads over the last few years, finding someone to fill the shoes of one of televisions strongest females will be a challenge. According to THR, "the lead actress needing to have the charisma and charm of original star Lucy Lawless and the smarts of The Hunger Games' Katniss as producers are said to be looking for a sophisticated and smart superhero for a new generation."
Whoever takes the role will have big shoes to fill. On the plus side, writing is as much a key to a show's success as the actual actor involved so long as the person in question can act (ahem, Hayden Christensen). So with Grillo-Marxuach's long list of credentials, including Lost, Helix, Charmed, and Charlie's Angels, this writer will be perfect for the series.
So tell us what you think of the reboot and who would be the best option to play the new Xena in the comments section below!
