Sam Raimi And NBC Move Forward With ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ Reboot

There has been talk of a Xena: Warrior Princess reboot for some time now, and it seems NBC actually has things well under way. While that does sound like good news for Xena fans, not everyone originally connected with the series was invited back for the reboot. Lucy Lawless, for instance.

The Xena: Warrior Princess reboot has a writer

While Sam Raimi is returning to executive produce the reboot, NBC has brought in Javier Grillo-Marxuach to both write the pilot script and to assist as executive producer with Raimi and Robert Tapert, who co-created the original series.

Grillo-Marxuach was a part of the Emmy-winning team that wrote Lost. He has also written episodes of Helix, Charlie’s Angels, The Middleman, Medium, Boomtown, The Chronicle, and Charmed.

NBC plans to cast a new, younger actress in the title role of this Xena reboot, someone capable of bringing a new female superhero-type to life. Revealing that the role has yet to be cast, the network says they are looking for someone with the charisma of Lucy Lawless, but also with the intelligence and sass of The Hunger Games‘ Katniss Everdeen.

Months ago, Lucy Lawless tweeted several comments that she would like to be involved in a Xena: Warrior Princess reboot. When rumors started circulating that a reboot was in the works, Lawless seemed taken by surprise, tweeting that she knew nothing of the plans to bring the series back.

Lucy Lawless may yet be involved in the Xena reboot

While Ms. Lawless may not have been in on the talks to reboot Xena, she could still be in the loop. NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblat says he’s not opposed to bringing the actress in on some capacity, but not as the show’s title character.

Greenblat did show concern that he wouldn’t want Lawless’ presence to overshadow the new lead, but he added that there might be a consulting position for the actress.

The NBC chairman also hinted that the writers might try to bring Xena back, instead of completely rebooting the entire series.

“I don’t think it’s just a continuation, but we haven’t gotten that far. I think it’s a great character, and we should try to figure out how to revive it somehow.”

Currently, Lawless is working with Sam Raimi on another one of his revival projects. Lucy co-stars alongside Bruce Campbell in Ash vs Evil Dead, the television adaptation of Raimi’s The Evil Dead film franchise.

Meanwhile, it seems Kevin Sorbo is having much better luck working with Raimi and Tapert. Also to be picked up by NBC, Sorbo will star and executive produce Miracle Man, a project created and developed by Raimi and Tapert.

Miracle Man will follow the life of military veteran Jason Greene (Sorbo) as he returns home, following a harrowing ordeal in Afghanistan that resulted in his discharge. Dealing with an estranged wife and and a grown son he barely knows would seem to be enough to handle, but Jason also returned home with an unusual gift. It seems Jason can work small miracles and change the lives around him for the better.

It’s definitely a different take on the hero for Sorbo and that may work for him. In the meantime, Xena fans can hold out for the new reboot, or hope Raimi and Tapert come up with something new for Lucy Lawless. As fans have noted, the former Xena actress is hardly past her prime and deserving of a lead role of her own.

Ash vs Evil Dead, starring Bruce Campbell and Lucy Lawless, airs Saturdays on Starz.

[Featured image by NBC]