Lucy Lawless Says Time is Against a Xena Film
Jan 26, 2010 by Ben KendrickLucy Lawless definitely hasn’t been hard-up for work lately, with recurring roles in a number of critically acclaimed television dramas – Battlestar Galactica and Spartacus: …
Lucy Lawless definitely hasn’t been hard-up for work lately, with recurring roles in a number of critically acclaimed television dramas – Battlestar Galactica and Spartacus: Blood and Sand, but who wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to revisit the most notable role of their career? Especially if you can still rock a Greek leather skirt with a bare midriff at forty?
Speaking with Out, Lawless detailed her personal timeframe for a Xena: Warrior Princess feature film:
“By the time somebody does come up with that I’m just going to be too old and I’m really sad about that. I feel like it’s a completely wasted franchise.”
Fans of the franchise would no doubt love to see Lawless reprise the role but the notion that the Xena franchise is entirely dependent on Lawless returning gives a little bit too much credit to the quality of most TV to big screen reboots. If the powers that be, in this case NBC Universal Television Group, do decide to reboot Xena on the big-screen, they likely wouldn’t hesitate if Lawless were no longer able to play the lead role.
Surely, there are a number of young actresses who would be equally excited about filling those Greek boots: Sienna Miller or Kate Beckinsale seem like plausible choices.
It’s an intriguing time for the possibility of revisiting mythical Greece – with the show’s former executive producer (Sam Raimi) bowing out of the fourth Spider-Man installment but the likelihood of Raimi returning to Xena seems extra-unlikely.
We’ll certainly keep an eye on any further developments – Lawless or otherwise. Would you like to see Xena make it to the big screen? Who would you choose to fill Xena’s boots?
Source: Out via Cinema Blend
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Of all the shows that I have recently loved and lost,
Xena is the Is the one that I miss the most.
The show had everything .
Drama.
Action.
MYthology.
and a wicked even goofy sense of humor.
I would watch a film without Lawless,but it wouldnt be the same.
Hopefully, They could find a role for her .
Thanks for the article Ben ,I thought people had forgotten this fine show .
Lucy Lawless didn't directly speak to Cinema Blend, they took her quote from an interview she did with She Wired.
Yuck @ Sienna Miller or Kate Beckinsale playing Xena. That's insulting!
I'd love to see a Xena movie. Even if its just a television movie and not a theatrical release (seems more plausible).
@ Angela
Ya, Cinema Blend didn't have the source credited. Turns out it wasn't SheWired either. The original interview was conducted with Out.
As for Sienna Miller or Kate Beckinsale, I just felt like they would be plausible studio choices. Wasn't trying to say they'd be the best choices for fans of the franchise.
Who would you like to see?
Xena needs Lucy. She IS Xena.
Just have the studio pay for her plastic surgery and use a little CGI if she's still too old looking.
Xena is one of the greatest things television has ever produced.
Thing is, with Xena, Ares is such a huge part of that, and Kevin Smith had amazing chemistry with Lucy Lawless… now, Kevin Smith is dead, so there's no way to recapture THAT chemistry… plus Renee O'Connor's chemistry as Gabrielle with Xena… they need to either reboot it or leave it alone (I vote for the latter).
Instead of rebooting crappy 80's franchises, Hollywood should make a Xena film.
Xena was one and only, no other actress beside Lucy could play it, as for other shows, with drama,action,mythology and humor, I highly recommend Legend of the seeker.
No one else but Lucy Lawless. She essentially created the character. Xena isn't like a random comic book character that can be adapted and have several actors play her, you know?
NO ONE CAN CAPTURE LUCY LAWLESS' ESSENCE, ATTITUDE THAT SHE PROTRAYED AS XENA, EXCEPT FOR ANGELINA JOLIE AND THAT'S BECAUSE SHE EXUDES VERY SIMILIAR CONFIDENCE AND BOTH ARE ABLE TO BE VERY CONVINCING IN PROTRAYING BELIEVABLE KICK ASS, 'TAKE NO PRISONERS' WOMEN. HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OTHER ACTRESS IN COMPARABLE ROLES PULL OF THIS TYPE OF WOMEN AS CONVINCINGLY? NOT BUFFY NOR THE VAMPIRE FIGHTING GIRLS NOR THE APOPCALYSPTIC GENRE MOVIE GIRLS,ETAL HAVE BEEN AS GOOD. XENA WP FANS ARE WAY OVERDO FOR THE MOVIE . .
Xena without Lucy Lawless? Maybe next its Indiana Jones with out Harrison Ford?
Yes, I would like to see Xena make it to the big screen. If Lucy Lawless couldn't play the role then it would have to be Angelina Jolie.
Universal should have let Lucy and the cast have a break and then started a Xena series of movies. Give us Lucy and Renee in Xena Warrior Princess movies already Universal.
With Spartacus now taking cable by storm (whether you like it or hate it, you're watching it — and most of the people watching it are watching it to see how fabulous Lucy looks nekkid), making a Xena movie is a win-win proposition. I don't think Lucy, Tapert, Raimi, et al drop beads like this in interviews by accident. Are they testing the waters? The laws of physics would seem to decree that Lucy probably won't get much hotter than she is right now (literally and metaphorically) — the interest and the momentum is there. Of course, who knew she'd look this amazing at 41? Besides — why do we talk about her being 41 like we're implying that she has one foot in the grave? What an insult. The biggest mistake Tapert, et al made was selling the franchise. Xena was killed by a bad business decision, not a thousand Samurai arrows. Maybe a new climate, hospitable to a couple of creative ideas and the resurgence of a hot actress who can still turn heads and inspire brand loyalty, can can find the wherewithal to resurrect her once again?
Xena was one of the best shows ever… but I don't think I would even want to watch it without Lucy. She made Xena, and I agree that with Kevin Smith there was such a good chemistry, but again it was really all about Xena and Gabrielle. Definitely would have to bring back Renee. I really do hope they decide to make a film… Its been too long.
Xena was one of the best shows ever… but I don't think I would even want to watch it without Lucy. She made Xena, and I agree that with Kevin Smith there was such a good chemistry, but again it was really all about Xena and Gabrielle. Definitely would have to bring back Renee. I really do hope they decide to make a film… Its been too long.
count me in as against. Those greedy hollywood bastards will do it anyway. If Thor and Conan take off. You’ll see Red Sonja with..Megan Fox (?!?) and this.
If ever they made a xena movie without lucy id never watch it.. Lucy made xena come alive!! … the attitude the face expressions.. it was the best!.. id love to see a xena movie.. most ppl would.. but not without lucy.. a movie without lucy i wouldnt see. N im the number 1 xena fan!!..
So wat if lucy got a lil old now.. xena is meant to be a lil old now that she has a 25 year old daughter. .the fans know that.. i think her portraying an older xena would make the story line intresting! ..
Need a Xena movie with Lucy & Renee. They could bring her back from the Dead and its not like they have not done that before.
They could even work up a spin-off from the show.
I agree that Lawless defined the character she needs to play Xena but she could have Jolie as someone she trains. Jolie plays a sort of spiritual daughter to Xena. The Jolie character has a metamorphosis which mirrors Xena’s and in a battle to right wrongs Xena is summoned.
Omg if there would be a xena movie it’ll have to be lucy!!! She’s the reason ppl love xena… She IS xena!!
If it cant be her.. It’ll be a waste of time and money!
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