Xena Reboot

http://www.tvguide.com/news/xena-warrior-princess-reboot-is-happening/

So this is officially a thing. Sam Raimi's directing, so there's definitely hope. I'm just curious about the direction the show will take. Xena was grand and cheesy and soapy but Sword-and-Sandal shows have gone kind of gritty since then and I'm not sure a Spartacus/Rome style treatment would work for the show.

Thoughts?

edited 16th Dec '15 1:20:37 PM by Sisi

"If I reach for the stars, you can't hold me back"

Never watched more than 2 episodes of the original but I know who Xena is through Popcultural Osmosis. I may end up watching depending on where it airs.

Why? Just show re-runs. Or better yet, use her successor. Have Xena run a school, act as an old wizened general destroying her enemies through clever gambits. Anything but a fucking reboot.

I know, lets reboot GLOW while we're at it, Xena Warrior Princess was the real spiritual successor to GLOW of the 90s, it even had pro wrestling, in ancient Greece, with mats, and ropes, and clothing. I'm surprised they never had Xena take one of her rogues gallery on in the ring.

That's why he wants you to have the money. Not so you can buy 14 Cadillacs but so you can help build up the wastes

Have Lucy Lawless reprise her role again.

Because if Bruce Campbell can be Ash as a old guy, Lucy Lawless can be Xena as a 40-something woman.

I'd rather have a younger Xena with the original as her mentor.

Trump delenda est

We just had 70 yo Han Solo kicking ass. Lucy Lawless is fine.

Eh, if it's a reboot I doubt it'd be Lawless playing her. At that rate just have an interquel movie fixing up the ending to the first series and this can be a sequel one.

And then maybe a Hercules the Legendary Journeys sequel since Sorbo and Hurst are still around and their characters only retired for five seconds before pulling an And the Adventure Continues ending.

Also it cant be much of a sequel and has to be a reboot because all but two of the Olympians are dead and its just not Xena without them running around acting like douchebags.

"War without fire is like sausages without mustard." - Jean Juvénal des Ursins

Also didn't Xena die in the series finale?

Also please no Hercules reboot on account of Sorbo having become an asshole.

Trump delenda est

You mistake reboot and sequel. What you would want IS a reboot because he would most likely be replaced. A sequel would be Sorbo and Hurst coming back.

And that Xena dying thing is why I mentioned an interquel story. Death has never been a solid thing in this franchise. It can be bent for the worthy or we would never have had a second coming of the real Iolas.

Yeah, Xena "dies" in the series finale, but the series finale take place before several future events that make it obvious it doesn't take, at least not the form of "death" she suffers in the finale.

edit:And I know the plan for now is a "reboot", I just don't agree with it. Marcela is 44 years old and still defending multiple pro wrestling titles on both the independent circuits of at least two countries and in a national promotion, a job much more physically demanding than acting for a single television program(that's why Edge isn't medically cleared for ring work but can still spear people and be thrown off boats in Haven). Even if for some reason Lucy Lawless isn't physically up to doing her old Xena role every week, she shouldn't have to be. Xena's not just a jumpy flippy, sword fighter, pressure point using, horse fighter, chakram thrower with superhuman strength, she's also a Guile Hero able to manipulate people and events to her liking at personal levels, a general capable of directing armies to victory and can apparently perform Astral Projection.

There should still be plenty for Xena to do even if she isn't directly fighting people as much.

edited 18th Dec '15 9:51:17 AM by IndirectActiveTransport

That's why he wants you to have the money. Not so you can buy 14 Cadillacs but so you can help build up the wastes

Yeah...Xena wont be the same without Kevin Smith as Ares

"If I reach for the stars, you can't hold me back"

Granted, Raimi directing has reduced my reaction to this news from a frothing, howling fury down to a mere "No. No! Aphrodite's ass, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

Who would you guys cast as the Olympians?

"War without fire is like sausages without mustard." - Jean Juvénal des Ursins

The Chicago Bears, they clearly need the time off.

That's why he wants you to have the money. Not so you can buy 14 Cadillacs but so you can help build up the wastes

Jason Statham as Ares. And Kate Upton as Aphrodite, because why the hell not?

New info.

There's also a comic book about Xena and Gabby.

Oh man, I'm willing to give this all the hype. I really miss those 90's style swords-and-sorcery shows.

It looks terribad. I love Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, but comments and interviews by others like Grillo-Marxuach make me sick to my stomach. No more skimpy clothes? Xena coming out as a lesbian? Sounds like pseudo-progressive garbage, typical of the times we live in with crap like Supergirl.

I'd rather have Legend of the Seeker season 3 than see them poop all over a classic series. Xena is bisexual, not a lesbian, and the impractical outfits were part of the fun.

I'm pretty sure they didn't say that she would "come out" as a lesbian, but rather her relationship with Gabriel would be more explicit rather than implied. It's still totally possible that she would be bisexual (hell, Clarke from The 100 is a main character who is bisexual).

As for skimpy clothing...yeah, I believe it when I see it.

They specifically said more than once that Xena will be "openly gay." Also even if you're right, picking up on the subtext and innuendos was one of the great joys of watching Xena. Making it explicit is about as subtle as a sledgehammer, and I can't think of any way that it doesn't reek of pandering. "Hey, all those fans who enjoy the ambiguity of Xena's sexuality and relationships? Sorry, she was a lesbian all along! Aren't we just so progressive and inclusive? Haha, now hand me your childhood, I'm out of toilet paper."

I could be dead wrong, and the show could turn out to be good, but I have a very, very bad feeling about it. Although if they cast Aly Michalka as Xena, it would go a long way toward earning my good will. I've thought for years that she'd make an excellent Warrior Princess.

No, articles have said that Xena will be gay (because it makes a better headline). Javier Grillo-Marxuach specifically wrote:

Only if you consider any same-sex relationship "pandering." Which is stupid. This is a different show than the previous one made in a different time when same-sex relationships aren't as taboo on TV. Which is the reason why there's no need to have ambiguity or merely "hinting" at the relationship, they can come right out and say it.

She's a cast member of iZombie, so I don't think she will be.

Say what you want about "psudeo-progressive garbage," but I know a lot of people who are thrilled that they might get to see an openly bi or lesbian Xena as the lead of a major tv show (including me). Stuff like this does mean things to people.

May I inquire to your orientation, good sir?

Because saying you enjoy the ambiguity while not being part of the societal group which is being marginalized by a relationship just like they have is being kept ambiguous is kinda...iffy.

For you it may be a joy to spot and see the ambiguity at play.

To people who are lesbian (or just queer in general) the fact that it has to be kept ambiguous instead of being acknowledged just carries the message that their sexual and romantic orientation is considered less worth than the heterosexual standard m/f relationship that can be portrayed without any repercurssions.

You may call it pandering. Others can equally (and imo more justifiably) call it recognizing a marginalized group and affirming their way of life instead of just taking its trappings to up the quota..well....

"You can reply to this Message!"

Ah, my bad. Serves me right for skimming. I'm a bit less worried now.

Anyway, Only if? I think you're overstepping and making assumptions. Just because I don't like the idea doesn't mean it must be because I have something against same-sex relationships, or consider all of them as pandering.

The reason I felt it was pandering is because of the devoted lesbian fanbase the original show had, the ones who kept screaming and screaming for them to come out and become a couple. What about the fans who were fond of Xena/Ares, or simply interpreted the relationship as platonic? I remember posting on forums when the show was still on the air, and anytime a fan would say anything of the sort, Xena/Gabby fans would swoop down on them with vitriol and accuse them of being homophobic. It was pretty awful.

If Xena is openly gay in the new show, it strikes me as choosing a side and telling a subset of the fandom that "you were wrong, we were right." Again, no one has actually said that she will be gay instead of bisexual, I'm merely explaining what my first impression was.

In response to:Pseudopartition

I understand that many love the idea, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with them, regardless of how much it means to them.

Xena is one of my favorite shows, as in top 5. Aren't I entitled to some trepidation about it being rebooted? I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon just to avoid hurting anyone's feelings.

edited 24th Mar '16 12:06:23 PM by Gozer