Lucy Lawless Updates on ‘Xena’ Reboot: ‘NBC Wants to Do It’

A few weeks ago, the surprising news that NBC wanted to stage a Xena reboot of sorts was quickly shot down by Lucy Lawless herself, dismissing it as just a rumor. Now, Lawless acknowledges that the network may yet pull it off, but would she take part, or potentially throw the chakram herself?

“There was a conversation a year ago that Rob [Tapert] was involved in but that didn’t happen,” said Lawless at the TCA press tour of her initial reaction to the reboot news. The most recent report named both her and Tapert as targets for at least some role, but “If there’s anything current going on, we’re not involved.”

Denying that she herself could suit up to play Xena at 47 years old, Lawless offered (via THR):

They could be doing it without us. They have the right to, don’t they?. I’d love to see it happen, and I know that NBC wants to do it but they’re just trying to find a way and a time…
People still want that core friendship and I think whenever they reboot it, they have to get two women who really like and respect [each other] … to carry that mantle. In whatever world you set it in, I think the friendship is what they’re underestimating.

Envisioned more as a reboot than a straight revival , the updated Xena also had in mind a more modern lead:

Sources say the new Xena would have to have the charisma and charm of 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.

Spun off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, the original Xena ran for six seasons from 1995 to 2001, following the redeemed Amazon warrior princess with her trusty sidekick / companion (or more, depending on your fan-fiction) Gabrielle, played by Renee O’Connor.

NBC may yet announce further plans for their Xena at the ongoing TCA press tour, but is Lawless’ lacking involvement a bad omen of things to come?