Rob Tapert, the co-creator of television’s Xena: Warrior Princess, has given up hope that there will ever be a live-action feature film version of the classic show, at least not any time soon or starring series leads Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor.
“It’s something that just won’t happen,” Tapert told TheTorchOnline.com in an exclusive interview. “I don’t think it’s going to happen for Lucy and Renee. In twenty years or ten years, in some amount of years, like McGyver, like Charlie’s Angels, it [could] happen like that [with other actresses].”
Rumors of a feature film adaptation of the series, which ran in syndication from 1995 to 2001, have circulated for years, and all the principles had indicated in interviews that they’d be eager to participate.
“I thought for a heartbeat it would [get made],” Tapert said, “but at the end of the day, the rules of motion picture marketing, where they have to commit $25 million to open a movie, in this environment, the momentum you need to get a movie made isn’t there to get a Xena movie made.”
One problem for a film version concerned the fact that NBC Universal Television Group controls the rights to the show, not Tapert or co-creators John Schulian or R.J. Stewart.
Tapert’s pessimism stems from the rights question, which still hasn’t been resolved, and the lack of funding. “It’s a question of [rights and financing],” he says. “All of the above.”
The show was canceled after a six-year run, but still enjoys a huge cult following, both online and at annual real-time conventions.
Over the course of the show, the character of Xena returned from the dead many times; the warrior princess even died in the series finale. But now the character, at least as interpreted by actress Lucy Lawless, appears to be dead for good.
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If you want a Xena Movie, email NBC Universal (they own the rights to Xena) at feedback@nbcuni.com and demand a movie!!!
I’m certain that money won’t be an issue if they decide to make a movie. I’m sure Xena fans everywhere would be willing to donate money for a movie. It just seems we have to convince NBC to make one. Pass the word to other Xena fans and maybe it will happen.
FRIENDS OF XENA THE MIGHTY WARRIOR PRINCESS…AND GABRIELLE…THE TALENTED BARD…WARRIOR IN HER OWN RIGHT…WELCOME TO A DEDICATED XENA & GABRIELLE MOVIE REUNION SITE!
“H.C.N.B.’s” WELCOME!
TO ALL OF “XENA’s.. NUMBER #1 FANS” EVERYWHERE…WE THANK YOU FOR VISITING TODAY!
XENA!…IS STILL A TRUE HERO TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLANET…
…WHO CONTINUE TO STRONGLY BELIEVE NOW MORE THAN EVER…THAT XENA CAN.. SHOULD.. AND MUST RETURN TO GABRIELLE AND TO THE WORLD!…
…THAT HER LIFE-FORCE SHOULD NOT BE FOREVER EXTINGUISHED BY WHAT WAS WITNESSED IN THE UNNECESSARILY BRUTAL, AND MOST UNHAPPY ENDING FOR SUCH A CLASSIC HERO IN HER SERIES BOW FROM THE STAGE…
… AS WAS SHOWN IN THE 2 PART FINALE “A FRIEND IN NEED” AND “THE LAST BATTLEGROUND” ALL VERY MUCH DEMANDS A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE IN FATE FOR OUR HEROINE’S VIA A NEW MOVIE!
PLEASE JOIN WITH US IN OUR NOBLE QUEST FOR A NEW XENA MOVIE WITH LUCY AND RENEE @ http://forever-xena-and-gabrielle.freewebspace.com
Lucy said that when she puts the costume on … she IS that part. I don’t think they understand that they “created” a Xena reality. It’s just as real as this one.
New movies stink,too many remakes sick of.Please no more Batmen,no more superman bores.Star treked out.We need a Xena and Gab movie Rob and Universal.I’m 60 and still collect Xena.Am I alone? Would donate to a Xena movie yesterday.
It is a shame, but I would think this will be resurrected as Tappert says in few years time. Its too much of a great concept for it not to see the light of day again. Lots of movies are greenlit on the nostalgia wave - look at the A-Team, Starsky and Hutch and so forth.
Even another TV series is possible (BattleStar being the mecca of TV re-imaginings). I suspect if a new show was commissioned in what - five or ten years time, it would have to go down the “re-imagined” route. Given the phenomenal success of Rome and now Spartacus, its clear that there’s a market for this sort of television.
But I think that a re-imagined Xena would be directed at a more adult market than the original series - the ancient world on TV seems to be full of blood and nudity, and I imagine that a new Xena would be the same. I don’t know if they’d go down the “gritty real” path like Rome or the 300-style hyper imagery of Spartacus - either would be great.
And if either happened, you can put your mortgage on a Lawless/O’Connor cameo.
Please tell me who I need to write to… to make this happen. It’s would be a shame not to have a Xena movie with its original cast. To be honest, I would be happy with a TV movie or DVD. I have a number of friends getting reconnected with the series through netflex. All I can say is that I hope folks dont give up on this. Like I said before I wouldn’t mind sending letters or emails to whom ever we need to, in order to make this happen. I Agree with with Brent… if it does happen we need Lucy, Renee, Rob and the rest of the cast. Thats what made the show so special….thats what made me watch the show over and over through out the years.
Please dont give up… the show has that x factor that no other show has right now.
thanks
thanks and let m eknow if there is any way I can help.
ask for donations for xena from fans!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Brent,
Is there anyway to start a petition to get a Xena movie in the making? I just can’t believe that there won’t be a movie… how can they possibly do this? So many people invest in crappy movies, why can’t they invest in Xena which will be an awesome one!! There are so many fans out there I know it will be a success, and plus im sure we will have a good turn out.
Is there any way to communicate with Robert himself?
Thank you
Yea the final season did kind of put a end to the series (sadly). they were in the future where all the lovable characters have gone, and they were trying to find an ending to the story, (which they did well). as much as a love xena, since it came out at age 6,and think it is the best show, i think re makes are the most best option, or movies set in seasons 2 to 5. as weird as it would be not being lucy lawless, i do think making the story of callisto and xena into a couple movies would be awesome, as it was always the most apreciated conflict in the xena series. maybe get rid of the musical they did for the bitter suite and into a more practical story line, as it did start out to be quite an epic episode. just some thoughts. still would have liked to have seen an additional movie (thanks sunny) to have given us something new. anyways still loving re watching all the old episodes, but would be great to see it carried on one day.
I’m not happy at all, I’m a masssive Xena fan and I am just simply gutted, I can’t believe it, why, why, why? :@
I believe that they just want to get past Xena. It isnt that all the fans left because of a bad series finale, it was because it was over. Look at FRIENDS. It is over and yes people still watch and there are fans out there but the actors do not want to be remembered by the same person they played in a TV show. They want to be known for movies. For some odd reason shows are supposed to be bad acting and movies are supposed to be good acting. I disagree. An actor has to learn lines and make them believable in one week versus in a movie where they have months to do it. Maybe for a Xena movie they could ask for donations. I would definatly put in money for that.
Tapert lost most of the fanbase when he chose to do such a terrible finale, I can’t see that a costly Xena movie would pan out for any investors, anyone I knew who was a fan no longer remained after the finale, I think it would just be a huge waste of money.
I suddenly feel sick to the stomach, NO Xena movie??
This can not be, why?????
Don’t they know how huge a fan base Xena Warrior Princess has?
I really don’t understand, they make movies from series that lasted not even as long as Xena,(dead like me) they made movie’s from the series X-Files, For God’s sake they even make movie’s of Sex in the city and Reno 911.
And Xena gets ignored??????? THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOO WRRRRRRRROOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG!!!!!! W-R-O-N-G!
Can’t a independent movie label be interested for a Xena movie, it does not have to be universal has it?
Its wrong, just wrong Stupid Hollywood…
Lucy Lawless & Reneé O’Connor are Xena & Gabrielle, Not intrested in a fake Xena movie in about 50 years…
well maybe in the future who knows will be a film. i have an idea. devastating event happens in the roman empire when bloody eternal conflicts divide the empire. an bloody barbar ruler named totila united all the barbaric tribes and attack rome conquering it. with the help of Atli he become the emperor known as Karl the Great. by emperial decree to unite the empire the religion of Eli became the legal faith in the empire. all the others faiths are prohibited. in a grrotto followers of a renegade divinity are arrested by the gurds. from the statue of the divinity came blood ters. it happens that gabrielle travel to alexandria and save the life of a girl tha say is a follower of the god Mitras. during afight with the governor it appears xena and the guards were terrified. they believed that she was the lost god. in this attempt xena and gabrielle.travel to rome to fight the emperor but atlis try to stop them. only by killing Atli the emperor was harmless. they achieved this, but discovered that the empeor is Mitras himself and a terrible fight starts or a terrible hunt. (title the Lost god (3 hours film)
I too am very sorry to hear there will be no movie. I had hoped and prayed it would happen. Maybe this has been already brought up…but if we can’t have a movie that would be shown in the theaters…why not a 2 hour made for tv movie? Preferably on cable so as not to be censored and sanitized. A Friend in Need had a movie feel to it. I would be happy to see a movie on cable. Wonder why that isn’t possible?
I think that USA should allow Xena to be either brought out as a movie, or they new to bring it back to tv. I am sure that alot of people didn’t like the way it ended. We want our Xena back~
Why doesn’t Rob caste Renee O’connor in spartacus along with Lucy? Or maybe see if he and Kathryn would write a new series containining as many of the old xena charactors as they can e.g Lucy, Ren, Kevin Sorbo from Hercules….Alexandra Tidings…etc.
I think many of us would be ok with not having a xena movie if…there were similar charactors that included Lucy and Renee in an entirely new series. The actors on Xena worked so well together that I have yet to see anything that pales in comparison. Even Legend of the Seeker for as good as it is…does not compare to the onscreen chemistry between Lucy…Renee and the rest of the cast. Rob…how about casting Renee and Lucy together in The Legend of The Seeker…or Sparticus…or…perhaps write an entirely new series for them.
I love the idea of having Lucy and Renee in Spartcus or the Seeker… but I still think that having a xena tv movie or big screen movie is the way to go. I have friends that still watch the show. Its the only show that I know of that has such a great mix of everything. Not to mention the best cast.
Im still hoping for Xena to come back :)
Gab or Reneé are not the point, Xena deserves to come back because is, anyway, even without Gab, the best and more incredible character ever.
New series? I dotn mind, bt Xena deserved a movie or even more seasons because is an universal icon even alone, and sure an important reference for a lot of women, not only for the people who enjoy Xena-Gabby world. Xena knows how to deal with the evil and with the life, with a worthy life.
Xena loved the life and I´m out of talking about Xena in past! Dont you?
Rob doesn’t want Xena brought back.
He made that clear in the final episode.
Lucy doesn’t want Xena brought back.
She has said as much.
And Renee has simply fallen off the radar screen.
Xena has become a cultural icon.
I side with them.
Maybe we should back off and respect their wishes.
If their hearts are not in a project, how good will it be?
It might not all be about the bottom line.
i am
i am not buying what rob tapert says there is something fishy about what he said i think they really want to do it maybe a little scarcasim i think
While this has sadden my greatly I didn’t find it all that surprising. However, I don’t wanna see this happen. We need to unite under a single banner and that is to bring Xena back from the grave. We need to show them all that we really want Xena on the big screen. We need to start a Xena Revolution! WHO’S WITH ME???? Spread the word! We’re uniting to bring XENA BACK!!!!!!
Sure, bt how?
Did it occur to anyone here that Rob already MADE the Xena movie that you all are clamoring for?
It was called “A Friend in Need, Parts I & II”
“When Fates Collide” was SUPPOSED to be the final episode.
It had a satisfying ending, allowing Xena and Gabrielle to live on.
The movie was a brutal bomb and Rob couldn’t sell it so he just turned it into the series finale that we all HATED, with Xena dead and Gabrielle descending into depression and madness.
There’s your Xena movie.
We didn’t ALL hate the finale movie. I thought it was quite beautiful — not the best episode(s) the series has done, but up there. And pretty much the perfect culmination of the series.
I agree… but I still want more. Thats what a great show does to the views… it makes you want more.
I’m still hoping that will happend and Rob will get the support he needs.
AFIN caps were done by extraordinary artists, like old times classic tragedies histories. Bt the point is Xena was killed in a strange, -not greece place, as a depressed suicide and being feeling guilty as a criminal in a wrong and unfair way because Xena thoughts was: “I deserve this”, “there is no redemption for me”..
What about “there is always hope”? No surrender.
Xena deserves to come back and not because of world or fans, because of She Herself
That really blows. So many people wanted it to happen. I thought since the makers of Xena came out with the show the seeker they might go back and make a Xena movie. Sounds like everyone was set and ready to go with it before. I was tempted to write the screen play myself. Sounds like they just keep going back and fourth. It sucks for all of us big Xena fans. Hope they can still pull it off. They are makinga Buffy movie. Bringing her back. They brought High Lander back, Stargate, Star track all those. Don’t see why they can’t find a way to bring Xena back to.
i think he is just a pessimistic thats why he wont bring her back there must bea way of buying the rights to xena
ablog dude or dudette you are so right….. ROB CAN ASK BOLLYWOOD TO BUY THE RIGHTS OF XENA OFF HOLLYWOOD… OMG I am so mailing this to Sheryl…… awsome idea I am so sure he hasnt tried that…..
I agree i want xena to come back too ( i mean from the dead )resurrected
I’m with Nefti …if enough people want it, voice your opinion … but beyond that … visualize it happening. Speak with one voice, one mantra “we want Xena” … millions of fans repeating this over and over … watch what happens :)
Lucy said that when she puts the costume on … she IS that part. I don’t think they understand that they “created” a Xena reality. It’s just as real as this one.
I have had many ideas flooding in on how they can plausibly resurrect Xena. They could do a movie … they could do a mini series or both lol.
I don’t think mobs of angry fans are going to force any of them to make a movie.
Xena is over.
Period.
one more thing if I find out it’s because Lucy and Renee don’t wanna do it or Rob isn’t into it, I will so be angry and they know for a fact they will lose fans… Remember what lawless flawless said, stick with the fans and they will stick with you… I know it can be annoying to know Xena will haunt you for life but make a movie with a decent ending and you can move on… The ending was great but sad really sad… I mean damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!! Head cut offf ouchhhhhhhh!!!!!!Not making a movie is not sticking with the fans all I am saying I cursed out Universal in the comments cuz I am beleiving what Rob said, if its a lie replace the words Universal with Rob Tapert and Lucy!!!!!! I believe what rob is saying and I hope for my sake and the fans sakes it’s not a cover up….
Now I am done
Buh bye sleep tight cuz I will
This is complete horse shitttttt!!!!! WTF!!!! they can make a superman movie, batman movie, spongebob movie, hannah montana movie, buffy the vampire slayer movie, superwoman movie, etc but they can’t make a XENA MOVIE are you freaking seirous…. Is this really happening… We pay universals bills when we freaking pay to go see a damn movie….. We, for the first time, ask for Xena to get made into a movie and universal tells us noooooooo…. F*** off universal go suck on a D*** and die… for real… universal and hollywood have been coming up with the worse movies ever and their latest ideas come from comics, nothing original, and they say no to Xena, the most original character ever… Which still holds conventions after 9 years, and keeps getting new fans… Are they serious or is it being runned by idiotic fools who are jealous that holly wood had to go to hercules and xena and now legend of the seeker because Rob and his team are that good… Hercules wasn’t even that good to me, Xena got more famous and they can make hercules movies but not a Xena movie because it’s sooooooooo lesbian (sarcastically saying)… F*** U UNIVERSAL…. I mean there are petitions going around but to be heard you have to at least get 1,000,000 people to sign it just to be heard… Trust me do that and Universal will have no choice… Stand outside their studio with a “we want a Xena Movie sign”, and then say they are being prejudice against the lesbian community which is against the law… You’ll have them running for sure having the script for the movie within 24hrs time…There is nothing much Rob Tapert can do and why the hell would i watch a Xena movie without Lucy Lawless and Renee O Connor and the original actors and actresses… Yeah good luck with that one…. Hey why don’t you just do spiderman movie 5 with another actor lets see how that goes for yah UNIVERSAL lets do that… Petition time lets get 1,000,000 to sign it online… they actually have one google xena petition and youll find it… stand outside their studios and get on the news… I mean we can bitch and moan about it but if we don’t act on it we won’t get anywhere near close to a xena movie…..
im outy and F*** U UNIVERSAL!!!!!!!
This is such BALONEY from Rob, I know for a fact having worked on the series myself that he is NOT telling the real story, not even close.
They brought back Star Trek with the original cast AND they can do anything…if…they really wanted to!
Lucy Lawless does not want to do it, and thats the real deal.
XenaTreks - Auckland NZ
2.5 million fans times $10 each … wouldn’t that work? lol
Rob was finished with Xena when he allowed her to be so brutally killed in the horrible final episode.
it appears that he did not want the character to return in any shaoe or form.
It was the end of the story, end of the iconic character.
A Xena movie now? It wouldn’t work and we aould all be sadly diaappointed.
I would rather think of “When Fates Collide” as the real final episode and leave things alone.
Xena and Gabrielle are best left as we know them in our fond memories.
It is so injust, We have supported this Tv show all these years for finishing in that stupid ending, ok, maybe we could survive for with that ending in our minds but now, Robert Tapert said ” There’s not gonna be a Xena’s movie”. I really feel bad. Lucy and Renee were the soul and the heart of the Show, without them, The show wont be the same.
If they really dont wanna make a movie with them, we must make that they do it. The question is How?
i would like that all the Xenites around the world stop watching the job and the productions of Robert Tapert cuz he betrayed us with that ending, Now is our chance.
The only way he will find is doinig it with Lucy and Renne¡¡¡¡¡ Come on we can do it¡¡¡¡ XENITES TOUGHETER¡¡¡¡
I loved Xena simply because it was excellent tv. They had excellent material, directors, producers and fabulous actresses. I would love to see Xena movie where Xena manages to come back to life again…perhaps in another look-a-like’s body since hers was cremated. I mean when the show was airing they had her dopplegangers Diana, Meg and Leah so why not a next generation doppelganger that Xena’s spirit (abilities intact) can inhabit?
I realize the legal problems abound but with such a widespread fan base as Xena has there should be SOMETHING that can be done. My great-niece fell in love with Xena watching the show on reruns with me and had to have her own set of the dvds after I purchased mine. We frequently have Xena marathons. She’s only 9 so there’s a new fan base starting right there and she would only see Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Conner in the parts the same as the rest of us. She was heartbroken that Xena died for good in the final episode and constantly asks me when they’re going to bring her back. So THERE Universal! requests for a return of Xena and Gabrielle from a whole new generation.
After all this time, it doesn’t come as a major surprise to me. But I can say this for sure, they can forget about me supporting a movie with anyone other than Lucy and Renee’. You just don’t mess with perfection! There is no way that these two ladies could ever be replaced. It really burns me up that so much emphasis is put on age. Lucy and Renee’ have only gotten more beautiful with time. And wouldn’t you know that it’s all about age and money! There is no doubt in my mind that these ladies will continue to be successful in any thing they do. Just look at Lucy with her singing career and Renee’ with her directing. Regardless of what happens with this movie (or should I say lack of it), Lucy and Renee’ will continue to shine in whatever they choose to do from here on out. They have continued to make my life more enjoyable by watching the original seies and follow both of their careers. And I will continue to purchase anything that they are associated with. Good luck to you ladies and a big “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart.
Once I win the BIG Powerball and/or the Mega Millions, I’ll buy the rights from whomever, and if Lucy, Renee and Rob want to make a Xena movie, then I’ll finance it. So, send good thoughts my way that I win, and we’ll see our two fave gals on the big screen.
Thanks Rob, Lucy, Renee. And Brent.
I agree with you Yukiko…I think that Xena should die…And it’s not right to bring her buck in life on a future film..If they’ll make a film they should make a story that it take place between the seasons and not after the end of the last episode…Xena must stay dead.
Thx konstantinos…I wouldn’t mind seening a new video game…Xena crossed with Assassin’s Creed would be awesome imo…tho i would demand LL ROC and gang to do voices. Lets face it no one does the warcry like Lucy
I’d have to say I am not suprised. I’m glad that the show ended the way it did. A movie would have ruined it imo…unless it was about following X&G incarnations.
I want a huge action movie, not a stupid lesbian show and its enough about mix Xena with sex between girls. Feminism and the rights of women dont need to be understud as a romantic relationship and not like a lesbo meaning. Women rights are a important issue in the international agency eveywhere and women need a hero like Xena
Xena is the most incredible character ever and deserves a good movie and needs to be known in the all wold like the best warrior who defend the people in general and women in particlar against injustice, powerty and from the abuse from the most powerful ones.
Lucy Lawless is Xena, I can´t imagine anyone else
I read everyone’s comments. I don’t blame Rob in any way..I know Xena was his baby and I can imagine his frustrations with trying to get the “powers of be” to make a movie. I miss the show, even today. It’s been so long now, too long. It was so good and you can’t help yourself by being selfish and say “I WANT MORE!” After all this time I think I would be content to one day go to a convention and share in that frenzy, but deep down I know financially that that will probably never happen for me, just like realistically the movie will not happen. It’s so sad! Hey I did hear that there maybe a Buffy movie with Sarah Gellar…damn if they can do that why not Xena?….and so the world of our fanasties still rolls around. Battle On!!
To true, its always about money ! Still only 6 months ago Rob was saying that the whole cast had replied “Yes” to starring in a Xena film. Who knows, maybe it was just his “off” day and he was p….. off with Universal who just keep making it difficult for him to get the green light.
I think we should all just back Rob up and say keep tryin. After all we are the paying public and without us Universal would be nothing !! (Bit like politics if you think about it ???)
nooooooooooooooooo
I can’t believe, we can’t belvieve that.
I’m from france and all around the world we were waiting for a Xena’s movie.
It’s a very bad news to us.
The end of a dream of a lot of people, it’s unfair and always for the same reason: the f… money
disgusting!
We (the fans) have been hopin’ & hopin’ 4 a XWP movie 4 years now
Sadly there will be no movie made in the forseeable future (at least not with LL & ROC)
I do agree with a lot of the comments I read so far, but who knows what will happen in the far away future
Offcourse I would rather see LL & ROC playing Xena & Gabs, because of their perfect harmony & chemistry (something like that can not be faked)
And yeah, I do feel (a little) sad (mainly because no one in my group of friends feels the same way about the XWP series as I do & so they just don’t understand me right now)
Rob, Lucy, Renee & everybody else who was involved with the series & still cares about it as much as us the fans do, thank you 4 all of it, they were 6 wonderfull years/seasons
With love Dani from the Netherlands
Yes it is such a shame! I didn`t think the movie would happen as it`s been so long now and I remember watching an interview with Lucy on the Howard Stern show (as season 2 was airing) where she expicitly stated that she would not do a xena movie despite the fact that Universal (at the time & to quote Lucy) “would have loved her to have done one”! I guess there hasn`t been an offer tempting enough for those involved before now; couple that with a lack of funding and company interest and I think we`re looking at a re-make in ten plus years. Maybe Rob should approach someone like Quentin Tarantino to help get the ball rolling?! Tarantino is a big fan of the show and clearly has an affection for it, with him on board who knows what could happen?!
If “Firefly” with its short TV lifespan can get a movie (”Serenity”), why not “Xena” with its six seasons and nearly ten times as many episodes? If they took it back to its original setting and did the ending right this time it seems like a guaranteed money maker. Surely they could produce a Xena movie for less than a space movie?
They might even be able to set up a spin-off series during it.
Maybe Rob should give Joss Whedon a call, find out how he got his movie off the ground.
And what about new xena action figures?Or a new playstation xena game? If anyone knows something please let me know…PLEASE!!!!!!