July 2015 Archives   30 July 2015 Photo: Lucy and Renee Hanging Out in New Zealand There's a picture to please so many fans - Lucy and Renee in New Zealand. I wonder if Renee will be in Ash Vs Evil Dead... Image courtesy of Lucy via her Instagram account     29 July 2015 Letter to Xena The Powers That Be - Why We Need Lucy and Renee Back! The following letter is directed to the Xena Warlords and Kings (aka The Powers That Be on deciding whether we get a Xena Reboot with Lucy and Renee) from Dr Patricia Saunders Dear Producers, CEO Once upon a time there was a breakthrough series on television, Xena Warrior Princess. It was inspirational because it allowed children,teens and adults to look inside for hope that they could change their lives, it was the FIRST female hero who was not dependent on men for her life and achievements-she was her own, unique person who "battled on" against so much adversity. Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi were smart enough to cast a 4th choice actor, Lucy Lawless in the title role. Lucy and Renee O"Conner exceeded all expectations and gained a worldwide fanship that endures 20 years later. The writing was brilliant,as was the direction and production. Lucy/Xena became an icon and now a legend because of the confluence of talent in its making.I still watch Xena on Netflix for inspiration and laughs. I am not a kid and I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, written books, been on TV as a talking head for 14 years on crime-so that qualifies me as a grown-up. I don't know if you realize the extent of their current fandom around the world-from Kenya to Brasil, from Thailand to France,Arab nations and of course the UK and USA-100K + follow Lucy's twitter account. My grandchildren are rabid Xena fans as are many of the next generation. I've met and talked at length with both Lucy and Renee- they are even better actors now and still stunningly beautiful and in great shape. These are dark times: we need a real, 3-dimensional Hero, not an aspiring youth who is still learning to act and none have Lucy's charisma or Renee's light. These are complex characters and deserve the very best of actors to portray them. You can bring them to modern times, or have them find, train and mentor the next warrior Princess-perhaps Eve's daughter. You can't transplant a perfect work of art into another form-it won't work and the hundreds of thousands of fans will not see it. It was not a cult, campy show, although it included those elements-it was epic. Psychologically, it was and is for all of us and for any stage in time; that is was makes it epic. Please do a revival of Xena, bringing her back from the dead, re-uniting with Gabrielle and off they go wherever the writers take them. You will be sorely disappointed if you try to replace Lucy and Renee- they were the heart and soul of XWP and still can be. Renee is a brilliant director and nuanced actor. I don't think Lucy has fully unleashed her own acting talents, but she sure is ready-to wit ,Spartacus-Lucretia was a difficult role to play as was Countess Marburg in Salem and Lucy got 'em-bull's-eye. Respectfully, Patricia Saunders, Ph.D.     22 July 2015 Nine Reasons With We Need a Xena Reboot - Sydney Morning Herald Michael Idato (very obvious a Xenite), entertainment guru over at the Sydney Morning Herald has nine reasons why we need a Xena reboot - what do you mean Michael we only have 9 reasons? I think we can come up with a few more but here's Michael's 9 reasons - click here to read full article 1. Because we're at the dawn of the age of the female superhero AUSXIP: Yes indeed and Xena was ahead of her time! This opening theme just gets to me...seriously. I've been in this fandom for 19 years and it still gets to me.     2. Because few instruments are cooler than Bulgarian bagpipes 3. Because no one can ululate like Xena can ululate   4. Because no one can accessorise like Xena can accessorise 5. Because an episode of Xena is basically a history lesson If you are reading Michael's #5 reason - it won't make any sense to non Ausssies :) 6. Because Xena and Gabrielle were basically a same-sex couple Well this a very 'well duh' moment :) Yes indeed. And long before it was fashionable to boot. Xena's real-life alter-ego, Lucy Lawless, said as much in an interview conducted after the series wrapped. Think about it. Two women who travelled everywhere together, took baths together, shared the same bed and, when the occasion required, worked their uvula's into a frenzy. It's enough to give you a case of the vapours. Long before on-screen couples like Captain Jack and Ianto Jones (from Torchwood) could declare their love explicitly, Xena and Gabrielle just bathed wordlessly together. A lot. Yeah baby they were a couple - well and truly. 7. Because Gabrielle was the best sidekick, ever Indeed she was and how! She matured, she grew out of being a sidekick and became Xena's equal. It was a rocky road but she got there. Awesome!   8. Because Lucy Lawless is a really, really nice Okay, so, there was that time at the Mardi Gras, right? You remember. Well, probably you don't, because you weren't there. But there was that time at the Mardi Gras, the year that Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle) came, that we (myself, and a colleague) were tasked, unexpectedly, with chaperoning them. You read that right: two little Aussie blokes, the only thing between Xena and Gabrielle and tens of thousands of lesbians. It's a small miracle we weren't killed. But the takeout is this: I've met a lot of celebrities in my time, and Lawless was a big, bronze-bustier of lovely. If you want to see more of Lucy and Renee at the 1999 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras - go here     22 July 2015 Beyond The Farthest Star at AMC Burbank Town Center - Message from Pathlight Entertainment I received the following email today about the movie Beyond The Farthest Star with Renee and a special screening in Burbank, California! Check it out below Hey Xena fans! Beyond the Farthest Star is playing at the AMC Burbank Town Center 8 on August 13th and Renée O’Connor will be there! Renée O’Connor, aka Gabrielle from Xena: Warrior Princess, stars in this inspirational film, Beyond the Farthest Star which is being described by critics as ”Miraculous!” ”Gutsy!” Uplifting!” ”Beautiful!” ”Intense!” and even as ”Wow!” “Renée O’Connor is so remarkable you start to wonder if you’ve stumbled into a suspense/thriller.” —The Independent Critic Check out the trailer here— BTFS Official Trailer "Truth" 2015 from BTFS Movie Channel on Vimeo. A twist of fate brings the national spotlight to a forgotten Texas town and a once famous preacher has an opportunity to regain his former glory or seize one last chance to restore his fractured family. Narrated by his fifteen-year-old daughter, we watch as Adam Wells, a minister driven by the prospect of achieving greatness as the next nationally-syndicated TV Evangelist lays down his opportunity at “celebrity” and even his own life in order to become something even greater... A loving husband and father to his wife and daughter.   The movie will be playing for a one night exclusive special event at the AMC Burbank Town Center 8 on Thursday, August 13th at 7:30 and you can get tickets at— https://gathr.us/screening/12536. Seating is limited and you must purchase tickets online! Tickets are not available the door so don’t wait! If you would like to bring Beyond to your own local theater you can go to http://gathr.us/films/beyond-the-farthest-star and follow an easy step by step instructions to host your own screening! Sincerely, Chris, Marketing Associate, Pathlight Entertainment     21 July 2015 The Great Xena Reboot Will They Or Won’t They RoundUp: Get Set Xena 2.0 or Maybe Not Well it's been a rollercoaster day. I woke to the news that I've been waiting to hear for the last 14 years (ever since the end of A Friend In Need in May 2001) and then almost as fast it was shot down by Lucy but then EW kicked in and and and and...the Xenaverse went into meltdown, Xena was trending on Facebook and Twitter. One almost thinks that this was a kite flying exercise to see if it would generate some interest. It generated interest all right. The wall to wall articles I've seen stream through are amazing - even Aussie newspapers were salivating at the prospect of a Xena Reboot (and they are hard to please). Where are we? In the dark and speculating like the previous months and days.... Alright, let's go through the facts and run down the various 'yes they are' and 'no they're not' on the Xena Reboot Xena 2.0! Buckle up, it gets very confusing. NBC was planning on a Xena Reboot. The news hit the Xenaverse like a freight train and EVERYONE got excited only to have Lucy come out and say it was just a rumour. Well that deflated everyone's balloons UNTIL Entertainment Weekly came out and said they confirmed with NBC that it is in fact being considered. Say what? Alright, let's go with the facts as they are presented. Let's start with The Hollywood Reporter (not your average entertainment blog since it's a widely respected journal) and one of the reasons I believed the story. Producers NBC and NBC Universal International are currently searching for a writer to board the reboot, which hails from original executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that NBC and NBC Universal International are prepping a reboot of the beloved Lucy Lawless action-adventure drama. The drama is in the extremely early development stages and a search for a writer is currently underway. So far so good - that's pretty much the same same for the last 14 years with news about writers etc etc etc Original executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi are also involved in the project, which is considered to be a "modern reboot." Not according to Lucy it's not. Rob is not involved. It's unclear what, if any, role original star Lawless would have, though sources tell THR that insiders would like the original star to have both a role on screen and behind the scenes. Someone must have forgot to tell Lucy about this development because as she indicated she knows nothing about it. I want Lucy back as Xena and Renee back as Gabrielle. Everything else...doesn't matter to me.   The drama is eyed for 2016. Don't we wish! It's too early to know if Xena 2.0 would be a limited 13-episode run similar to Fox's revived 24 or a more standard full-season order. Insiders say the hope is for the new Xena to be an ongoing (read renewable) series. At this point...I don't care. Just do the damn thing. 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. Er what? Katniss? I have never watched The Hunger Games but taking a quick poll amongst the Xenaverse...I was greeted with a lot of disbelief and a whole lot of laughter. I'm assuming that Katniss is not match for Xena in the smarts department. Come on, this is the Warrior Princess, the Conqueror, the thorn in the side of Caesar and the Olympian Gods...you gotta have smarts. May I suggest to the person who wrote the Hollywood Reporter article...go and do some homework on Xena. The smarts of Katniss...give me a break. Read the full Hollywood Reporter article here   and now we come to Entertainment Weekly which gives this tidbit about why Lucy wouldn't know about the NBC news: Here is the kicker Xena: Warrior Princess could return to television next year. EW has confirmed that NBC hopes to reboot the cult series, which starred Lucy Lawless as the title warrior. EW goes to the source of the news and says...yep NBC hopes to reboot the series. I sure hope they don't try and reboot it like they did for The Bionic Woman which was a god-awful show. Let's not go into that because I'll be ranting about it. You don't want to read my rants against The Bionic Woman Reboot. Now back to Xena 2.0...Why doesn't Lucy Know? here's EW's take on it: If Lawless was out of the loop, it wouldn't be the first time NBC has kept a cast of rebooted TV show in the dark: In 2014, the network dropped a surprise teaser for a little series called Heroes Reborn during a telecast of the Olympic Games, and the cast of the original series were as shocked as viewers.   Confused yet? My brain hurts. I'll leave it to Xena to echo the Xenaverse's feelings right about now.... (thanks to Klippart of the gif!)     How I feel about today's Xena news/rumor reboot confusion. aka: The time #Xena freaked out pic.twitter.com/eIDFYONFed — Klippart (@Klippart) July 21, 2015     21 July 2015 NEWSFLASH! Xena is Being Rebooted by NBC! Well at long last NBC has finally seen the gold they have in their archives and are rebooting Xena! Xena 2.0 is in the works! The Hollywood Reporter has revealed the following. Somehow I don’t think finding a writing is going to be a problem. Resurrect our warrior and her bard and let’s go already! Producers NBC and NBC Universal International are currently searching for a writer to board the reboot, which hails from original executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that NBC and NBC Universal International are prepping a reboot of the beloved Lucy Lawless action-adventure drama. The drama is in the extremely early development stages and a search for a writer is currently underway. Original executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi are also involved in the project, which is considered to be a "modern reboot." It's unclear what, if any, role original star Lawless would have, though sources tell THR that insiders would like the original star to have both a role on screen and behind the scenes. The drama is eyed for 2016. It's too early to know if Xena 2.0 would be a limited 13-episode run similar to Fox's revived 24 or a more standard full-season order. Insiders say the hope is for the new Xena to be an ongoing (read renewable) series. 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.   Read the full article here     15 July 2015 Lucy Pitches a Xena Movie at 2015 SDCC - IT'S TIME! Den of Geek has a story about Lucy pitching the idea for a Xena Movie/Revival/Xena Anything at Comic Con and elsewhere. I think it's way way way overdue. The long long long saga (well over 14 years now) of Xenites wanting a  movie is getting more ferocious by the day. With the show finding new fans (welcome newbie Xenites!), it's time for a Xena Revival! It's all about those rights! Den of Geek asked Lucy about the possibility of a Xena movie. Check out the AUSXIP Xena Movie Page to see the lengths we have gone for this comeback Lucy Lawless tells us about how she wants to play Xena: Warrior Princess again and how she'd continue the story. For almost 25 years, fans have asked Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and anyone who'd listen if there would be another Evil Deadmovie about Ash Williams. And for about just as long, this seemed to be a pipedream. Yet, come October, we're getting a whole new Ash vs. Evil Dead television series starring the big chin--not to mention Xena: Warrior Princess herself, Ms. Lucy Lawless. Ergo, when having a lovely conversation with her during a San Diego roundtable interview, one Comic-Con miracle must surely mean another is just around the corner, right? "I've been pitching that, actually," Lawless said. "The fans really do want that, and I've met some people who've crowdfunded some things, and I'm just like, 'Why don't we just do that?'" However, before Xena: Warrior Princess fans get their checkbooks ready, it might be best to wait a little longer for the character's return. Indeed, Lawless lamented the red tape challenges that still seem to impede a Xena revival. "It's still about who owns the rights to Xena. But it would still be cool to do it again with Renée [O'Connor], me, Ted [Raimi], and Bruce. It'd be a fun little gig, but what that is I don't really know." Of course, there is the other obstacle with Xena being dead at the end of the series, but Lawless has thought about this as well. "So what? Technicality!" Lawless laughs. "No one really dies! Screw her head back on, it's a bit wonky, and she's got a really bad attitude since she's been in a box for 20 years, so they've got to get Xena's mojo back, and go and save the world somehow." Of course, hope will always spring eternal for the fandom. But in the much more immediate future, Lawless seems genuinely pleased to be participating in the Evil Dead franchise, which has become a family business since she married one of the original films' creators and producer, Rob Tapert. Read Full Article     5 July 2015 Xenite Retreat - Newest Nation Revealed! Newest Nation at the Xenite Retreat revealed! Last month, the Xenite Retreat announced their Nation's program, and revealed the first Nation. This afternoon the second Nation has been revealed on the Xenite Retreat website. Read on for more information about the newest Nation to be announced. ABOUT NATIONS Upon arrival at the Xenite Retreat, Retreates will be placed in one of five Nations. Similar to a "house" or "faction", members of the same Nation will room together, and can compete on teams together. Assignment to the nations is random, but retreaters can request to be in a particular nation by pledging a donation to the Greater Good Fund (there is no minimum donation - just whatever you can afford!) The first Nation launched were the Warriors, and their Sovereign leader is Xena: Warrior Princess (of course!). The second Nation launched is, you may have guessed, the Bards, and their Sovereign leader is of course, Gabrielle, Battling Bard of Potidaea. Check out the incredible crest of the Bards and their description over at http://xeniteretreat.com/nations.html. Stay tuned next month for the release of the third Nation! See you in 9 months, 18 days, 3 hours, 9 minutes and 30 seconds! -Xenite Retreat Crew     5 July 2015 Xenite Con 4 Announces Renee and Hudson To Attend Con 31 Oct-1 November 2015 The French fans are gearing up for another Xenite Con! This year they have announced (so far) Renee and Hudson. Click here for full details We are pleased to announce you not one but two invited for the xenite con ' IV! It is the beautiful reneé o ' Connor alias Gabrielle and Hudson Leick Alias Callisto in the series Xena: Warrior Princess! They are very excited to come back again this year for this convention that they call themselves "incontournable". You can find at present on the box office their extras. This year, Hudson Leick is included in the pass but on the other hand reneé o ' Connor is an extra guest. This means that it is not included in any of the pass, except in the pass Titan (VIP). But it is possible to buy Autograph Photoshoots and with it, which are, we advise you, fairly limited and that may go very fast. We invite all xenites to take their pass to make this possible again! We have done once, we can do it again! And do not forget, the beautiful Lucy Lawless told you in person that she would like to come back this year. We need you to make this event a success. Then go take advantage and make this possible together. Battle on! Join us on the official group of the convention on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/xenitecon You will find all the information in regard to the guests, the box office, the program, the place, etc, on this link: www.xivents.com/xenite-con     5 July 2015 Xena Conventions in Brazil? Is it Possible - It Sure is! I was approached today about getting the word out about a possible Xena Convention in Brazil. I'm more than happy to pass on this great news (and coming on the heals of the Xenite Con 4 in Paris with Renee and Hudson). Time for Brazil to party (and we know they love to party) with Xena guests. So here's how this can be done (first sign the petition and then read on) Petition can be found here Message from Giselle: We're part of the fandom of the show Xena: Warrior Princess, aka Xenite Fandom! We created a campaign in December 2014 called #XenaConBrasil, because we believe in the possibility of a Xena convention in Brazil! We have a group and page on Facebook, a Youtube channel, a Twitter profile... A lot of weapons of advertising to gather fans of this show around this dream! And now we also have this Petition, that aims to gather the biggest number possible of people interested in a Xena Convention in Brazil, so that event companies notice us and realize the interest in making it true. All that we need is a company investing on Xenites to make the Convention happen!   The year of 2015 marks the last Official Xena Convention made by Creation Entertainment, it has been made since the year of 1997! That's right! From 1997 to 2015 fans get to the Convention! Unfortunetely the last one happened. The last one would be in 2012, but it extended for 3 more years due to the huge fanbase and money they make to the company. French fans are still keeping the tradition with Conventions in Paris, that goes on for some time. But we, brazilian fans, don't have the conditions to go to Europe to be with our favorite cast, that's why we desperately need a Convention in Brazil! Fans from neighbor countries would also come here (Argentina, Venezuela...) and it would be easier for north-american fans, since we're all orphans of USA Conventions. A lot of fans would follow the cast to Brazil, like they did times before, without a doubt! It's worth noticing that we Xenites would do everything possible to help with voluntary work on the Convention. We've been seeing this idea be used on USA conventions and we're looking forward to do the same. If our help can be used by the #XenaConBrasil organization, for your company, please use it! We know that this would bring mutual advantages like, for example, lower price on the tickets. Xenites CAN work on this Convention, without a doubt! Do a little research about our fandom, our campaign and our favorite show! Then you'll be sure that the Xenite Fandom is special and you won't regret investing in us! Xenites and Xena Warrior Princess fans, sign this petition! Let's show that we're a huge fanbase and that we want a Convention with the Xena Warrior Princess cast in Brazil! Battle on! o/     Read More Archives