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21 March 2001
MMany thanks to SLK for the blurb
RUMOURS this week hinted that Xena, Warrior Princess, could be killed off in the final episode of her self-titled show. Check out the Xenaverse: XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
“Xena: The Warrior Princess” is not only getting cancelled, she’s getting killed. The Sunday Star Times of Auckland, New Zealand, where “Xena” is filmed is reporting that the sword-wielding babe meets an untimely end in the final episode. “Xena,” played by Lucy Lawless, has an almost cult-like following. The fate of Gabrielle, her sidekick, remains a mystery
20 March 2001
A WARRIOR DIES?
Hollywood is not only ending "Xena: Warrior Princess," it has also just killed her off, the Sunday Star Times reported in Auckland, New Zealand.
The top-rated series, shown in 115 countries, is shot in New Zealand with homegirl Lucy Lawless playing the lead.
Last year, Studios USA Domestic Television President Steve Rosenberg and Rob Tapert, Lawless' husband, announced that the series in production would be the last.
The Star Times said an insider with a copy of the script told them Xena had been killed off. The fate of her sidekick, Gabrielle, is unknown.
The scene was filmed last week in Auckland, and it's said samurai warriors did the deed.
Pacific Renaissance, which makes the series, declined to comment.
But Deborah Wood, who runs "The Bubbas' Guide to Xena: Warrior Princess" Web site said Tapert would become a hated man if he killed off Xena.
"The big question seems to be whether or not there will be some unequivocal statement or action regarding outing Xena and Gabrielle as lovers or perhaps whether they ride off into the sunset."
Xena has become something of a gay icon.
If she is killed off, it does not have quite the same finality that death usually has; she has died at least twice before, and Gabrielle once.
Herald Sun
(Melbourne based news paper, Monday 19th March)Warriors put end to Xena HOLLYWOOD is not only ending Xena: The Warrior Princess, it has just killed her off. The top-rating television series, shown in 115 counties, is shot in New Zealand with Kiwi Lucy Lawless in the lead. Last year, Studios USA domestic television president Steve Rosenberg and Rob Tapert (Lawless's husband) announced the series in production would be the last. An insider with a copy of the script has reportedly claimed Xena - who has become a gay icon - has been killed off by samurai warriors.. The scene was filmed last week in Auckland. A spokesman from Pacific Renaissance, which makes the series, declined to comment.
Sunday Star Times
(New Zealand)18 March 2001
Xena, Warrior Princess, will die in the final episode of the series, an insider with a copy of the script for sale claims. The insider, whose sale offer was declined by the NZ Sunday Star-Times, said Xena, played by NZ star Lucy Lawless, was killed by samurai warriors in scenes filmed in Auckland last week.
The death of the TV cult hero, if true, would enrage die-hard Xena fans who say producer Rob Tapert had stated he would not kill off either Xena or her sidekick Gabrielle.
Sue May, a spokeswoman for Xena production company Pacific Renaissance, said she did not know if the script was genuine. "But obviously if it is, the production company would be one of disappointment because part of the fun for the millions of fans around the world is not knowing what is going to happen."
A spokeswoman for The Bubbas Guide to Xena: Warrior Princess website, Deborah Wood, said Tapert would become a 'hated man'. She could not see Xena dying. :The big question seems to be whether or not there will be some unequivocal satement or action regarding Xena and Gabrielle as lovers or perhaps whether they ride off into the sunset together."
Pacifc Renaissance publicity material prior to the launch of the sixth and last series in the US in October hinted at the show's ending, stating Xena, her daughter Livia and Gabrielle join forces to defeat the gods of Olympus in a 'stunning final showdown'.
May concedes scripts and ideas constantly evolved during filming and October last year was a 'long time ago'. Wood, who operates one of the hundreds of websites dedicated to the show, said Xena had 'died' at least twice before, as had Gabrielle, including in the first season finale.
Shooting on the programme is expected to finish at the end of the month.