Lucy Lawless was just as surprised as anyone to hear about a "Xena: Warrior Princess" reboot, especially one involving her husband Rob Tapert, one of the original executive producers.
"That was news to me," Lawless told Headlines & Global News and a small group of reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Friday. "We are not involved at this point."
NBC reportedly wants to reboot the "Hercules" spinoff series for its 2016 schedule and the show is in the early development stages as the network search for a writer. Tapert and his co-executive producer Sam Raimi also were reportedly involved in the "modern reboot."
"There was a conversation a year ago that Rob was involved in but that didn't happen," Lawless said, but didn't specify whether that discussion took place with NBC or another network. "There's no deal unless they are doing it with someone else... It's entirely within their rights."
The 47-year-old actress hasn't given up on a reboot involving her and the rest of her "Xena" co-stars, but nothing more than a movie or limited series. Read below to see how she would bring her character back and learn more about her new Starz series with former co-star Bruce Campbell, "Ash vs Evil Dead."
What involvement would you like to have in a "Xena: Warrior Princess" reboot series?
A TV show, I couldn't do it. The stunts alone... I look back and I have all sorts of wear and tear from that lifestyle because that's just what happens to human bodies after being used a certain way a lot. I couldn't do it, but there is somebody great out there. However, I would love to do a reboot and get Xena, Gabrielle (Renée O'Connor), Autolycus (Campbell) and Joxer (Ted Raimi) back together. Get that crew together to solve some problem.
Like in a TV Movie?
I'd love to do a TV movie, a movie or something limited. I totally want to work with those people again, life is so short.
Could you launch a 'Xena' reboot in the current TV landscape?
When 'Hercules' and 'Xena' first came out there hadn't been a mythological show on TV for about 16 years, so the ground was ripe for exploiting that world. Now things like 'Game of Thrones' are doing incredible and I think what's considered a hindrance is the marketplace. How do you make it appointment TV given how people watch TV these days? We used to get millions of people watching syndicated television. Now the audience is all over cable and harder to capture.
I think friendship is what they want and whenever they reboot it, they need to get two women who like and respect each other and have a strong chemistry to carry that mantle. Whatever world you set it in, I think the friendship is what they might be underestimating.
Do you feel like the fans have their claws in you and don't want to let go of this reboot idea?
No, I love them and I'm really grateful for all the affection they've showed me and the show, so I try to show it back. I would never bullshit them or lie to them and get their hopes up unnecessarily.
Was there a time that certain roles came up since the show ended and you wished people would see you differently?
It would be about the prejudice before they even met you, or you'd never even get to meet them because it's like, "Eh, you're from the 90s." It could be anything, but I'm not sorry I did it and I'm grateful for everything that show gave me.
What memories do you have of working with Bruce the first time?
Divine! He's a good guy and he created me in his own image a little bit. Rob got me to talk to Bruce before I'd even played Xena to learn how to be a well-behaved star. In fact, I really did learn that from Bruce because when they would say, "Lucy do you want to go do your fight?" My answer would be, 'No. I hate fighting. Another fight? Are you kidding me?' Instead Bruce taught me to go, "Excellent! I'd love it." Just by saying it, even though you're not feeling it, it takes the problem out of it.
How do you feel about the blood on 'Ash vs Evil Dead?'
It never touches me. I've had no blood on me, not a single drop.
How did you manage that?
[Ruby] lets other people do the dirty work.
Did you have to think about doing this before taking the job?
For about half a second. I was in negotiations for quite a big salary job, but then I was like, 'Sorry. Something else has come up. I'm going home [to New Zealand] to work with my husband and Bruce' and that was it.
Was it convenient because you live in New Zealand?
Well, I was in Louisiana at the time but it's certainly where my children and husband choose to live. A little problematic for me and my green card because they are all American.
What can you say about your character Ruby?
She's a badass bitch and she's stalking Ash Williams with a big chip on her shoulder and a hot obsession.
Did you model her on anyone you know?
Myself [laughs]. She believes Ash is responsible for the deadite plague and in my mind, speaking as my character, he's responsible for the death of my father back when Professor Knowby, back in the 'Evil Dead' movies, was the holder of the Necronomicon. So she has an ancient chip on her shoulder.
How much action are you doing in this?
I'm doing enough.
You recently reunited with Renée [O'Connor] and blew up the Internet. How often do you ladies get together?
Maybe two or three times a year. What I love is it's a little like the show in that we have a friendship forged in battle. If we met each other in passing, we may not have been attracted to one another, but we went through a lot a lot of life dramas, all through our 20s. Both of us got married during the show. I went through a divorce. She went through a break up, all that sort of stuff. So we have a relationship like sisters.
And what would you most like people to know about the new show?
It's too much fun! It's nasty. It's bloody. It's distasteful and it's really funny. You heard it here!
"Ash vs Evil Dead" will premiere on Saturday, Oct. 31 on Starz.
Reporting by Steve Gidlow
