'Xena' Reboot Will Be More Serialized With Less Skimpy Costumes

The reboot of "Xena: Warrior Princess" aims to bring the show into the 21st century.

In an interview with io9, the reboot's showrunner, "Lost" alum Javier Grillo-Marxuach, discussed his vision of the show, which might not align with that of fans of the original series.

Here are some choice quotes about the reboot. For instance, it will be more serialized, with fewer one-off "adventures of the week":

One big thing is that we are telling a much more serialized story than the show ever tackled — so formally we are already treading some very different ground — and while the characters will occupy roughly the same thematic spaces they did in the original, some of their backstories will be changed, and some of their morality will be tweaked so that we can tell a long-arcing story in which every episode leads directly into the next ... one of the things I really insisted on in my pitch was telling an epic story that would be bingeable ....

Those skimpy outfits might get a "Game of Thrones"-style update:

... a great deal of the appeal of the show lies in certain pulpy elements—like Gabrielle's bare midriff, Xena's leather miniskirt, Callisto's amazing and gravity-defying... well, you get it—and it's hard for me in the post-Brienne of Tarth era to reconcile with the idea that Xena and her friends can meet every challenge in such skimpy outfits. I think we are going to have some very lengthy discussions about how to bring those elements into the present day without missing the boat on what makes Xena exactly what she is; and how to have our cake and eat it too.

And he explains why Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor will not be playing Xena and Gabrielle again:

That already has a lot of people in an uproar. The question of reboot vs. revival is a very relevant now that The X-Files has been revived with the original cast, and so has Star Wars... and because the die hard fans want to see their beloved actors in the role. And look, I love these actors in these roles as much as I love Shatner as Kirk, Connery as Bond, and Lynda Carter as Diana Prince—so why does this need to be a reboot and not a continuation? The answer for me is that the reboot is not a repudiation of the classic show, but rather a compliment to it. I want for Xena to be a cultural icon for longer than my tenure in the entertainment industry, or that of anyone else involved with the project.

Read the full interview for more of Grillo-Marxuach's thoughts on the Xena mythology, the show's central relationship, and villains.

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.



from Moviefone News RSS Feed - Moviefone.com http://ift.tt/1XKJBfA
via IFTTT