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Could Xena: Warrior Princess be joining the reboot trend? It sounds like Sam Raimi and others are trying to make it happen!

Entertainment Weekly recently published an oral history of the show with Lawless, creator Sam Raimi and others taking part. Naturally, the idea of a reboot or sequel series came up with Lawless surprised it hasn’t happened yet.

“I gotta tell you, I don’t know why they haven’t been able to do it. What I keep hearing is you have to do it as well or better than the original, and they keep feeling like it’s not as good or better or totally different. It might need to be just totally different.”

Genre icon Bruce Campbell, who had a recurring role on the show as master thief Autolycus, added that “the themes are very relevant to today. Loyalty, friendship, complicated relationships. Xena said it’s...

The television spin-off is a tricky venture to pull off. Planned or not, the writers must create an interesting character that audiences want to invest in, and the actors have to have enough charisma to bring the roles to life. The pressure is even higher if that job rests on one actor. Once the spin-off hits the air, actors and crew have to work to make the series at least as good as the parent show. This is where many spin-offs fail. However, there are a select few who rose to not only the same level as their original shows, but a step above.

On this list, we won't be including shows that are arguably as good as their predecessors, such as "Better Call Saul," "Batman Beyond," or "House of the Dragon." Instead, this list celebrates the TV shows that truly transcended their pilot projects, either in quality or popularity.

Modern TV and streaming networks are full of epic fantasy series these days, from the gritty to the absurd, and that means we really are living in the golden age of fantasy television. Just thirty years ago though, there were far fewer options for fantasy fans on TV, and even 90s fantasy movie masterpieces often went unwatched. Thankfully, there were a few exceptions, one of which was the phenomenal Xena: Warrior Princess.

Released in 1995 as a spinoff of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena, like Hercules is set in a historically vague version of ancient Greece. The show begins as Xena (Lucy Lawless), with the help of her stalwart companion and soulmate Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), seeks redemption for her violent past (as seen in her appearance in Hercules) and follows her as she journeys across the ancient world, acting as a force for righteousness. Along the way, they encounter gods and...

Lucy Lawless recalls how her 1998 Saturday Night Live appearance left her displeased by how it portrayed Xena: Warrior Princess's fanbase. The fantasy television series ran from 1995 to 2000 across six seasons, exploring the exploits of Lawless's Xena and her allies, as she faces several figures from ancient mythology on her quest to find redemption for her past exploits. Xena: Warrior Princess's world holds a strong legacy as not only being an inspiration to many productions that would have female leads face their own evils, but how LGBTQ+ characters were portrayed on-screen.

With Lawless promoting her upcoming documentary Never Look Away, which she directed and is about the adventurous camerawoman Margaret Moth, the star shared a story from her own career with The Guardian. When appearing on Saturday Night Live for season 24's third episode in 1998, Lawless's monologue was interrupted by Tina Fey's portrayal of a stereotypical butch lesbian...

Musical episodes of TV shows weren’t invented by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, nor by Xena: Warrior Princess either. But it was Xena that came up with a way of doing musical episodes that was incredibly effective, and Buffy that perfected it, producing a musical that has been a touchstone for TV ever since.

Some TV shows are designed to be a musical every week, of course, from Glee to Schmigadoon! to Flight of the Conchords. But there is also a fairly long-standing tradition of non-musical shows including musical episodes from time to time.

It might seem like having characters who do not normally sing randomly burst into song would be restricted to science fiction and fantasy, in which an invented reason can be provided for the singing, but plenty of non-sci fi and fantasy shows have done musicals either by making the whole thing take place inside someone’s...

Willow Rosenburg (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer were one of the first cannon lesbian couples on a popular TV series. Throughout most of the nineties lesbian couples in media were generally unofficial, such as Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) from Xena Warrior Princess, or depicted as villains. They were almost always highly sexualized. Willow and Tara's relationship was different and, while it is imperfect as far as representation goes, it paved the way for the myriad of lesbian characters seen on TV today.

Lucy Lawless’ beloved character from Xena: Warrior Princess gets an amazing cosplay treatment, complete with her signature weaponry. Originally conceived as a disposable villain in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Lawless’ character became so popular that producers opted to create her own spinoff series. Running for six seasons between 1995 and 2001, Xena: Warrior Princess would go on to eclipse the popularity of the original show, which spawned it and transformed the spinoff’s titular heroine into a pop-culture icon.

A recent cosplay image shared by Lauren Gianna on Instagram evokes Lawless’ battle-hardened warrior. Check out the image below:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lauren Gianna (@thefanged4)

Depicted wearing Xena’s intricately detailed leather armor, the cosplay also features the razor-sharp throwing weapon known as a chakram. Xena’s ever-present sword can also be seen slung over Gianna’s shoulder.

Will The Xena Fandom Ever Get To See A Series Reboot?...

Lucy Lawless’ legion of fans have watched her search for redemption as an ancient Greek warrior princess in Xena, deceive and seduce her way to power as Lucretia in Spartacus, witch her way through Salem as Countess Marburg, and hunt down Ash in Ash vs. the Evil Dead. But while she may be best known for her roles in science fiction and fantasy, she’s also excellent at bringing murderers to justice in My Life Is Murder as Alexa Crowe, a retired police officer who continues solving mysteries.

Despite Alexa’s former profession, the show shares more with Murder, She Wrote than police procedurals. Or, perhaps “Murder She Wrote crossed with something a bit sassy, because Alexa actually gets laid on occasion, so it’s not exactly Miss Marple,” Lucy Lawless says of the show. In contrast to the more historical and fantastic roles Lawless has played in the past,...

It looks like Xena: Warrior Princess won't be coming back anytime soon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, plans have been scrapped for NBC's planned reboot.Inspired the '90s TV series starring Lucy Lawless, the revival reportedly "would have explored the romantic relationship that existed between Xena (Lawless) and her sidekick, Gabrielle (played by Renee O'Connor in the original)." Neither Lawless nor O'Connor were attached to the reboot project.Read More…...

Next fall, Mark Ruffalo's beloved Hulk character will finally return in Thor: Ragnarok, after skipping this summer's Captain America: Civil War. The actor made his Marvel debut as Hulk in 2012's The Avengers, but nearly 20 years prior, the actor almost portrayed another iconic Marvel character, long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was even formed. A new documentary reveals that the Oscar-nominated actor almost played the nefarious Doctor Doom, although not in the movie you may think.

Yahoo! Movies reports that in the new documentary Doomed: The Untold Story of Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four, Mark Ruffalo auditioned for the Doctor Doom role, which he ultimately lost to Joseph Culp. The documentary also reveals that other well-known actors who were turned down for the movie includes Xena's Rene O'Connor Lost star Titus Welliver and Seinfeld's Patrick Warburton. It probably worked out better for those who didn't land roles in this movie,...

Ever since its debut in 1995, many fans have wanted to see Xena: Warrior Princess and her faithful companion Gabrielle become a couple. One of the biggest questions contemplated over the years is, 'Why didn't they?' That quandary has finally been answered by executive producer and co-creator Rob Tapert. He has a very good reason why this never happened in the mythology of the hit fantasy series. Though you might not agree with his reasoning.

It didn't take long for fans of the show to start championing a more intimate relationship between Lucy Lawless' title hero and her bard, played by Renee O'Connor. And it is a pairing that has long been championed in the Lgbt community. Lawless had this to say about the allure and love for her Xena character.

"The name Xena means 'stranger'. She felt she was irredeemable. That friendship between Xena and Gabrielle transmitted some message of self-worth,...

Back in the 1990s when Lgbt representation on television was incredibly limited or stereotypical, one show managed to buck the trend - "Xena: Warrior Princess". The series revolved around the titular warrior and her sidekick Gabrielle (played by Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor respectively) as they battled mythological creatures throughout Ancient Greece.

It was a deep friendship between the two women that often went beyond that, never getting erotically explicit but often strongly suggested throughout the show's six season run. Those involved in the series had no problem admitting it, Lawless in a 2003 interview saying: "it wasn't just that Xena was bisexual and kinda liked her gal pal and they kind of fooled around sometimes, it was, 'Nope, they're married, man.'"

Now, with a reboot of the property in development at NBC, new series showrunner Javier Grillo-Marxauch has spoken about his plans for the series saying that with...

Game of Thrones forever changed the fantasy landscape on TV, and now it may be responsible for changing Xena: Warrior Princess in a big way. Can two sexy bikini-clad warriors still survive on the small screen? Or will Xena and her best pal Gabrielle have to trade up their skimpy costumes for heavy armor? That's the dilemma facing Xena: Warrior Princess reboot show runners who aren't quite sure how to move forward with their retooled series.

What can fans expect if Xena: Warrior Princess actually gets the green light at NBC? Xena comic writer Genevieve Valentine and writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach recently participated in a length Q&A session with io9, and they reveal that Xena and Gabrielle may or may not have to wear more clothes. The challenge right now is coming up with costumes that fit in with the current fantasy genre, and what fans have come to expect,...

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...

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Lucy Lawless has opened up about the possibility of Xena: Warrior Princess coming back with or without her involvement...

You may remember the week when the news broke that a new series of Xena: Warrior Princess was on the way. Then it wasn't, because Lucy Lawless knew nothing about it. Then it was back on again, and sounding a lot like a Lawless-less reboot. 

Well, now Comic Book Resources has managed to nab a sit-down interview with Lawless at New York Comic Con. They asked her if she'd want to be involved in a Xena reboot (the assumption being that she could play some sort of mentor role, like John Wesley Shipp's parental role in The Flash). 

"Too early to say," she replied, "because if they don't honour the original, you know the covenant with the fans, then I wouldn't touch it with a forty-foot flagpole,...

There is a Xena reboot! There isn't a Xena reboot! There is a Xena reboot—maybe! Fans emotions have been bounced around more times than Xena's chakram in the last few weeks with news of a Xena: Warrior Princess making headlines left and right. First, Lucy Lawless reiterated her desire to suit up in the leather outfit for another go alongside Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle. Then news broke that NBC was working with the show's original producers, including Lawless' husband, on a reboot, not a revival. Lawless followed up that news with a tweet saying that it's all a rumor. Then we talked to her and she continued to maintain she doesn't know what's happening, if anything is. And that brings us...

Almost 20 years after it first premiered—and 14 years after it went off the air—Xena: Warrior Princess is still a hot topic. The syndicated series starred Lucy Lawless as the sword-wielding titular hero and Renee O'Connor as her companion, Gabrielle. Lawless has been open about wanting to revisit the role, much to the delight of Xenites everywhere. Shortly after making the rounds at Comic-Con where she talked about being Xena once again, news of a reboot broke. News Lawless apparently wasn't aware of. "If there is currently, I don't know anything about it. I know they all think I'm pretending. I'm not. If there is something, I don't think my husband is hiding anything from me, that's...

There's still no official word from those involved with "Xena: Warrior Princess" about that rumored NBC reboot of the beloved fantasy series, but a new photo of the show's two stars has only added fuel to the fire.

Earlier this week, titular "Xena" star Lucy Lawless posted an Instagram selfie featuring her former co-star, Renee O'Connor (a.k.a. Gabrielle), captioning the pic, "Still hanging with my gal."

Still hanging with my gal #Reneeoconnor @reallucylawless #xena #gabrielle

A photo posted by Lucy lawless (@reallucylawless) on Jul 29, 2015 at 4:16pm Pdt

Lawless offered no additional comment on the snap, but based on those smiling faces, we can't help but dream up what they may have been chatting about while catching up. Perhaps how to modernize "Xena" for the millennial audience? After all, that rumored reboot was said to have been targeted at a Katniss Everdeen-loving crowd, and we can't think of...

How's this for a '90s flashback?! "Xena: Warrior Princess" stars Renee O'Connor and Lucy Lawless sent fans into a frenzy last night when they reunited for the first time in what feels like forever. "Still hanging with my gal #Reneeoconnor @reallucylawless #xena #gabrielle," Lawless captioned the photo above on Instagram -- showing how great they both look 14 years after the cult classic went off the air. The sighting comes just days after it was reported NBC is looking into reviving the '90s TV series. The network was said to be quietly prepping a reboot, with search underway for writers. The Hollywood Reporter added that everyone would love to have the original stars return in some capacity, whether that's on screen or working behind the scenes. The report also said the "new Xena would have to have the charisma and charm of Lawless and the smarts of 'The Hunger Games' Katniss.

Is there any feeling greater than seeing actors from one of your (now-canceled) favorite shows reunite? No, there isn't. Try and argue with me. Xena: Warrior Princess' Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor reunited and sent hearts a flutter. Just look at them. Best friends 'til the end. Lawless and O'Connor have never really been apart to reunite, they've kept in touch over the years and routinely did Xena conventions over the years. Could a greater reunion be on the horizon? E! News confirmed reports that a Xena: Warrior Princess reboot was in the works at NBC with no writer attached, but the show's original producers involved. But then Lawless took to Twitter and said it was a...

Lots of beloved series have announced comebacks recently, with everything from "The X-Files" and "Twin Peaks" to "Full House" and "Coach" set for revivals in the coming years. So why not "Xena: Warrior Princess"?

The Hollywood Reporter writes that that syndicated series, which starred Lucy Lawless as the titular ass-kicking heroine, is set for a reboot at NBC. According to the trade, the project is currently in "the extremely early development stages," with original producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi on board for what's being called a "modern reboot" of the fantastical action-adventure series.

In recent interviews, Lawless has made it known that she's eager to reprise her role as Xena, and wants star in a reboot or revival of some sort, preferably alongside original co-star Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle). How she'll factor into this NBC project is unclear, THR says, though she's being eyed for both on-screen and off-screen roles,...

Lucy Lawless expressed interest in the idea at Comic Con last week, and today comes word that NBC Universal International is exploring a reboot of beloved action-adventure series "Xena: Warrior Princess" says THR.

Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, who created and served as executive producers on the original show, are reportedly said to be currently searching for a writer for the project which is in extremely early development stages and is being dubbed a "modern reboot".

It's unclear what role original star Lawless would have in the project though its indicated she's being sought for both on and offscreen roles in the new series. The plan is for a "sophisticated and smart superhero for a new generation" and will likely be an ongoing series as opposed to an event series revival (ala "The X-Files," "24") with the first season to premiere next year.

Beginning life as a spin-off to "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,...

At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.

New on DVD and Blu-ray

"22 Jump Street"

Can Chris Miller and Phil Lord make anything entertaining? When "21 Jump Street" the movie was announced, it seemed utterly ludicrous, if not downright insulting. Yet here we are enjoying the sequel, digging on the continued doofy adventures of Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum). What's next, a dazzling movie about Legos?!

"20,000 Days on Earth"

This documentary about writer and musician Nick Cave is just as weird and wonderful as its subject. It's a must-see for fans of Cave's oeuvre, but even if you don't know a Boy Next Door from a Bad Seed, you'll get a kick out of this strange film. Featuring appearances by Kylie Minogue, Ray Winstone, Warren Ellis, and Blixa Bargeld.

"The Wind Rises"

Master animator...

More than 19 years ago Lucy Lawless burst onto the TV scene with Xena: Warrior Princess, earning legions of fans as the butt-kicking title hero known for that infamous war cry and her relationship with her companion—and soulmate—Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor). Now Lawless is stepping into a whole new world, one made up of equally devoted fans with a gig on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. After the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the second half of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s first season, Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his team are effectively operating as outlaws, trying to rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D. and quash Hydra at the same time. Enter Lawless' Agent Isabelle "Izzy" Hartley, a woman...

You can't keep a good warrior princess down -- "Xena" may be coming back with a revival!

Twelve years after the series ended, Lucy Lawless took to Twitter to reveal a bit of news to make Xenites everywhere erupt in a joyous battle cry.

Had an interesting call from a chap who wants to re-invigorate the #Xena brand. You guys may have started something.

— Lucy Lawless (@RealLucyLawless) May 23, 2013

But there's a lot of red tape around #Xwp so don't get your knickers in a twist. It may come back in a different form.

— Lucy Lawless (@RealLucyLawless) May 23, 2013

@apasniutkanos it's too good a property to waste. I'll let you know when we know anything.

— Lucy Lawless (@RealLucyLawless) May 28, 2013

"Xena: Warrior Princess" ran for six seasons between 1995-2001. Though the show ended with the title character dead, her spirit traveling with Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), the characters were revived in a comic book...

Feature David Menzies 12 Apr 2013 - 07:00

Would we have had Mutant Enemy or Bad Robot without Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Robert Tapert's Renaissance Pictures? David thinks not...

After 1992's Army Of Darkness, another Sam Raimi feature film wouldn't emerge in theatres for another three years. What Raimi did with the time in between is anybody's guess - perhaps he wandered the world; maybe he dug through a peculiar collection of Spider-Man comics with most of the dialogue cut out. But what he certainly did with his Renaissance Pictures partners was bring to light a new frontier of genre TV (cue heroic music and a narrator saying, "This is the story of a time long ago – a time of myth and legend. When the ancient gods were petty and cruel, and they plagued mankind with suffering, only one man dared to challenge their power...")

While Hercules may be one...

Jake Gyllenhaal presents Meryl Streep with a Golden Bear statuette in Berlin.

Happy Birthday to Janice Dickinson, who turns 57, Jane Child is 45, Alex Borstein is 42, Renee O'Connor is 41, Matt Groening is 58, and the Faboo Melissa Manchester is 61. Time to name your top five Melissa songs! Here are mine: 5. "Mathematics," 4. "No One Can Love You Like Me," 3. "Through The Eyes Of Love," 2. "You Should Hear How She Talks About You" 1."Thief Of Hearts." Rick Santorum keeps racking up the important endorsements. How long before Mustaine releases a statement that he's changed his mind and "really didn't understand" what Santorum's views were? In ratings news, everything stunk last night. Cougar Town's return was its lowest rated episode, Glee was down 15%, and Ringer was down 40%!Following his Oscar debacle, Brett Ratner has been working with GLAAD, and will produce and direct "an upcoming video series that will feature Hollywood celebrities, athletes, musicians...

(Note: Updated with Saturday images and info starting on page 3, Sunday images and info starting on page 5.)

It seems the Warrior Princess will never die (good news to those of us who still haven't gotten over the series finale). This was supposed to be the last year the Annual Xena: Warrior Princess Convention would be held, but fan outcry caused its organizers to relent, and it's official: there will be a Xena Con 2013. After that, who knows?

Stars Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle) are appearing this weekend, along with fan favorites Hudson Leick (Callisto), Adrienne Wilkinson (Eve/Livia), writer/producer Steven Sears, writer Katherine Fugate (Army Wives, Valentine's Day, The Prince and Me), Claire Stansfield (Alti), Jacqueline Kim (Lao Ma), Brittney Powell (Brunhilda), and more. AfterEllen.com photographer KT Jorgensen is wielding her cameras on our behalf, as she has for the last four years (All images used with permission.

Directed by: Trey Stokes

Starring: Barry Botswick, Renee O'Connor, Matt Lagan, Adam Grimes

Any doubts that I had about The Asylum's 2010: Moby Dick were put to a sublime rest in the moment that Captain Ahab fashioned a peg leg out of a wooden cross, marking some dead person's grave. Or maybe it was when Moby Dick, the giant prehistoric whale cut a cruise ship in half. Or Maybe it was when Moby Dick flopped its way onto a Hawaiian Island, walked around and then jumped over the entire island, plunging itself back into the water. I guess it's safe to say that 2010: Moby Dick is pretty remarkable.

If one were to picture what a modern day adaption of Herman Melville's Moby Dick would look like, I'm not sure anything that vaguely resembles The Asylum's take on it would come to surface. It's safe to assume that the...

*Full disclosure: The Asylum provided a DVD copy of the film for review.

Director: Trey Stokes.

Writers: Paul Bales, and Herman Melville.

Moby Dick gets a remake in The Asylum's November 23rd release entitled 2010: Moby Dick. The picture dumbs down Herman Melville's original 19th Century written work and themes of good vs. evil, or social class are long forgotten. Instead, the predominant theme of revenge is one which only mildly satisfies. Even Barry Bostwick's melodramatic acting as Captain Ahab cannot save this sinking sub, which is cheaply made and dramatically written.

In case you have not read the original, Captain Ahab is wounded by a large mythical white whale, who now has an appetite for skimpily bikini clad women and stationary oil rigs (modern version). Ahab makes it his life's mission to save the Us Navy from the rampagings of this 500 foot beast, to no avail.

The shopping season starts early if you have a gamer who is also a horror fan on your chopping list. On Tuesday, Namco will release the much anticipated Splatterhouse on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles. If you have been following Uncle Creepy on Twitter, you've heard him gush about this game. According to him ... there are lots of things gushing in this title.

If you're not much of a gamer, there aren't many horror goodies to get excited about this week. Unless you're down for an Asylum created CGI whale competing with your turkey (pun intended), along with a couple of other creatures. Rounding up the list is a British import and a cool looking indie offering that looks to make you shed some plasma.

Splatterhouse (Video Game) on Xbox 360 & Playstation 3

By Namco

Follow Rick and his mystical Terror Mask as he unmercifully tears, cuts and beats his way...

The motto at The Asylum seems to be: go big or go home. This movie production company specializes in enlarging benign ocean creatures and turning the sea into a battlefield. The latest animal to get super-sized is the whale in The Asylum's 2010: Moby Dick. This is a "modern adaptation of the classic novel" (Asylum) and this literature buff wonders what author Herman Melville would think of this update.

Happy or not, 2010: Moby Dick will go straight-to-dvd and Captain Ahab will be played by Barry Bostwick ("Ghost Whisperer"). Also starring is Renee O'Connor (Bitchslap) and this film releases November 23rd. Have a look at the trailer, as giant mammals go tow to tow with smaller, but smarter animals (humans).

This short overview is courtesy of The Asylum:

"A modern adaptation of the classic novel of the captain of a high tech submarine and his obsessive quest to destroy the...

The Asylum, the studio behind "Transmorphers" and "Snakes on a Train," has now released the trailer for "2010: Moby Dick," their version of Herman Melville's tale. Check it out below. The movie pins "the world's biggest creature and the man who hunts them down." The man is Captain Ahab, who is played by Barry Bostwick ("Spin City"). And he's joined by Dr. Michelle Herman, played by Renee O'Connor (Bitch Slap). "2010: Moby Dick" is scheduled to hit stores on DVD on November 23rd. No word on why the studio put "2010" in the title when the release date is a month from 2011. Trailer: If you cannot see the player, click here.

I'm not sure what Herman Melville would think if he were alive today and saw the trailer for The Asylum's 2010: Moby Dick. He'd probably be more upset to know that whaling is predominantly outlawed and frowned upon by modern society. He'd probably also be tickled to see the guy from MegaForce hamming it up as Captain Ahab.

The studio that has already given us mega sharks and mega piranhas is now giving us a mega whale, but don't call this Mega Dick. 2010: Moby Dick transports Herman Melville's timeless tale of revenge and man vs. nature to modern times by transforming the Great White Whale into a pissed-off prehistoric mega beast, Captain Ahab into a high tech submarine commander, and introduces a scientist named Dr. Michelle Herman played by Xena's former sidekick Renee O'Connor to no doubt provide copious amounts of explanatory exposition in between whale attacks and Ahab outbursts.

Filed under: Features

Fifteen years ago, the world was introduced to a television treasure: 'Xena: Warrior Princess.' Yes, 'Xena' is a treasure, because despite what some people may think, despite its over-the-top cheesecake factor and despite its blatant disregard for history, it was a gem of a TV show. Plus, it introduced us to Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor.

'Xena' was a trailblazer. 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 'Alias' and even newer shows such as 'Covert Affairs' and the new 'Nikita' remake owe a certain something to the beloved Warrior Princess. The series helped reshape the leading lady on TV for good, and for that reason alone, we as an audience should be eternally grateful.

 

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I hadn't intended to write another article about The Asylum's forthcoming take on Moby Dick so soon after an article mentioning it along with several other upcoming Asylum genre offerings, but since they've now put out artwork and some production stills and other sites have picked up on it, might as well...

The Asylum's updated take on Herman Melville's classic tale of obsession, revenge, and whaling sees the captain of a high-tech submarine on an obsessive quest to destroy the enormous prehistoric whale that maimed him. Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, MegaForce) and Renee O'Connor (aka Xena's sidekick Gabrielle) star.

It cannot be coincidence that The Asylum chose to get into the giant prehistoric killer whale business so soon after archaeologists discovered fossils of a species of prehistoric whale so ginormous they gave it the scientific name "Leviathan melvillei" after both the biblical monster Leviathan and...

Once notorious for making mockbusters of major motion pictures, now it appears The Asylum has found a new niche making ridiculous b-movies. You have to be embracing absurdity if you're releasing a movie called Titanic II and following it up with a modern updating of Moby Dick that involves a high-tech sub and a prehistoric monster whale. Not to mention a Paranormal Activity-ish horror set inside of John Wayne Gacy's house.

Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, "Spin City") and Renee O'Connor (Xena's sidekick "Gabrielle") have just begun filming The Asylum's take of Moby Dick, set to be released to DVD on November 23rd.

A modern adaptation of the classic novel of the captain of a high tech submarine and his obsessive quest to destroy the enormous prehistoric whale that maimed him.

Whether this Moby Dick will attempt to follow in the campy footsteps (Should that be finsteps?...

Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), seen left, has announced his participation in the Collective Development feature A State of Hate. From the press release the film is "inspired by true events" (Collective) and this reviewer hopes that writer Anthony Hornus can back up this claim. Based on true events is a title that gets slapped on a lot of horror films. Meanwhile, the film has also cast DJ Perry (An Ordinary Killer), Renee O'Connor (Xena: The Warrior Princess), Terence Knox (Tour of Duty), Tony Becker (Dean Teaster's Ghost Town), Renee Geerlings (Halloween II), and actor-comedian Johnny Dark. Shooting takes place within the state of Michigan and the film is a period piece that takes place in 1976. A "racial divide" and "simmering racial" tensions are sparked with the death of a "young black woman," (Collective) while white detective Lynn Kendall investigates. This action thriller will move into production once casting is complete, with more details inside.

Ernie Hudson, best known of course to horror fans for his recurring role as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbuster films, is attached to star in Anthony Hornus' upcoming A State of Hate, which is a sequel to Hornus' 2003 film An Ordinary Killer. Hudson will play Nate Wallace, the father of a young murder victim in a small Michigan town.

The screenplay for A State of Hate was penned by Hornus and New York Times bestselling authors Diane Carey and Greg Brodeur (Star Trek series). The production company is Lansing, Michigan-based Collective Development Inc. Both An Ordinary Killer and A State of Hate are "based on/inspired by true events".

The movie will be filmed on location entirely in Michigan, and Hudson's co-stars include DJ Perry (pictured below with Hudson), who reprises his role as Detective Lynn Kendall from the recently released Special Edition of An Ordinary Killer, as well as Renée O'Connor,...

In our first annual Top 50 Lesbian and Bi Characters poll, we asked you to vote for your favorite characters from film, television, and internet shows.

You cast your votes, and now we have the results. Before we reveal the winners, let's take a look at some of the trends that emerged.

Almost all of the characters were from films and television shows that made their debut after the year 2000. A few of the exceptions include Kerry Weaver from ER, and the ass-kicking ladies from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

While most of the characters were from Us productions, a fair amount came from international shows, including our top two characters (from the UK show Skins).

Also notable was the fact that some of your favorite characters, the leads from Xena: Warrior Princess (which ran from 1995-2001) and Idgie Threadgood from the film Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), were never officially presented as lesbian or bisexual.

From the 1950s through the 1970s many a producer could make a nice career out of producing low budget exploitation films. Roger Corman turned his studio into a training ground and provided us with a generation of terrific filmmakers. Many who make films today were heavily influenced by these films and Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez paid homage with their Grindhouse extravaganza.

Exploitation movies are critic-proof. They will find their audiences thanks to the copious amounts of blood, senseless violence, and frequent displays of cleavage. But, for the most part, their time has come and gone as roadhouse promotions and drive-in theatres have gone the way of the nickelodeon. As a result, you have to admire anyone who sets out to make one these days.

Bitch Slap, out this week on DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, is the latest such attempt at recreating a lost genre. Rick Jacobson...

The DVD artwork has just arrived for Bitch Slap, which released today. The film is part rockabilly, part action film, and part sex-ploitation. A little something for everyone appears in Bitch Slap and while the film has not been reviewed here there are over a dozen movie clips on the project below, that will give viewers a feeling for the film. Bitch Slap stars Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, and Renee O'Connor and one of the extra features from the DVD is below (behind the scenes featurette).

The synopsis for Bitch Slap here:

"When three curvaceous babes arrive at a desert hideaway to steal from an underworld kingpin, things quickly spiral out of control. Allegiances are switched, truths are revealed, criminals are unmasked and nothing is quite what it seems as the fate of the world is precariously balanced among this trio of sexy femmes fatales" (IMDb).

Release Date: March 2nd (DVD).

Director/writer: Rick Jacobson.

"Desperate Housewives" gave viewers a girl-on-girl kissing scene last season, and it appears once was not enough for the ABC soap.

Reports online say that Teri Hatcher's character, Susan, will be kissing another woman in the near future. There's no word on who the kissee will be, but our money's on Julie Benz's stripper character, Robin, who begins a guest arc on Sunday's (Jan. 31) episode.

As you may recall, Susan also shared a smooch with Gaby (Eva Longoria Parker) last season -- after sending a message she didn't intend to send to her lesbian boss (played by Swoosie Kurtz). Or perhaps you didn't. Both kisses were played as comedy, and neither was especially memorable.

Will the show do it better this time around? Time will tell. In the meantime, we offer up a few other iconic woman-to-woman kisses in TV history.

"Roseanne," 1994

In an episode aptly titled "Don't Ask,...

You can bring home a B-movie throwback on DVD this March. Bitch Slap will be released on DVD on March 2. This DVD will be priced at $22.98 Srp and you can take a look at the cover art below. The film stars Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo, Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. Trixie, Hel and Camero may look good on the outside, but they're nothing but badass on the inside.When the tempting trio arrives in the desert to retrieve stolen jewels at a ruthless gangster's hideout, they find themselves competing against an assortment of bizarre criminals - and each other. But what else can one expect from a down-on-her luck stripper, a drug-running killer and a ball-busting businesswoman? Bounding with violence and excess galore, Bitch Slap is a wildly explosive tribute to the sensationalistic style of the cult exploitation genre and a modern throwback to the "B" movie film genre.

"Bitch Slap" is a new action film directed by Rick Jacobson, from a screenplay by Jacobson and Eric Gruendemann.

Described as a post-modern throwback to Russ Meyer, Roger Corman 'el cheapo' exploitation films of the 1950's-1970's, music for "Bitch Slap" was composed by John R. Graham with cinematography by Stuart Asbjornsen.

The film begins when three 'bad girls', including a stripper, drug-running killer and corporate powerbroker, arrive at a remote desert hideaway to extort a ruthless underworld boss.

"...Soon things quickly spin out of control as allegiances change, truths are revealed, other criminals arrive and the fate of the world hangs in the balance as the trio are forced to confront a villain much worse than they ever expected...themselves..."

Erin Cummings plays 'Hel', America Olivo is 'Camero' and Julia Voth is 'Trixie', with Lucy Lawless as 'Mother Superior', Minae Noji as 'Kinki', Kebin Sorbo as 'Mr.

Check out the trailer for Im Global and Epic Slap's "Bitch Slap," starring Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo, Michael Hurst, Ron Melendez, William Gregory Lee, Minae Noji, Scott Hanley, Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, Renée O'Connor, Mark Lutz, Zoe Bell and Debbie Lee Carrington. The film is set to premiere in theatres and VOD on January 8th next year. See all the posters and movie details in the "Bitch Slap" group! "Bitch Slap" is a post-modern, thinking man’s throwback to the “B” Movie/Exploitation films of the 1950’s - 70’s as well as a loving, sly parody of the same. Inspired by the likes of Dragstrip Girl;, Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill; Kung Fu Nun and the pantheon of Blaxploitation films, Bitch Slap will mix girls, guns, outrageous action and jaw-dropping visuals with a message… don’t be naughty! At its core, Bitch Slap follows three bad girls (a down-and-out stripper,...

This film is currently making the film festival circuit including a Trinity of Terrors screening and fans can take another look at a trailer for Bitch Slap before seeing the film in Vegas. The story seems to be a distraction as three beautiful women do there best to titilate the audience. Possibly a low brow comedy Bitch Slap looks like a lot of fun and can be seen in Vegas this Friday, October 30 at 6:30.

A short synopsis for Bitch Slap here:

"Bitch Slap is an exploitation film that mixes hot girls, fast cars, big guns, nasty tongues, outrageous action and jaw-dropping eye candy with a message…don’t be naughty."

Director: Rick Jacobson.

Writer: Rick Jacobson.

Cast: Lucy Lawless, Kevin Sorbo, Renée O'Connor, Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo, Michael Hurst, and Ron Melendez.

Release: December 14, 2008

A trailer for Bitch Slap below:...

Have a question about something fantasy-related? Ask the Oracle! (Be sure to include your first name and the city, state, and/or country you are writing from.) Q: Will Renee O'Connor guest-star on Lucy Lawless' upcoming series Spartacus: Blood and Sand? -- Jan, Albuquerque, Nm A: The Oracle can reveal that she definitely won't be appearing in the first season. "Once Lucy's there, [having Renee join her] spins it all different for a different group of people and so it's just not appropriate," Xena creator (and Lucy Lawless' husband) Rob Tapert tells the Oracle. Still, Tapert does leave the door open for a possible future guest spot.

#8 Bitch Slap Directed by Tick Jacobson A post-modern, thinking man's throwback to the 'B' Movie/Exploitation films of the 1950s-70s as well as a loving, sly parody of the same, Bitch Slap stars Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo and Michael Hurst, with cameos by Lucy Lawless, Kevin Sorbo, and Renée O'Connor. Director Rick Jacobson cleverly delivers nods to the down-and-dirty sexploitation classics, with this tongue and cheek, hard and hitting thrill ride, that is guaranteed to please its audience. - Visit the official website [1] [1] http://www.bitchslapmovie.com/...

The second annual West Hollywood International Film Festival will run Wednesday through Saturday at various West Hollywood theaters.

The fest kicks off at the Pacific Design Center with the short film "Words Unspoken," starring Renee O'Connor, and the documentary "Annul Victory," about the ongoing battle waged by gay and lesbian couples in their quest for civil rights.