Another campaign, another let's give it a try

This is not to attack the current Xena movie campaign. In my best guesstimate, this is like campaign movement number 6,520,146. So, it's all been said and done before. I think with each influx of new fans or fans rediscovering the series, there's always an attempt to get the studio (Universal) to recognize the potential that a movie would bring.

The reality is, no amount of writing campaign, postcards, video watching, or Facebook likes will get the studio to budge on something nobody is entirely sure the actors want in the first place.

Yes, I know that Lucy Lawless has stated that she'd love to do a movie; however, given the fact she's stated and re-stated the fact that she's moved on with that part of her life just makes the issue all the more confusing. After all, if knew a good portion of my audience was still Xena fans, I'd probably say things that won't hurt their feelings either. And who can blame Lucy? After the vitriol spewed at her in the year after Xena ended, I'd probably play the safe bet too. The Xena fandom, yeah sure it's all nice and charitable, but when things are said that upset them--they're worse than Xena on a bad day. Now, I'm not picking on Lucy for any particular reason. I speak with fair certainty that she doesn't mean to harm people with saying she'd love to do a Xena movie.

Even if the actors were fully behind the project, that doesn't make it any more possible. The problem is, is that Universal has said repeatedly over the past six years that they are not interested in making Xena film in any shape or form. They asked people to stop writing about it because it's not going to happen.

Why history matters:

Back in the early 2000s, the Firefly fandom raised up holy hell at FOX for canceling the series without giving it a proper send off. Cult favorites tend to generate a firestorm and most never really get what the want. The Browncoats (as Firefly fans are called) started up a writing campaign to get something to wrap up the series. FOX wasn't budging--but Universal said they were interested. More fans wrote in... then in 2005 they got their wish. Universal released "Serenity."

The movie flopped at the box office. Didn't even make back what it cost to film the movie. While the home video sales did well, the reality set in for Universal that taking a series to feature film with the original cast based on a bunch of letters proved to be an utter disaster.

At the time of the failure (or least scary feelings of a possible failure), Universal dropped the Xena movie project in 2005. The "reported" story was conflict over the budget killed the movie. It might have well have been budget, but I think the failure of Serenity sealed the fate of a Xena movie. Universal is in the business of making money, Xena was a risky gamble.

Other attempts where made with Rogue Studios (a subsidiary of Universal) in late 2005 and throughout 2006. Over the next few years, rumors went around about a possible direct-to-DVD. That too failed. In 2008 and 2009 Rob Tapert officially announced that the movie was dead and that wasn't going to happen.

This is not to say don't do it. But no matter how many signatures you all get or Facebook likes you get, it won't change that the fact that Universal is NOT going to make a movie.

No 'movie'

Boy, this sure as heck doesn't come as a surprise. Rob Tapert is officially on the record as stating that there will be no Xena movie. It's official. It's dead.

This what he had to say:

“It’s something that just won’t happen,” Tapert told TheTorchOnline.com in an exclusive interview. “I don’t think it’s going to happen for Lucy and Renee. In twenty years or ten years, in some amount of years, like McGyver, like Charlie’s Angels, it [could] happen like that [with other actresses].”

Now that we have that out of the way. I won't slam people that that had some hope of there being a film on the way. I'm too old and far too tired of doing that everytime movie news comes around. But let me just say this: This shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone when for the last four years or so, TPTB constantly said: it's on the way or we'll see in a couple of months.

Personally, I think a lot of it was just mouth music and the reality that they can't keep it up any longer finally settled in and they had to square it all away.

I for one, would like to know JUST what did Ms. Katherine Fugate have in mind for a movie.

You can read more of Tapert's interview here.

Xena Convention Update

In just 12 days, the 14th Annual Xena convention kicks off at the Los Angeles Marriot (Jan. 30 - Feb. 1).

Here's some new announcements.

Rob Tapert will be appearing on Sunday. Joseph LoDuca is also a special guest (not sure what he's going to be doing). Cat Crimmins (a comedian and a Xena fan) will also be appearing.

In addition to the convention, there are two special events taking place. On Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon, there will be a Writer's Workshop hosted by Steven Seas and Paul Robert Coyle. And from 10 a.m. to noon, Hudson Leick will have a Yoga class.

Get ticket information

Here's the convention schedule (subject to change):

Thursday, January 29, 20093 pm to 7 pm:

Vendor Set-Up (vendors only please)7 pm to 9:30 pm: Gold Weekend Patrons Pre-Registration (not a necessity but a convenience: get your credentials and get first crack at souvenirs)8:30 pm to 9 pm: Preferred Weekend Patrons Pre-Registration (not a necessity but a convenience: get your credentials and get first crack at souvenirs)9 pm to 9:30 pm: Pre-Registration for all Weekend Patrons

Friday, January 30, 200910:00 am to 11:00 am:

Gold Weekend Patrons Pre-Registration11:00 am to 11:30 am: All Patrons Pre-Registration11:30 am to 5:45 pm: Registration Open, Vendors Room Open12:15 pm to 5:45 pm: Theatre Open with guests & events including Jacqueline Kim, Robert Trebor, Jennifer Sky Band and Steven Sears. Tribute to Kevin Smith.5:45 pm: Buses leave for Lucy's Concert at The Roxy Theatre7 pm: Doors Open at The Roxy for Lucy's Concert8 pm: Lucy Live in Concert at The Roxy11:00 pm (time tentative) Disco & Dessert Party and Centerpiece Contest (exclusive event for Gold Patrons Only) Tentative guests include Jacqueline Kim, Steven L. Sears, Robert Trebor and Jennifer Sky Band

Saturday, January 31, 20099 am to 4:30 pm:

Registration and Vendors Room Open10 am to 4:00 pm: Theatre Open with guests & events including Tony Todd, Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Lealand, and Hudson Leick. Bitch Slap: The Panel.4:15 pm Creation's Xena Celebrity Cabaret (complimentary for Gold and Preferred Weekend Patrons keeping their same seats, tickets available for others, see below please) An awesome performance starring Michael Hurst & Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Robert Trebor, and Steven L. Sears.5:45 pm: Buses leave for Lucy's Concert at The Roxy Theatre 7 pm: Doors Open at The Roxy for Lucy's Concert8 pm: Lucy Live in Concert at The
Roxy

Sunday, February 1, 20098 am to 10:15 am

Creation's Famous Sunday Morning Exclusive to Gold Patrons Xena Celebrity Brunch and Charity Silent Auction. Featuring HUDSON LEICK, VICTORIA PRATT, JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND, and MICHAEL HURST. Sold Out! Our selected silent auction charity is The James Ellis Foundation of Hofstra University which helps students affected by cancer go to college.10 am to 6 pm: Registration and Vendors Room Open10:30 am Photo Ops with Renee O'Connor (NOTE: this is a change from previously announced)11:30 am to 7 pm: Theatre Open with guests & events including Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Steven L. Sears, Victoria Pratt and in a rare US appearance The Widow Twanky interviewed by Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Costume Competition.

ALSO:

The Xena Online Community (The XOC http://xena.yuku.com) will have several meet-ups throughout the weekend. Just look for the big banner.

'Legend of the Seeker' premieres

Rob Tapert's new television series Legend of the Seeker premieres this weekend. I watched it on WGNAmerica this afternoon and I like it. Definitely not Xena, which is a good thing. I wrote a review for a newspaper, but I can't release it ahead of time.

I will however, release a small portion of it later in the week.

Xena movie news!

Creators would love a Xena reunion

Rob Tapert, former producer of TV's Xena: Warrior Princess, told SCI FI Wire that pretty much everyone involved in the old show would love to see Xena (Lucy Lawless) pick up her chakram once again for a TV movie or some other kind of reunion project.

Tapert said he even had an idea in mind, but that matters are entirely out of his hands.

"That's a Universal question," Tapert said in an interview, adding: "Meaning [NBC] Universal ... Television [Group]. I don't control the strings."

Xena ran from 1995-2001 and starred Lawless--aka Mrs. Rob Tapert--as the title heroine and Renee O'Connor as her plucky sidekick, Gabrielle. The show was both a mainstream and cult success during its time on the air, and to this day its stars and makers attend conventions worldwide.

Unfortunately, fans' hopes for a reunion movie have yet to be realized. "We've said long ago that we'd love to do something," Tapert said. "We have a fun, 300-style idea for it. ... I can't answer [why nothing's happening]." (NBC Universal Television is owned by NBC Universal, which also owns SCIFI.COM.) --Ian Spelling

Source: http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?id=61261

Rob Tapert discusses the series finale to Xena: Warrior Princess

On the sixth season DVD set (Best Buy Version), there was a series of interviews that covered a lot of ground. All of the DVD release contained special cut footage from the episode interviews that were included on the set. My goal is to provide fans with a sampling of what was in those interviews.

Do not comment asking if I’ll post the entire interviews. What you see is what you go. No more. No Less. Once something is captured, I will not go back and capturing additional clips.
This is the last interview from that feature. (NOTE: this interviews are only available on the Best Buy version of the sixth season). Rob Tapert talks about the finale the decision to end it the way they did. I don't provide disclaimers for any vidoes that I post. Consider this your first and only warning.

To download this clip and more clips (note: I will not provide the complete feature) click here.

Ash vs Xena or How much more can you destroy two classic franchises

In case you missed the 'hyped' announcement last week, Dynamite Entertainment announced that in March, they'll release the Army Of Darkness/Xena crossover comic book.

The announcement (which they claimed was surprising) hardly blew me way. It was rumoured after the launch of the Xena comic books in 2006 that there might be a chance for a Ash/Xena crossover (which, ahem several fanboys and fangirls foamed at the mouth for).

Now, to each his on this, but personally the writers at Dynamite need to be spanked with a wet noodle and plastered with saran wrap for coming up with something so silly. It boggles the mind that some twit at Universal actually sold the license to those people.

Even Rob Tapert said that he's not happy with how they handled Xena. And Sam, Bruce and him aren't happy with how they've handled Ash and the Army of Darkness franchise.

I say to those us that care about good quality Xena stories that are original and don't rely on crossovers to write to Dynamite Entertainment and demand they sit down with fans and find out what works and what doesn't work.