MovieChat Forums > Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) Discussion > Lawless wants the Xena character in the ...

Lawless wants the Xena character in the reboot to be black and lesbian


http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/08/lucy-lawless-next-xena-black-lesbian/

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Know what I'm sick n tired of? Inserting characters just because of their ethnic/racial background in order to cater to the politically butthurt crowd and avoid being accused of not including enough of this or including too much of that.

XENA is supposed to be Greek. Greeks are Caucasian. Unless reboot means turning her into an African warrior princess in which case having a black lead would fit. Too bad Gina Torres isn't 15 years younger. She was sensational as Nebula in Hercules and she'd have made an awesome Xena this time round.

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Please stop talking.


So Lawless wants a black Xena? You realize the original show had Greek people speaking English and other-non white characters right? It's a *beep* fantasy show. Or did you think a show with harpies in it was a documentary?

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No, but the one with herpes was.

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So you are also sick and tired of having non-white characters played by Caucasian actors too? Plenty of examples of that, but I doubt you are outraged by that.

Besides, you actually think this show has anything to do with cultural or historical accuracy? First of all, the show focuses around mythological characters, not historical figures. The portrayals have little to do with original sources. I'm pretty sure Greek goddesses didn't speak like Valley Girls back in the day. But oh no, we can't have a black actress playing a made-up fictional character in a show that has constant inside jokes or modern references. That would be outrageous.

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"Know what I'm sick n tired of?"

right wing snowflakes jumping on any fake story about fake SJW, crying themselves to the keyboard.

grow a pair.

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That was extreme an a archieve

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The referee has spoken the truth!

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they should just finish the script, cast, and film the pilot already. if it's crap it won't make it anyway.

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That's easy for you to say. However, the people who have to put up millions of dollars on something that potentially "won't make it anyway" are more likely to invest whatever time it they feel is necessary to make sure they've got the concept as well-developed as they can get it before they have to start writing the big checks.

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more likely to invest whatever time it they feel is necessary to make sure they've got the concept as well-developed as they can get it

I agree. Javier Grillo Marxuach has finished the script and consulted NBC and Rob Tapert, and the went back to make changes. I imagine he must of done this a few times. Perfecting it.

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I have no problem with this.

Here is an interesting article about Africans in Ancient Greek art.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/afrg/hd_afrg.htm

A couple more articles:

Did the ancient Greeks get their ideas from the Africans?
http://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/greek-philosophers-african-tribes.htm

5 Ancient Black Civilizations That Were Not in Africa
http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/04/16/5-ancient-black-civilizations-africa/

The are many other articles on this subject. Just look up: greece africa ancient history

So Lucy's idea is quite plausible and doable.

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"But Lawless is the first to suggest the lead role should be reimagined as an African-American."

LOL at the "American" bit. Whoops.

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Captain Rex: In my book, experience outranks everything.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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African, African-American, and black are not the same thing. Black is a more general term that can refer to a lot of different people, but African or African-American is very specific.

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I have no idea why you felt the need to explain this to me. The entire point of my post is laughing at the article's use of the term "African American" when such a term makes no sense in Ancient Greece. I didn't think I would have to explain why that was funny.

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Captain Rex: In my book, experience outranks everything.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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If you were smarter you would have realized that I was not explaining anything to you, but elaborating on what you said.

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Then say so. I can't read your mind. A reply to someone is usually just that, unless the person says otherwise or made a mistake.

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Captain Rex: In my book, experience outranks everything.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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Haven't we learned anything from the Ghost-busters' remake? The original was a good spin-off with some appeal earlier on but the further it gets from the successful formula with more of a stupid agenda it portrays will only guarantee its failure.


Stay tuned for the documentary: "From Wheaties to Fruit Loops...the Bruce Jenner story"

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So what if a black actress just happened to be the best one for the role? Would you still complain?

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As long as it was done for her being the right actress who could carry the role, sure :)

But making a change for change's sake or making a statement (hence my Ghostbusters reference) is messing with a successful recipe; why fix what isn't broken?


Why do you ask?


Stay tuned for the documentary: "From Wheaties to Fruit Loops...the Bruce Jenner story"

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The best actress for Xena is still Lucy Lawless.

I'm still praying this reboot is cancelled. It would be cool concept if this was a sequel with the original actors reprising their roles but actresses over the age of 40 scare people evidently.

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Why would you pray for it canceled? People are obviously looking forward to it. Just don't watch it. A sequel isn't going to happen. As far as I know, the actors have no interest in reprising their roles.

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Captain Rex: In my book, experience outranks everything.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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[deleted]

With Xena tho race is incidental. She dosent really have to be Greek she just ended up there. Our Xena traveled this one can too.

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Well, her having a home town in Greece was important.

Of course, her family could have traveled before she was born or while she was young. That could have inspired her travels as an adult.
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Captain Rex: In my book, experience outranks everything.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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Yeah, and Marcus was black and presumably Greek as he went to the Greek underworld.

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I would rather see a xena continuation of the show instead

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I don't think race is the issue. But what does she mean, "make her lesbian" as if her character wasn't? Xena and Gabrielle were turned into heroes for the LGBT community when their characters were clearly heterosexual in the beginning. Now days you can't have people who remain close friends without having some sexual connection. I'm tired of shows pushing this.

This would fail and fail badly.

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How were they clearly hererosexual from the beginning? Because showing interest in men can't mean they like women too? Because Gabrielle in the first episode didn't throw herself at Xena or anything...oh wait she did!


Of all the fandoms you would think Xena's fandom would
be one of the less homophobic/biphobic ones guess not...

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The creators meant for the characters to be straight in the beginning. They didn't start playing around with the idea that they weren't until they realized that the lesbian community really latched onto them as a couple. Because, you know, the whole tomboys-are-all-lesbians stereotype...

What LL probably means is that the character should be written with a homosexual intent in mind from the beginning, not shoe-horned in and never stated outright later on because of fandom.

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This reboot is truly a terrible idea. They need to leave the classics alone.

As for the lead being a black woman, I am all for black female visbility. I just don't think this is the right role for that. Maybe Gabrielle could be black but I just always picture Xena as a white woman. I am a black female myself and I just think this reboot is desperate and unecessary.

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Personally I don't want a Reboot. I feel like it's Hollywood trying to push some political agenda to the people instead of caring for the project like the new ghostbusters film. I wouldn't mind her being Lesbian as long as it makes sense for her to be one and not just shoved down our throats to please those side of the fandom and there fan fiction. A lot of people complained about Wonder Woman being Bi sexual now in comics and to me it makes sense. She is a woman from a Island full of Amazons for thousand of years what do you expect? No men. I wouldn't mind as long as it made sense to the story. And as for the Black Female idea I don't mind that as well. I'm all for diversity roles in a show or movie. Like Spider-man with Mary Jane being Black. I was all for that. But it just doesn't fit Xena for me. But if the actress is great in the role then I am all for it. I just don't want the Reboot lol. I'm fine with the older series. Well Stargate reboot cancelled so maybe this will hopefully.

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"push some political agenda to the people instead of caring for the project like the new ghostbusters film"

oh my gaaawd, female comedians. blasphemy. sigh.

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