Recasting Xena: Warrior Princess For 2026: All 8 Main Characters

Geoffrey Short / ©Universal Television / Courtesy Everett Collection Published Sep 18, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Sign in to your ScreenRant account As one of the most influential shows of the 1990s, Xena: Warrior Princess would be a phenomenon if it aired in 2026, even with a completely revamped cast. Originally premiering in 1995, the series ran for six seasons and transformed Lucy Lawless' Xena from a supporting character on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys into one of the most recognizable action stars on TV. Blending mythology, adventure, and comedy with a hard-hitting sense of character-driven storytelling, Xena developed a sense of self that was culturally relevant at the time and still prevails today, over 30 years after its original airing on screen. Although modern retellings of Xena: Warrior Princess would never be able to outdo the original, their challenges would be less about recreating the show and more about how to capture the essence while creating something new. 30 years out from the original show, Xena: Warrior Princess would obviously need to revamp itself with a new cast of warriors and gods, which could be a tough sell. From rising action stars to TV veterans, a new cast of Xena: Warrior Princess would have to represent the current era, with everyone embodying their character while making them original and refreshing their story. 8 Katy O’Brian As Xena MovieStillsDB As an emerging action star in her own right, Katy O'Brian has been popping up in some tremendous roles over the past few years. Appearing in projects like The Mandalorian and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, her breakout performance was as Jackie in Love Lies Bleeding, a role that showcased her talent and her physical strength. As the focal point of Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena requires far more than athletic ability. O'Brian has demonstrated that she has the strength to embody Xena, and her martial arts background makes her the perfect fit to embody TV's most famous badass warrior princess. While a Xena of the current generation would need to have similar tones as the original, the update would need to allow for some more on-the-nose themes of the show to shine through, and O'Brian could be a great way to establish a new normal for the series. Her screen presence makes it clear that strength is a core part of Xena's character, but the vulnerability that O'Brian could bring to the role would be imperative to making Xena more accessible to today's audience. With physical credibility and the sensibility to draw viewers into the character easily, O'Brian seems perfect. 7 Amber Midthunder As Gabrielle Image courtesy of MovieStillsDb Although Gabrielle begins her time on Xena: Warrior Princess as an optimistic storyteller, her evolution to a capable fighter and leader in her own right is incredible to watch. That journey requires an actor who can portray innocence, courage, and resilience as her story grows. Amber Midthunder, who is best known for her critically acclaimed role in Prey, has demonstrated the ability to embody such growth in her past work. Midthunder has also been a versatile piece of shows like Legion, which showed her ability to move between dramatic intensity, a sense of humor, and action, building a complex threat. With Gabrielle a character who needs to be able to move through lighthearted moments to more serious, emotional storylines in order to anchor Xena, Midthunder would be an interesting choice to bring into the fold. Placing emphasis on Gabrielle's growth, even moreso than the original series did, could be a great way to update Xena: Warrior Princess, and at the same time, allow the character to take up more emotional space than she did on the original series. Gabrielle's ability to be determined is only part of her character, especially within an action series, but Midthunder could pull it off. 6 Grant Gustin As Joxer Joxer occupies a difficult space within the Xena universe, serving as comic relief but needing to broach a line that doesn't veer into the ridiculous. The best versions of Joxer balance humor and sincerity, allowing moments of courage and emotional depth to resonate with viewers. Grant Gustin, who's best known for the starring role of Barry Allen in The Flash, would be able to work through Joxer's humor to find a sense of authenticity in the character, keeping the funny character grounded while bringing his own brand of humor. Gustin's great comedic timing and earnest attitude would be great for Xena. 5 Matthew Daddario As Ares Ares is a character who is both charming and threatening in equal measures. As the God of War, he has to project power and confidence, but much of his appeal comes from his complex relationship with Xena, which requires specific sensibilities to come to life. Matthew Daddario, who is best known for the role of Alec Lightwood in Shadowhunters, has the ability to play a character who maintains emotional restraint while handling deep inner turmoil. Physically, Daddario would be a great fit for Ares, bringing a seductive, intimidating, and occasionally sympathetic character to life with his range and overall ability. 4 Jessica Henwick As Callisto Courtesy of the Everett Collection Arguably the most challenging role in the entire series, Castillo requires someone who is able to embody the tragic villain while making the character compelling, intense, and all-consumed with her quest to take revenge. With roles in demanding projects like Iron Fist, The Matrix Resurrections, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Jessica Henwick has made it clear she can be a versatile actor, bringing intelligence and emotional nuance to each and every role. Henwick's extensive experience in action-heavy productions would help her in embodying Castillo, and the potential to redefine the character would be a great way to pay homage. 3 Nicola Coughlan As Aphrodite As one of the most entertaining supporting character of the Xena universe, Aphrodite is able to inject humor and unpredictability into the story, but frequently proves that she's compassionate and emotionally intelligent at the same time. Nicola Coughlan, who's become one of the most charismatic TV performers of the era, has been able to embody interesting and hilarious characters in shows like Derry Girls, and taken on romantic roles with her turn on Bridgerton. Coughlan's comedic chops would make her a great pick for Aphrodite, who needs to be able to be comedic, but more than simply a comic relief. 2 Manny Jacinto As Autolycus Julie Edwards/Future Image/Cover Images Autolycus combines charm, humor, intelligence, and a sense of self-interest as The King of Thieves, stealing scenes because he operates on a different wavelength than others. Remaining entertaining, the character has to be sympathetic enough that audiences are willing to forgive his flaws, and no one has demonstrated more of an ability to do just that than Manny Jacinto. During his time as Jason Mendoza on The Good Place, Jacinto made it clear that he could play a lovable oaf who got in his own way. While Autolycus is a very different style of character, Jacinto's style would fit perfectly. 1 Richard Madden As Julius Caesar As one of the most important historical figures within the Xena mythology, Julius Caesar is an important historical figure and figures into the series in an interestingly ambitious way. Manipulative, intelligent, and politically skilled, Caesar plays a huge role in shaping Xena's dark past, which requires an actor who can feel influential while also seeming like a personal piece of the puzzle. Richard Madden, who's made his career playing politically savvy leaders like Robb Stark on Game of Thrones, can easily convey ambition without sacrificing emotional complexity. Madden would be a great fit for the Xena: Warrior Princess of today. Release Date 1995 - 2001-00-00 Network Syndication Showrunner Sam Raimi Directors Garth Maxwell, Rick Jacobson, Mark Beesley, Josh Becker, Charles Siebert, T.J. Scott, John Fawcett, Michael Hurst, Michael Levine, Oley Sassone, Charlie Haskell, Doug Lefler, Gary Jones, John Laing, Bruce Campbell, Jace Alexander, John T. Kretchmer, Paul Lynch, Renee O'Connor, Stephen L. Posey, Chris Martin-Jones, Christopher Graves, Allison Liddi-Brown, Anson Williams Writers R.J. Stewart, Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster, Emily Skopov, George Strayton, Hilary Bader, Terence Winter, Tom O’Neill, Carl Ellsworth, Chris Black, Peter Allan Fields, Jeff Vlaming, Alan Jay Glueckman, Eric Morris, Gene O'Neill, Gillian Horvath, Katherine Fugate, Linda McGibney, Melissa Blake, Noreen Tobin, Ashley Gable, Brenda Lilly, James Kahn Creator(s) Robert Tapert, John Schulian