“Xena: Warrior Princess (2024)” is more than a reboot—it's a resurrection. The legendary warrior of Greek myth and 90s television returns in this gritty, high-powered fantasy adventure, reimagined for modern audiences but still beating with the heart of the original. Stylish, empowering, and fiercely performed, the 2024 film reclaims the throne of sword-and-sandal epics.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King), the new Xena film is set in a ravaged land torn apart by warlords, gods, and ancient magic. At the center of it all is Xena (played by Sofia Boutella, Atomic Blonde, Rebel Moon)—a once-feared war criminal seeking redemption by defending the innocent and destroying the empire she once served.
From the opening scene—Xena riding alone through a burning battlefield with nothing but a bloodied sword and her iconic chakram—the film declares itself serious, cinematic, and emotionally rich.
Boutella brings a raw physicality and quiet torment to Xena that both honors Lucy Lawless’s iconic portrayal and pushes the character into deeper territory. This Xena is older, wiser, and more dangerous than ever—but still haunted by her past. Her scars are both visible and emotional.
The dynamic between Xena and Gabrielle (played by Florence Pugh) is the film’s emotional center. No longer just the wide-eyed bard, Gabrielle here is a former pacifist turned warrior-poet, whose evolving relationship with Xena brings both tenderness and tension. Their bond is romantic, spiritual, and tested in every scene—a beautiful evolution of the original series’ coded subtext into something authentic and powerful.
The plot follows Xena’s return to her homeland, only to discover a new warlord—Drakon, played chillingly by Pedro Pascal—has raised a cult in the name of Ares, the fallen god of war. Xena must rally old enemies, forge new alliances, and confront her own legacy to stop a war that could tear the mortal and divine realms apart.
Action-wise, the film delivers. The fight choreography is visceral, bone-crunching, and beautifully stylized—mixing martial arts, acrobatics, and weapon mastery. One standout battle takes place on a collapsing temple bridge during a thunderstorm—Xena and Gabrielle versus twelve assassins—using nothing but chains, flame, and instinct.
Visually, it’s lush and textured, blending the mysticism of Greek mythology with the grit of real-world combat. Gods appear as visions in mirrors. Spirits whisper through wind. The film never loses its mythic feel, and composer Bear McCreary’s epic score gives it all a soaring pulse.
The climax pits Xena against Drakon in a brutal sword duel surrounded by fire and prophecy. But it’s not brute force that wins—it’s mercy. It’s memory. It’s Gabrielle’s voice in the darkness.
The final scene? Xena walking away from a battlefield, arm in arm with Gabrielle, as a new empire rises—this time led by justice.
Xena: Warrior Princess (2024) is a triumphant return—violent, vulnerable, visionary. It balances epic spectacle with deep character work, myth with meaning. Whether you're a fan of the original or new to the legend, this film proves the world still needs a warrior princess.
