Actress Lucy Lawless and her husband are fighting over the rights to cult show XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS because they want to make a movie based on the series.

New Zealander Lawless starred in the fantasy show, which was created by her husband ROB TAPERT, who also produced the long-running program.

Tapert is hoping to buy the rights for the show from bosses at Universal so he can make a new film.

Lawless tells internet site SciFiwire.com, "I think a movie would be great, and I'd love to do it. I've been wanting to do it for years.

"But nobody can agree who owns the rights, and it's a big fat pain in the ass."