'Xena' joins US 'Football Wives'

Star of Xena: Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless is being lined up to play bitchy Tanya Turner in the US version of ITV show Footballers' Wives.

The US network ABC has also signed Stomp the Yard star Brian White and Night Stalker actress Gabrielle Union to play Beckham-like couple Kyle and Chardonnay. Bryan Singer, the director of Superman Returns and X-Men, is expected to direct the pilot.

The Shed Production format is being renamed Football Wives and will made by Disney's Touchstone Television with Ugly Betty writer Marco Pennette.

Though a full series has not been commissioned, executives are positive. The UK version already has a loyal audience on BBC America.

Lawless will play the "bitchy" role made famous by Zoe Lucker in the original ITV1 series, which was axed in the UK last year.

The New Zealand-born actress has also recently starred in Battlestar Galactica and appeared on US singing contest Celebrity Duets.