Rob Tapert, the producer of the television series Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess is returning to New Zealand to produce 22 episode’s of Wizard’s First Rule for Disney-ABC Domestic Television and ABC Studios. Variety recently reported that the series has already been sold. Each hour-long will have a different New Zealand director and will be shot over a 36 month period starting in June 2008.

Robe Tapert married Lucy Lawless the star of Xena in 1998 and will be working with Spider-man director Sam Raimi on Terry Goodkind’s popular fantasy book series. The major roles in the series will be handed to American actors with New Zealanders likely to be offered on the minor roles.