LotS: Elements from later novels

Spider-Man director Sam Raimi is taking on a different heroic tale as executive producer of Legend of the Seeker (Nov. 1, check local listings), based on the Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind.

"It's an exciting story of heroes, and it's a love story. And it's got a lot of action," Raimi says.

In Seeker, Richard Cypher (Craig Horner) and Kahlan (Bridget Regan), aided by the wizard Zedd (Bruce Spence), are on a quest to stop tyrant Darken Rahl (Craig Parker) from releasing an ancient evil. The first season will track Wizard's First Rule but will include elements from later novels, says Rob Tapert, also an executive producer.

Raimi and Tapert produced Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

The new series should appeal to families, as those earlier shows did, but "it's a little straighter in its tone, a little bit more serious of a drama," Raimi says. —Bill Keveney