Sci-Fi channel has snapped up the UK, pay-TV rights to ABC Studio's Legend of the Seeker, a fantasy drama series executive produced by Spider-Man director Sam Raimi.

The channel has acquired the first two seasons, which each comprise 22 x 60-minute episodes, from Disney/ABC/ESPN Television and it will debut the drama in August.

The story centres on woodsman Richard Cypher, played by Australian actor Craig Horner, who unwittingly possesses magical powers. He becomes duty-bound to use his skills against an evil tyrant named Darken Rahl, who commands an increasingly threatening army. The fantasy drama is based on The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind.

Legend of the Seeker premiered in the US on the ABC network in 2008 and was confirmed for a second season earlier this year.

Sci-Fi has picked up several US drama acquistions in recent years that have gone on to become cult hits, ranging from Heroes - debuting in the UK on Sci-Fi before its move to the BBC - to Dollhouse, from Buffy creator Joss Whedon.

Charlotte Ashton, vice president of programming and marketing, NBC Universal Global Networks UK, said: "Legend of the Seeker is an exciting addition to the channel’s summer primetime schedule. In keeping with our other first run offerings Knight Rider and Dollhouse, its pedigree has ensured one of the most anticipated fantasy series launches of 2009. The sword-n-sorcery sub-genre has a worthy new hero in Legend of The Seeker, which we expect the UK audience to fully embrace."

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The first season of the sexy syndicated fantasy series Legend of the Seeker, based on Terry Goodkind's popular "Sword of Truth" books, comes to its exciting conclusion this weekend (check your local listings for times). Bridget Regan, who plays sword-wielding hottie Kahlan—a woman with the enviable power to make men confess—takes the time to divulge some secrets of her own.

Kahlan is pretty badass!
[Laughs] I'm fighting large men like three times a week. Certainly, I'm not scared of bumps in the night anymore. I feel like I could take a guy. I feel pretty tough!

There must be times where you wish you had her confessor power...
Oh my gosh, absolutely not! I think about it often and at first it sounds really great, bending anyone to your will, but the mythology of it is a bit more complicated than that. The character that I play, she's proud to be who she is, but at the same time it's a burden, because it's almost like being a judge or holding someone's life in your hands. You want to do the right thing—you're responsible for these people.

One of the cool perks of your job must be working with Aussie hunk Craig Horner, who plays the titular Seeker, Richard Cypher. He goes shirtless at least once per episode!
I feel bad for him when it's cold out, but it comes with the territory. I'm pro-nudity—it's a shame we're not on some channel where we could go further, because the books are quite racy, and there's way more violence. I was shocked when I read them the first time, I was like "How are they going to do this on TV if it's not HBO or Showtime?" But I feel like they've pushed the line as far as they can. We'll see what we can get away with [next].

OK, the finale, spill it!
It's so crazy. This episode has things that I could never see coming. I got to work a lot with Craig Parker [who plays baddie Darken Rahl]—it was so fun. Really heavy stuff for me, but I really enjoyed it.

Is anyone in danger?
Everyone's always in danger on Legend of the Seeker! I don't' want to give away too much, but it's pretty high stakes. There's a new character introduced, which is really exciting for us, and probably book fans will go nuts because, from what I understand, she's a favorite.

What's in store for Richard and Kahlan?
We're torn apart and in different places. It's really them trying to fight to get back to each other.

Were you a sci-fan fan before Legend?
I didn't know anything about it at all! I felt quite ignorant to everything. I play the scenes trying to imagine it's real. It certainly takes more imagination than playing an actress who lives in New York. [Laughs] If I did that, that wouldn't be much of a stretch.

Any plans to attend Comic Con this summer?
I really hope so, but I think we'll be in the thick of working in New Zealand [where Legend films]. Maybe we'll do some cool satellite thing, because it's time for the show to shine!

Who'd win in a battle, Xena: Warrior Princess or Kahlan?
Lucy Lawless is amazing—I've had dinner with her a few times and she's so cool. She did that show for so many years, that I'm sure she would totally kick my ass. After a few more years under my belt, I could try. [Laughs]

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