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Can you believe it’s been over a decade since Spartacus first brought its blood-soaked, action-packed drama to our screens? Back in 2010, this hit show redefined the historical epics with its unapologetic intense storytelling and raw actions. Though Gladiator and Rome did lay the groundwork for sword-and-sandal greatness, Spartacus intensified the level, delivering four seasons of unforgettable action.

Of course, it wasn’t just the on-screen drama that had us hooked to our screens, behind the scenes, the heartbreaking loss of Andy Whitfield after Season 1 broke our hearts. But the series persevered, with Liam McIntyre stepping in to finish this epic saga of the Thracian rebel leader.

A still from Spartacus (Credits- Starz)

And the legacy of the legendary storyline has now returned once again with the upcoming spinoff, Spartacus: House of Ashur. Reportedly, Starz is revisiting the story but with an added twist, what if Ashur, the scheming underdog...

They say “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” But the Romans gave a thumbs down when they didn’t like a gladiator. I’m not legally allowed to do that for Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” because somebody trademarked “thumb reviews”, but let’s just say the temptation was there. “Gladiator II” isn’t a complete fiasco, and God knows there are worse sword-and-sandal movies, but it isn’t a worthy follow-up to the original.

We’re going to need to play a little catch-up here, because “Gladiator II” assumes you remember the plot of the original. Russell Crowe starred as Maximus, a Roman General who — thanks to the murderous schemes of Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) — became a slave, and then worked his way up to the most famous gladiator in Rome. Maximus’ popularity and open defiance of the Emperor was dangerous to Commodus’ regime, so he challenged...

The new “Spartacus” live-action prequel, is set in an alternate timeline, with actor Nick Tarabay, reprising his “Spartacus: Vengeance” role as the cunning gladiator 'Ashur’, with Lucy Lawless as ‘Lucretia’, Tenika Davis as ‘Achillia’, Jamaica Vaughan as ‘Hilara’, Ivana Baquero as ‘Messia’, Leigh Gill as ‘Satyrus’, Jordi Webber as Tarchon’, India Shaw-Smith as ‘Viridia’ and Claudia Black as ‘Cossutia’, airing in 2025 on Starz:

"...'Spartacus: House of Ashur' will be a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience…

‘…that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit.

"The series poses the question: what if 'Ashur', played by Nick Tarabay…

“…hadn't died on 'Mount Vesuvius' at the end of 'Spartacus: Vengeance'?

“This will be accomplished by a recreation…

“…of his original death scene. But this time he won’t die.

"And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by 'Batiatus'…

“…in return...

Exclusive: Marvel’s Moon Knight Director Mohamed Diab has revealed fresh details about his new feature Lion, starring Egyptian megastar Mohamed Ramadan in a role inspired by Ancient Rome rebel slave Spartacus.

“It’s a period piece, a kind of Spartacus meets Braveheart set in 1850s Egypt,” said Diab, talking to Deadline on the fringes of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival.

Currently mid-way through shooting in Cairo, Lion marks Diab’s first picture back in his native Egypt since 2016 breakthrough Clash. In between times, he made the Palestine-set drama Amira, followed by directing Moon Knight for Marvel.

Diab has revealed very little about the new movie, which was originally announced under the title of Black Lion and is being billed as his most ambitious Arab-language production to date.

“It’s about slavery in the 1850s. It’s an epic film. It’s not based on a real person but inspired by true events.

Actress Lucy Lawless, memorable as the decadent “Lucretia’ in the original “Spartacus” TV series, returns to guest star in the upcoming “Spartacus: House of Ashur" TV series, currently shooting in New Zealand, starring Nick Tarabay, reprising his “Spartacus: Vengeance” role as the conniving gladiator 'Ashur’, with Tenika Davis as ‘Achillia’, Jamaica Vaughan as ‘Hilara’, Ivana Baquero as ‘Messia’, Leigh Gill as ‘Satyrus’, Jordi Webber as Tarchon’, India Shaw-Smith as ‘Viridia’ and Claudia Black as ‘Cossutia’, airing in 2025 on Starz:

"...'Spartacus: House of Ashur' will be a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience…

‘…that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit.

"The series poses the question: what if 'Ashur', played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn't died on 'Mount Vesuvius' at the end of 'Spartacus: Vengeance'?

“This will be accomplished by a recreation of his original death scene. But this time he won’t die.

Onetime Westworld denizen Tessa Thompson will headline a series adaptation of Alice Feeney’s 2020 thriller novel, His & Hers, which has landed at Netflix with a six-episode order after being in development for more than four years.

“Set in the sweltering heat of Atlanta, Anna (played by Thompson) lives in haunting reclusivity, fading away from her friends and career as a journalist,” reads the official synopsis for the TV series, which relocates the action from London, England to the capital of Georgia. “But when she overhears about a murder in Dahlonega – the sleepy town where she grew up – Anna is snapped back to life,...

Suits alum Patrick J. Adams and Grey’s Anatomy grad Jerrika Hinton are the latest cast additions to Accused Season 2 on Fox, TVLine has learned exclusively.

Based on the BBC’s BAFTA Award-winning crime anthology and developed by Howard Gordon, Fox’s Accused each season serves up collection of topical and human stories of crime and punishment. Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, each episode promises a provocative thriller, exploring a different crime, in a different city, and with an entirely original cast.

More from TVLineLucy Lawless to Reprise Spartacus Role in Starz Sequel House of...

All hail the queen: Lucy Lawless will reprise her Spartacus role as Lucretia in the upcoming Starz sequel series Spartacus: House of Ashur, our sister site Deadline reports. (TVLine has reached out to Starz for comment.)

Lawless will guest-star in the premiere episode, with Lucretia “elevating” all that’s around her. Lawless debuted as Lucretia on Spartacus: Blood and Sand and then reprised the role in spinoffs Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Spartacus: Vengeance.

More from TVLineAccused: Patrick J. Adams, Jerrika Hinton Join Season 2 Cast of Fox Crime Anthology (Exclusive)Maura Tierney Joins Law & Order as Series Regular (Exclusive...

Move over, Xena! Deadline reports that Lucy Lawless is set to return to her other iconic role, that of Lucretia in the upcoming Spartacus: House of Ashur series.

Sadly, Lawless’ return won’t be as a series regular, but as a guest-starring role in the premiere. The report states that her appearance “will be instrumental in setting up the ‘what if’ alternate timeline.” In a statement on X, creator Steven DeKnight said, “The gods bless the House of Ashur! Thrilled to have the amazing [Lucy Lawless] dropping in to grace us with her awesome presence!“

House of Ashur is described as a “history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit. The series poses the question: what if Ashur, played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance? And what if he had been gifted...

Exclusive: Starz’s return to the Spartacus universe with House of Ashur poses the question: What if Ashur (Nick Tarabay) hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance and instead was gifted Batiatus’s Ludus in return for helping to kill Spartacus and end the slave rebellion?

The answer will arrive in the premiere episode via Og Queen Bee Lucretia, as Lucy Lawless sets her return in a guest-starring role “elevating” all that’s around her. Her appearance will be instrumental in setting up the “what if” alternate timeline.

In addition to Tarabay, the series will also star Graham McTavish, Tenika Davis, Jamaica Vaughan, Ivana Baquero, Jordi Webber, Claudia Black, India Shaw-Smith and Leigh Gill.

Spartacus creator, writer and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight returns to the franchise he helped create as showrunner and executive producer of Spartacus: House of Asher, a new original series Starz describes as a “history-bending,...

A ‘Must See TV’ vet is headed back to NBC.

Maura Tierney has been tapped to join Law & Order in Season 24 as a series regular, sources confirm to TVLine exclusively. Character details are being kept under wraps, but we hear Tierney will be playing a new lieutenant.

More from TVLineAGT Reveals Another Golden Twist Before Going on Olympic HiatusLaw & Order: Svu Promotes Kevin Kane Ahead of Season 26Lucy Lawless to Reprise Spartacus Role in Starz Sequel House of Ashur

This marks Tierney’s return to NBC’s Thursday lineup following her decade-long stint on ER.

The news comes after Camryn Manheim...

Those About to Die is an epic sword-and-sandal historical drama series created by Robert Rodat. Based on the 1958 novel of the same name by author Daniel P. Mannix, the Peacock series revolves around the lives of the gladiators and citizens of the Roman Empire in Ancient Rome, where violence, greed, and lust run rampant. Those About to Die stars Anthony Hopkins, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins-Court, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, and Emilio Sakraya. So, if you loved the epic fights, brutal violence, and historical drama in Those About to Die here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Rome (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Rome is a historical drama series created by John Milius, William J. MacDonald, and Bruno Heller. The HBO series is set in the 1st century BC during Ancient Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire,...

"Spartacus: House of Ashur", currently shooting in New Zealand, from “Spartacus” creator Steven S. DeKnight, is a new over-sexed, blood-soaked 10-episode live-action Ancient Rome drama series, starring Nick Tarabay, reprising his “Spartacus: Vengeance” role as the conniving gladiator 'Ashur’, with Tenika Davis as ‘Achillia’, Jamaica Vaughan as ‘Hilara’, Ivana Baquero as ‘Messia’, Leigh Gill as ‘Satyrus’, Jordi Webber as Tarchon’, India Shaw-Smith as ‘Viridia’ and Claudia Black as ‘Cossutia’, airing in 2025 on Starz:

"...'Spartacus: House of Ashur' will be a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience…

‘…that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit.

"The series poses the question: what if 'Ashur', played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn't died on 'Mount Vesuvius' at the end of 'Spartacus: Vengeance'? This will be accomplished by a recreation of his original death scene. But this time he won’t die.

"And what if he...

The action-packed trailer for Paramount’s Gladiator II has racked up 215 million global cross-platform views in just a few days and suggests Ridley Scott might have pulled off his long-awaited sequel to his Oscar-winning 2000 epic. The new film is led by Paul Mescal as a grown-up Lucius and also stars Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington in what looks to be a rousing spectacle.

But there is a cohort of fans who claim they are not entertained. While Paramount’s official trailer on YouTube (watch it below) ranks as one of the studio’s most-watched in a 24-hour-period ever, and plenty of fans have been wildly enthusiastic, it also has 133,000 likes vs. 279,000 dislikes and counting. That’s very unusual for a major tentpole release.

Wading into the comments on the video and on X (not recommended), there seem to be three reasons for the backlash — and two are specific to the...

Starz has announced casting for its epic new series Spartacus: House of Ashur, which has started production in New Zealand. Outlander’s Graham McTavish has joined the cast as Ashur’s Doctore, who trains the gladiators.

Tenika Davis has joined the cast as the first female gladiator in the Spartacus universe, a fierce warrior driven to surpass her male counterparts and earn her freedom.

Jamaica Vaughan, Ivana Baquero, Jordi Webber, Claudia Black, India Shaw-Smith, and Leigh Gill will also join Nick Tarabay in the epic new saga as series regulars.

Graham McTavish plays Korris, a former gladiator who won his freedom in the arena and is now Ashur’s Doctore, training the gladiators in Ashur’s Ludus. Tenika Davis plays Achillia, a female gladiator driven to surpass her male counterparts.

Jamaica Vaughan plays Hilara, a young, elevated house slave deeply in love with Ashur. Ivana Baquero plays Messia, a house slave who loves Hilara.

Production on Spartacus: House of Ashur is currently underway in New Zealand, and the rest of the main cast for the upcoming Starz series has been revealed.

The series’ main cast will include Graham McTavish (The Witcher), Tenika Davis (Jupiter’s Legacy), Jamaica Vaughan (Home and Away), Ivana Baquero (Pan’s Labyrinth), Jordi Webber (Choose Love), Claudia Black (Farscape), India Shaw-Smith (The Pines Still Whisper), and Leigh Gill (Joker). Of course, Nick Tarabay will be reprising the role of Ashur, a former gladiator who used his cunning to serve the house of Batiatus and later the Romans in the original series.

Graham McTavish plays Korris, “a former gladiator who won his freedom in the arena and is now Ashur’s Doctore, training the gladiators in Ashur’s Ludus.“ Tenika Davis plays Achillia, “a female gladiator driven to surpass her male counterparts.“ Jamaica Vaughan plays Hilara, “a young, elevated house slave, deeply in love with Ashur.

Starz hit the Television Critics Assn. press tour Thursday with a new tagline (“We’re All Adults Here”) and news on several new and returning series — including a greenlight for the yakker “Fat Joe Talks” (hosted by the “What’s Luv” hip-hop star) and news that it had acquired the U.S. and Canada broadcast rights to “Sweetpea,” a new drama starring and executive produced by Ella Purnell.

Starz also announced new castmembers for its upcoming spinoff “Spartacus: House of Ashur,” the latest series in the “Spartacus” universe. Graham McTavish joins the cast as Ashur’s Doctore, who trains the gladiators. Tenika Davis (“Jupiter’s Legacy”) will play the first female gladiator in the “Spartacus” universe, described as “a fierce warrior driven to surpass her male counterparts and earn her freedom.”

Joining them are Jamaica Vaughan (“Home and Away”) as “Hilara,” a young, elevated house slave, deeply in love with Ashur...

Starz has set the main cast for the latest installment of the “Spartacus” Universe: Spartacus: House of Ashur, led by franchise star Nick Tarabay reprising the role of the titular Ashur. Production on the Steven S. DeKnight-led, 10-episode series is underway in New Zealand.

“And who will fight Ashur? Choose carefully, for I long for blood”—Ashur

The main cast includes Graham McTavish (The Witcher), Tenika Davis (Jupiter’s Legacy), Jamaica Vaughan (Home and Away), Ivana Baquero (Pan’s Labyrinth), Jordi Webber (Choose Love), Claudia Black (The Nevers), India Shaw-Smith (The Pines Still Whisper) and Leigh Gill (Joker).

Spartacus: House of Ashur is described by the network as a “history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit. The series poses the question: what if Ashur, played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance?...

Ashur’s world just got a little more full: The Spartacus sequel series House of Ashur has added eight new cast members, including Outlander’s Graham McTavish, Starz announced Thursday.

McTavish will play Korris, a former gladiator who won his freedom in the arena and is now Ashur’s Doctore, training the gladiators in Ashur’s ludu.

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Also joining the...

Crime drama My Life Is Murder will return to Acorn TV with a two-episode premiere on Monday, June 17. It will also co-premiere on BBC America, with two episodes premiering weekly on Mondays on both platforms.

Starring Lucy Lawless as the fearless and unapologetic investigator Alexa Crowe, this new season features a slew of puzzling cases ranging from homicidal hairdressers to wicked widows and brutal ballet to deadly soufflés.

There are eight new mysteries, eight new worlds, and eight diabolical killers that only Alexa Crowe (Lawless) can catch.

But this time, Alexa is bringing her friends and family along for the ride: Tech guru Madison is stepping up and contributing her considerable technical skills to Alexa’s investigations. The two of them have fallen into a comfortable mentor-mentee relationship. However, neither of them will ever agree on who is the mentor and who is the student.

Cafe owner Reuben steps in.

Before joining The Walking Dead universe as Pearl Thorne in The Ones Who Live, Lesley-Ann Brandt starred in a variety of roles for TV and film. The South African actor is well-known for taking on projects in horror, fantasy, and other traditionally “nerdy” genres, having appeared in shows like Gotham, The Librarians, and most notably Lucifer.

With a variety of roles under her belt, here’s where else you’ve seen Lesley-Ann Brandt before.

Lucifer

As mentioned previously, Brandt is most known for her role as Lucifer’s (Tom Ellis) right-hand Mazikeen in the hit TV series Lucifer. Mazikeen a.k.a. Maze is known for her fierce loyalty, though she sometimes struggles to adapt her brash nature to the human world. Brandt does a phenomenal job of portraying Maze’s growth from demon with a penchant for sadistic torture to a slightly more vulnerable and human demon with a penchant for sadistic torture.

Paramount could throw Ridley Scott to the lions if Gladiator 2 fails to perform like gangbusters at the box office. A new report from The Hollywood Reporter reveals the ballooning cost of production on the anticipated sequel, with insiders close to the project saying the film budgeted at $165 million is closer to $310 million. Let that amount sink in for a moment.

Per THR’s sources, the net cost of the 49-day shoot was under $250 million. “It’s a runaway,” says one source. “It’s not being managed.” How did this happen? The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes did not help. Production for Gladiator 2 shut down in July because of the negotiations, costing the studio $600,000 a week, roughly $10 million. Scott resumed filming in December, though some say he continued to capture footage using extras during the strikes.

Some wonder if the Gladiator 2 set was cursed. In June, six crewmembers sustained non-life-threatening burn injuries.

CBS has found its Everest, ordering to series the mountain climbing competition series The Summit.

Hosted by Spartacus and Arrow vet Manu Bennett, the show follows 16 strangers as they embark on “a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the treacherous New Zealand Alps in an attempt to reach the peak of a distant, towering mountain,” per The Summit‘s official description. “With their backpacks containing an equal share of $1 million, the group must traverse an exhausting distance in just 14 days in order to win the cash they are carrying. But not everyone will make it, as these strangers must work together to tackle the dangerous terrain,...

"Spartacus: House of Ashur",from "Spartacus" creator Steven S. DeKnight, stars Nick Tarabay, reprising the role of gladiator 'Ashur’, in a new 10-episode live-action drama series, despite the character being killed off in “Spartacus: Vengeance”, airing in 2024 on Starz:

"...'Spartacus: House of Ashur' will be a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience…

‘…that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit.

"The series poses the question: what if 'Ashur', played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn't died on 'Mount Vesuvius' at the end of 'Spartacus: Vengeance'?

"And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by 'Batiatus' in return for aiding the 'Romans' in killing 'Spartacus' and putting an end to the slave rebellion?..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Ridley Scott’s Napoleon and Michael Mann’s Ferrari are facing allegations — surprising for two films focused on straight white male protagonists — of cultural appropriation.

French and Italian critics have taken offense at the directors’ decisions to cast American actors to play national icons — Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, the general who became French emperor, and Adam Driver as visionary Italian carmaker Enzo Ferrari — and, adding insult to injury, having them speak in English.

“It’s original sin,” wrote a Ferrari reviewer for Italy’s Movieplayer magazine on the casting of Driver, alongside Spanish actor Penélope Cruz as Ferrari’s wife, Laura, and American Shailene Woodley as his mistress. “Not just to have them speak English, but with a dodgy Italian accent.”

“Deeply clumsy, unnatural and unintentionally funny” was French GQ’s assessment of the very French characters of Napoleon and his lover Josephine (played by Brit Vanessa Kirby) speaking en anglais.

It’s time to get back to work! The end of the 118-day SAG-AFTRA strike is finally here, and production for some of Hollywood’s most anticipated films can resume! With writers, actors, crew members, and more returning to Tinseltown, cinephiles can expect release date shuffles, reshoots, and creative shake-ups for projects across the entertainment spectrum. For example, Riley Scott’s Gladiator 2 will return to production when set builders repair the project’s elaborate filming environments.

In Malta, sets for Gladiator 2 are in disrepair. Months of neglect have caused the open-air set to “deteriorate” since July. The damaged locations include a massive recreation of ancient Rome, including a lifesize Coliseum desperate for some TLC – tender loving care, not the classic, safe-sex positive hip-hop band. While the crew prepares to return to the area, Scott is busy editing the 90 minutes of footage he managed to capture before the strikes told...

Starz has just announced something that will excite fans of their classic show, Spartacus. They’re bringing us a sequel series titled Spartacus: House of Ashur. It’s a thrilling development, especially for those who’ve been waiting since the last season aired in 2013.

Nick Tarabay is set to return as Ashur, and this time, the story takes an intriguing turn. Imagine Ashur didn’t die in Spartacus: Vengeance and ended up owning the gladiator school of Batiatus. That’s the twist this series will explore, diving into a ‘what if’ scenario about Ashur aiding the Romans and stopping the slave rebellion.

This sequel comes more than a decade after the original series’ conclusion, bringing a fresh angle to the Spartacus saga. Steven S. DeKnight, who brought us the original series and later worked on Marvel’s Daredevil, returns as the showrunner. DeKnight expressed his excitement about crafting this new chapter,...

"Spartacus: House of Ashur", from "Spartacus" creator Steven S. DeKnight, is a new 10-episode live-action drama series, starring Nick Tarabay as the villainous 'Ashur', a role he originated in the "Spartacus" series four season run, airing in 2024 on Starz:

"...'Spartacus: House of Ashur' will be a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit. 

"The series poses the question: what if 'Ashur', played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn't died on 'Mount Vesuvius' at the end of 'Spartacus: Vengeance'? 

"And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by 'Batiatus' in return for aiding the 'Romans' in killing 'Spartacus' and putting an end to the slave rebellion?..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Nick Tarabay to star in ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ (Photo Credit: Starz)

In February 2023, prior to the huge writers and actors strikes, Starz announced their plans to revisit the world of Spartacus. Now that the dust has (basically) settled on both strikes, Starz revealed the new Spartacus chapter will be called Spartacus: House of Ashur and that Nick Tarabay is reprising his role as Ashur.

Tarabay played the villainous character in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Spartacus creator, writer, and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight returns to guide the new 10-episode season as showrunner. “To be afforded the opportunity to return a decade later to a series you loved is such a rare, wonderful opportunity,” said Steven S. DeKnight. “I could not be more excited to craft this next chapter in the Spartacus saga with Starz, Lionsgate, and the incomparable Nick Tarabay.”

Starz’s journey...

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Thursday, November 9, 2023.

Lifetime continues to spread holiday cheer with first looks at some of its upcoming holiday movies.

We're talking Ladies of the '80s, Christmas Plus One, and more!

Christmas Plus One premieres Sunday, November 18, at 8 p.m. Et and features a stellar storyline.

"When sisters Cara (Emily Alatalo) and Amy (Vanessa Smythe) make a pact to find their soulmates by next Christmas, they're not expecting anything to come from it," the logline teases.

"However, one year later, Amy's winter wedding is approaching, and Cara finally finds her own perfect man, Chase (Andrew Bushell), who agrees to attend as her plus one.

"But after immediately losing his number, all hope is lost.

"Will she find him in time to make her Christmas wish come true?

"Or does love have other plans for Cara when magazine writer...

Starz is set to expand its “Spartacus” franchise with a new spinoff series titled “Spartacus: House of Ashur.”

The Lionsgate-owned streamer shared the news of the spinoff’s greenlight, also sharing that “Spartacus” creator, writer and executive producer, Steven S. DeKnight, will be serving as the show’s showrunner and executive producer. The series’ will have a 10-episode season, with Nick Tarabay (“Stargirl”) returning as the villain “Ashur,” whom he played in the original four-season run of “Spartacus” from 2010-2013.

“A decade ago the groundbreaking original ‘Spartacus’ captivated viewers worldwide and we’re excited to deliver more enthralling, high-octane drama that our fervent fans have been anticipating,” Starz original programming president Kathryn Busby said. “It is an honor to team up with Steven again as he expands upon the storytelling within this thrilling, action-packed universe.”

Here’s Starz’s synopsis of the show:

“’Spartacus: House of Ashur’ will be a history-bending,...

Gratitude! Starz has ordered ten episodes of Spartacus: House of Ashur, a new sequel series from creator Steven S. DeKnight.

As you might tell by the title, Spartacus: House of Ashur will feature the return of Nick Tarabay as Ashur, the cunning and manipulative ex-gladiator who proved to be a thorn in the side of Spartacus. Per the official description, “[Spartacus: House of Ashur] poses the question: what if Ashur hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of ‘Spartacus: Vengeance?’ And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and putting an end to the slave rebellion?“

“To be afforded the opportunity to return a decade later to a series you loved is such a rare, wonderful opportunity,” Steven S. DeKnight said in a statement. “I could not be more excited to craft this next chapter in the Spartacus saga with Starz,...

The world of Spartacus is expanding once again with a new series at Starz. The cabler has ordered a 10-episode season of Spartacus: House of Ashur, starring Nick Tarabay as the villainous character he played in the original Spartacus series, which aired for four seasons from 2010 to 2013.

Spartacus creator, writer and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight is also returning as showrunner and executive producer.

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The gods have granted Spartacus fans a miracle.

Starz has greenlighted the new 10-episode drama series Spartacus: House of Ashur with the return of Steven S. DeKnight to the franchise serving as showrunner and executive producer.

Nick Tarabay will reunite with DeKnight to reprise the role of the titular Ashur, the baddy from the mothership series you can’t help but cheer for while equally despising him.

Starz describes the series as “a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience” that builds on the original series, Spartacus. It will ask, “What if Ashur hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance? And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus [John Hannah] in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and ending the slave rebellion?”

A question that has yet to be answered is: With the retcon of Ashur’s death, what...

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator offered no shortage of fantastic sets which instantly transported audiences to Ancient Rome, and the upcoming sequel looks to be just as impressive. Morocco’s Minister of Culture, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, recently visited the set of Gladiator 2 and shared a few photos and a video on Instagram. He met with Ridley Scott, took pictures with extras, and toured a massive set of a walled city. Check out the photos and video below!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid (@mmbensaid)

In the translated caption, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid said, “I visited the shooting site of “Gladiator 2” movie in the city of Ourzazat after an explosion that the site has seen in recent days. The visit formed an opportunity to meet British director and producer Ridley Scott and his team, where he affirmed that Ourzazat and Morocco are a global cinematic destination,...