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Spartacus - Comic-Con 2009

Starz Network will premiere it's new show, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, at Comic-Con 2009 in San Diego.

June 29, 2009
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Spartacus - Comic-Con 2009 Credit: Starz

Vitals

While compiling a list of Comic-Con TV panels for San Diego next month, we came across the announcement that Starz would be premiering it's new sword-fest, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Uh, say what, now? Spartacus? To the GOOGLE machine, Batman!

Here's the skinny: Starz continues to push it's way into original content, after the the very funny first season of 30-something angst and failure study, Party Down. From producers Sam Raimi (maybe you've heard of him) and Rob Tapert, comes Spartacus. The story will focus around the titular character, a solider in the Roman auxillary who is captured and sentenced to die in the gladitorial arena.

Largely shot on green screen, it looks like the show will be more "300" than the other easy comparison of HBO's epic, Rome. John Hannah will star as Batiatus, the owner of the gladiator school ol' Sparky is sent to. And Tapert's wife, the Cylonicious Lucy Lawless (maybe you've heard of her), will play Lucretia, Batiatus' missus.

Other cast-members include:

  • Erin Cummings (“Dollhouse”) as Thracian priestess Sura, Spartacus’ wife;
  • Peter Mensah (“300,” “Avatar”) as Doctore, Batiatus’ most loyal and trusted slave;
  • Manu Bennett (“30 Days of Night,” “The Condemned”) as Crixus, the top gladiator at Batiatus’ Ludus;
  • Antonio Te Maioha (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” “Legend of the Seeker”) as Barca, a big, hulking brute of a man who is Batiatus’ bodyguard and hit man;
  • Craig Parker (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “Legend of the Seeker”) as Glaber, a Roman Legate, who blames Spartacus for his failed military campaign

  • Nick E. Tarabay (“Crash,” “The Sopranos”) as Ashur, a former gladiator who is now the Ludus’ resident bookie


    • It looks like we won't see Spatacus until 2010, but you can see new comer Whitfield, Mrs. Lawless and Peter Mensah at the CC panel, sometime on July 24th. We'll keep you updated with more details.

    See More: Spartacus: Gods of the Arena | Andy Whitfield | Lucy Lawless | News | Spartacus | Starz