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Spartacus Revived At Starz With Original Showrunner
It has been 10 years since the Starz network first wrapped up their popular Spartacus series, and now original showrunner Steven S. DeKnight is set to return to helm a new revival. Inspired by the historical tale of the Thracian gladiator who led a slave uprising, the show’s first season Spartacus: Blood and Sand starred the late Andy Whitfield as the titular warrior. However, after season 1 Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, so producers retooled their plans for season 2 into a prequel miniseries titled Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. The role of Spartacus was eventually recast with Liam McIntyre, who would go on to lead the show’s next two seasons, Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned.
While the 2013 finale of Spartacus: War of the Damned eventually saw McIntyre’s character meet his fate, it seems that Starz is not yet finished with the franchise.
In a recent announcement from the network (via The Wrap), it has been revealed that DeKnight will be returning to head up the revival of his hit historical drama. The new season’s official logline suggests that it will pick up after the defeat of Spartacus and his rebel army, and “depict a new tale of treachery, deceit, and blood unfolding beneath the foreboding shadow of Rome.”
How Spartacus Can Continue After Spartacus: War of the Damned
While the original Spartacus: Blood and Sand charted the title character’s rise to fame as a gladiator under the house of Quintus Lentulus Batiatus, the trajectory of his character’s story was clear to anyone familiar with the real-life history. After freeing the slaves and gladiators of the Batiatus household, Spartacus would begin to gather an army under his banner and strike fear into the very heart of the Roman Republic. This would ultimately culminate in a battle against the Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus during the events of the final season.
Though history says that Spartacus’s body was never recovered following the defeat of his forces, the final episode of Spartacus: War of the Damned poured cold water over hopes that his character might survive. During the climactic showdown with Crassus, McIntyre’s Spartacus was speared by a soldier from behind. With this ending in mind, it would suggest that whatever DeKnight has planned, it will likely not involve bringing Spartacus back from the dead.
Given the new Spartacus' premise, it is probably far more likely that it will feature the return of some familiar faces such as Todd Lasance’s Julius Ceasar. A season focused on Ceasar’s conquest of Gaul, and eventual rise to the seat of Emperor could potentially provide DeKnight with plenty of ripe story fodder. The lasting impacts of Spartacus’ failed slave rebellion could also feature heavily in such tale. However it plays out, it will be interesting to see what Starz has in store for the return of Spartacus.
