Starz is in pre-production on a six-part prequel to its original series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.”
The cable series focused on Andy Whitfield as Spartacus. The prequel, however, puts his co-stars Lucy Lawless and John Hannah at center stage as it tells the story of the rise of the House of Batiatus and its champions, before the arrival of captured slave Spartacus.
The as-yet-untitled prequel will shoot this summer in New Zealand and is slated to air on Starz in January.
Other cast members from the cable series to be seen in the prequel are Peter Mensah, Manu Bennett, Antonio Te Maioha, Nick E. Tarabay and Lesley-Ann Brandt. New characters will be added, including the gladiator who was the champion of the House of Batiatus before Spartacus.
The prequel helps fill the gap created when production on the second season of “Spartacus” was postponed due to the illness of Whitfield. Doctors say the actor is responding well to treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“The prequel story maintains the excitement and entertainment value of the first season of ‘Spartacus,’ giving audiences the engaging experience they’ve come to expect,” Chris Albrecht, Starz president-CEO, said in a statement.
Both “Spartacus” and the prequel are produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight.
