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 into the world of gladiators began in 2010 with Spartacus: Blood and Sand starring Andy Whitfield in the title role. Sadly, Whitfield passed in September 2011 at age 39 from non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. A prequel to Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena starring Dustin Clare and Manu Bennett, debuted in 2011. Spartacus: Vengeance with Liam McIntyre in the lead role aired in 2012, with Spartacus: War of the Damned following in 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,” stated Kathryn Busby, President of Original Programming, STARZ. “It is an honor to team up with Steven again as he expands upon the storytelling within this thrilling, action-packed universe.”
Starz offers this description of the new chapter:
“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?”
