Xena: Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless has signed to play the proprietor of a gladiator camp in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a new series that retells the historical story of a rebel Roman slave, coming next January on Starz. The series is executive produced by frequent collaborators (and the executive producers of Xena) Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi.
The show is a big investment for Starz, a premium cable channel, with a per-episode cost of more than $2 million. As with Xena, the show will be shot in New Zealand, but much of the show will be reportedly be shot on “virtual” sets, mixing live actors and CGI backcrops.
The historical Spartacus lived from 109 to 71 BC. A slave and gladiator, he led an uprising against the Roman Republic in 73 BC. With 200 followers, he escaped the gladiator school of Lentulus Batiatus, the male basis for the character presumably played by Lawless. Spartacus was eventually joined by 140,000 escaped slaves; together they successfully fought the Republic until their defeat in early 71 BC. Unlike the famous crucifixion scene in the popular 1960 movie, Spartacus’ body was never found.
Like Spartacus, the character of Xena frequently battled Roman emperors and soldiers, and even fought as a gladiator several times herself.
Raimi created the syndicated fantasy series Legend of the Seeker, and he and Tapert are currently that show’s executive producers. Tapert is married to Lawless.
Similar Posts:
- Sex and Violence in SPARTACUS Will Be Unlike Anything on TV
- Starz Renews SPARTACUS For a Second Season (Before the Show Even Premieres!)
- Review: SPARTACUS Slays (and Guts) the Competition
- SPARTACUS to Include Lots of Sex, Violence — and Human Drama
- SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND Episode Review (1-1): This Show Rules!
![[Bloglines]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[Digg]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Fark]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/fark.png)
![[Google]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Windows Live]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
I am so there. I mean, sooooooooo there!
Me too!
Wow. This is the best news I’ve heard in a while. I’d heard about this series but didn’t know about her involvement. I adore Lucy Lawless, and I think she doesn’t get work nearly enough. I hope she doesn’t mind a little type-casting like this every now and then.
And while we’re on the subject, someone write a juicy role for Renee O’Connor!
YAY! can’t wait for this!
Best news I’ve heard in a long time. I was said when Battlestar Galactica ended, especially since Lucy Lawless wasn’t in the finale.
This is amazing! But it worried me that Lucy is being typecast!