The first episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a new series starring Lucy Lawless that tells the story of the legendary rebel Roman slave, finished shooting this week in New Zealand, and those involved say it includes graphic sex and violence unlike anything ever seen on television.
“[The network] has given us quite a bit of rope with which to hang ourselves,” says Rob Tapert, the co-creator of Xena: Warrior Princess who is executive producing along with Joshua Donen and Spiderman’s Sam Raimi. “It’s unlike anything we’ve done before, because it is very hard and very explicit. It’s harder than 300,” he says, referring to Zack Synder’s explicit 2006 movie adaptation of the graphic novel.
“We have something different,” promises Tapert.
The show, which will bow in January of next year, is being produced for Starz Entertainment, the premium cable network, which estimates that each episode will cost over $2 million. The first season will run thirteen episodes.
“We’re going to cut it back on Starz, which is premium cable, so that they feel it fits within the R-rating slot,” Tapert says. “If it went into a theater, it would definitely be R-rated.”
It’s not just the violence that’s explicit. “Violence and sex,” Tapert says.
Spartacus is played by Australian Andy Whitfield. Lawless, Tapert’s real-life wife, plays Lucretia, the owner of the gladiator school where Spartacus is imprisoned.
“The guys and girls who star in it are stars,” Tapert says. “That is exciting and reassuring.”
The historical Spartacus was a gladiator-slave who lived in Rome from 109 BC to 71 BC. In 73 BC, he led a slave rebellion that eventually included 140,000 escaped slaves.
“The first season is a retelling of the legend of Spartacus leading up to him getting out of the slave prison,” Tapert says.
As with Xena: Warrior Princess, the show will also feature strong female characters. “I come from the Joss Whedon camp, so I love strong women, and I love big sweeping romantic arcs that will probably end badly, just like Joss always does,” showrunner Steven DeKnight (Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) told TV.ign.com.
The action-adventure series will also include gay characters, both male and female. “All of the above,” Tapert says.
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I MISS XENA SO MUCH THAT I WILL ACTUALLY WATCH IT. Ireally hope the can bring renee o’connor to this. it would be epic
The role in Lucy in Spartacus has turned out ambiguous, and meanwhile, interesting and bright. I am glad, what exactly Lucy Lawless have chosen for this role (and it is not surprising, because one of producers her husband). The role of Lucretia is absolutely not similar to role of Xena, and I am admired that we could see Lucy also in this way.
I really can not wait to see this show. I can’t wait to see Lucy in another ‘ancient’ role. Miss her as Xena and really hope the show will live up to my expectations.
As regards Renee O’Connor…I really don’t want her on the show. It would ruin my perception of Lucy’s character. I don’t mean it in a bad way, but throwing the two of them together would be like reheating a meal in the microwave. It just wouldn’t look, feel or taste the same…
Rob please get Renee O’connor to join the show for some episodes. lucy and renee will always be magic.u could give us what u couldn’t on xena with renee and luce..if u bring on renee i would actually watch it.
I can not wait to see all this1 Hells yeah!!
sounds great.guess Ill have to subscribe to starz. would not miss any of the episodes.
This is incredible!! I can not wait to see all this1 Hells yeah!! xX
Is it only going to be on STARZ ?
I would like to see it.
This is the closest we’re ever going to get to a Xena movie… LOL.
Wooow! That souns too good! Hope Ren makes a cameo and shares scene with Luce!
Let’s hope they do it in Spain too [pray]
Now, when they say violence, I hope they mean combat, fighting, dueling, battles. I don’t like torture or just plain eviscerations, castrations, staking, etc.
The story of Spartacus has a lot of military skill on both sides; this should be sisplayed.
LL and ROC? YEAH, MAN!!!
And-Meighan Desmond, Kate Elliott et al. New Zealand has a lot of talent, let’s see it.
Sex?-Nah, I like fights.
wow…sounds great!
of course me being a big fan of Xena, I’d have to say that Rob has no problem playing the envelope or should I say they probably gave him a really long leash!
and we can only hope ROC would agree to be in this if asked…I sure miss seeing our girls together in action!
Rob does great work and we all know how Xenites love strong womyn.
Hey maybe they could even add some of those beautiful amazon womyn too.
looking forward to it Rob!!!…btw…I’m missing my “Legend of the Seeker” right now too.
Looking forword to this show . lets hope ROB will ask RENEE O CONNOR TO GUESS STAR with LUCY. COME ON ROB LUCY AND RENEE WOULD BE AWESOME.
I am excited, but I don’t get Starz so I guess I’d have to wait for dvd.
The only thing that concerns me is that they say season one will be everything leading up the slave revolt. If the show takes off and gets a second season, I hope it won’t be like Prison Break, where the point of the show is lost after they escape.
Somehow I think it would be a bit obvious to include O’Connor in the series too, but then again, I’m not a diehard Xena fan. (Please don’t hurt me!)
This looks interesting, but I’m not terribly fond of gratuitous sex or violence, so it might take a good hook to get me to chase this down more than once online, if it ever got there, (since I don’t get the US’ premium channels!). Still, I’m always for getting more fantasy shows out there - I’m waiting for one of them to get big enough to come to Canada!
I agree with you about the violence. Gratuitous sex, on the other hand… ;-)
Mostly, this just sounds like something new and different and interesting. Maybe they can push the envelope in other ways too…
I want to see Renee.O in this serie. <3 <3 <3
This definitely has the potential to be one of the most awesome shows ever…or one of the biggest disappointments. But a reteaming of Rob Tapert and Lucy Lawless - couldn’t ask for more. And yeah, how neat would it be to see Renee O’Connor show up?
Though I’m not sure if his wife would do it, but it would be neat if he could get Renee O’Connor on as a Roman noble woman (or a slave) and have Lucretia seduce her or vice versa.
I hope that it will have all persuasions of Sex. I hope Rob keeps with his Xena fans and gives us something he couldn’t on Xena… unarguable lesbian sex. :-D
Can’t WAIT FOR THIS!!
Wow this sounds really really cool.
Almost sounds too good to be true!
I hope it does well enough to see a second season.