Spartacus (Starz television series)
Encyclopedia
Spartacus is a television series imagined by Steven S. DeKnight
for the Starz premium television channel. The first season of the show, Spartacus: Blood and Sand
which premiered in January 2010, portrays a depiction of life in B.C.
era Capua
, Rome
. The core of the drama revolves around the life of a Thracian slave, Spartacus
& the happenings within where he lives, a gladiator
ludus (the Latin word for the gladiator's training grounds) belonging to lanista (the Latin word for legal head of a family of gladiators) "Quintus" Lentulus Batiatus
.
The second season Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
, a prequel, focuses on the ludus' rise to prominence prior to Spartacus arriving.
A third season is planned to premiere 2012
is thought to have been a hierarchal society suffering from the ills of greed & corruption. The show adheres to that notion in its illustration of manipulative, envious relationships between powerful figures, particularly politicians, lanistas, and the wives of both groups. In contrast, slaves are portrayed as truthful, noble, & capable of love, fighting & killing as a consequence of their position as slaves.
Batiatus' two-story ludus appears perched on top a mountain overlooking Capua. The main residence is on the top floor, and the gladiator's quarters and training courtyard, are on the bottom. The two settings are distinguishable from one another. The owner's residence is clad with granite floors and marble columns, while slave-girls dressed in white stolas tend to their owner's house and overindulgence in wine. However, the barracks appear dungeon like. The floors are scattered with hay. Dimly lit cells are barred with metal. Gladiators share cells with one exception. The champion fighter of the house is permitted to stay in a private room with wooden door. Wine is also stored on the ground floor which serves as the central place of communication between gladiators and slave-girls.
During the day, gladiators train under the instruction of the Doctore in a courtyard which sits in view of an upper balcony which Batiatus & his wife frequently make use of to entertain guests with interest of the gladiators. Training occurs with wooden versions of their preferred weapons so as not to injure their training partner. One edge of the courtyard is open to a deep valley to discourage escape. The courtyard also doubles as a place of cremation and coinciding ceremonies.
When the gladiators fight at the arenas (old & new), the crowd is depicted as blood thirsty, violent, and savage. Some women go topless with no punishment or unusual treatment. Capua's old site of sport shown in Gods of the Arena was filmed in an outdoor square location with no more than twenty seating wooden seating benches (stadium style) per each side of the square sand box, with an elevated platform on one side for VIPs. The new arena is a massive ovally shaped venue akin to the Colosseum
. Due the large scale of Roman architecture, the creators decided to render the arena through computer graphics
and special effects. The desired effect of a realistic depiction was successful.
. He immediately began treatments and in a May 2010 interview with British media outlet, The Guardian
, cast member John Hannah stated the cancer was in remission. In a July interview at the San Diego Comic-Con, Whitfield's hair remained intact and he appeared healthy in comparison to his being on the show. Despite plans of returning to the show for another season, in September he issued a statement in a Starz press release that the cancer had returned and that he would be resigning from the show.
Due to the chaotic nature of cancer, upon learning of his illness, creators developed a 6-episode prequel, Gods of the Arena. The prequel did not include Spartacus in the storyline.
Speculation of who would come to be recast as Spartacus was seen in web articles as early as November. Three individuals were strongly being considered; Stephen Amell
, Aiden Turner
, and Liam McIntyre
. In January 2011, Starz released a statement confirming McIntyre being recast as Spartacus along with Whitfield giving his blessing to the hiring.
The next season, set to air in 2012, will star McIntyre.
Steven S. DeKnight
Steven S. DeKnight is an American television screenwriter, producer, and director. He is best known for working on Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel. He has also written "Swell", a story in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer season eight comic series, and served as a consulting producer...
for the Starz premium television channel. The first season of the show, Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
which premiered in January 2010, portrays a depiction of life in B.C.
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
era Capua
Capua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
, Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. The core of the drama revolves around the life of a Thracian slave, Spartacus
Spartacus
Spartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable...
& the happenings within where he lives, a gladiator
Gladiator
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
ludus (the Latin word for the gladiator's training grounds) belonging to lanista (the Latin word for legal head of a family of gladiators) "Quintus" Lentulus Batiatus
Lentulus Batiatus
Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Batiatus was the Roman owner of a gladiatorial school in Capua , in southern Italy. It was from this school that in 73 BC, the Thracian slave, Spartacus, and about 70 to 78 followers, escaped...
.
The second season Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a Starz television mini-series and prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which premiered January 21, 2011. The series follows the character Gannicus , the first gladiator to become Champion of Capua representing Lentulus Batiatus...
, a prequel, focuses on the ludus' rise to prominence prior to Spartacus arriving.
A third season is planned to premiere 2012
Setting
As Spartacus lived from 109 BC – 71 BC, it can be inferred that the story takes place around 2100 years ago. At that particular moment in history, the Roman RepublicRoman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
is thought to have been a hierarchal society suffering from the ills of greed & corruption. The show adheres to that notion in its illustration of manipulative, envious relationships between powerful figures, particularly politicians, lanistas, and the wives of both groups. In contrast, slaves are portrayed as truthful, noble, & capable of love, fighting & killing as a consequence of their position as slaves.
Batiatus' two-story ludus appears perched on top a mountain overlooking Capua. The main residence is on the top floor, and the gladiator's quarters and training courtyard, are on the bottom. The two settings are distinguishable from one another. The owner's residence is clad with granite floors and marble columns, while slave-girls dressed in white stolas tend to their owner's house and overindulgence in wine. However, the barracks appear dungeon like. The floors are scattered with hay. Dimly lit cells are barred with metal. Gladiators share cells with one exception. The champion fighter of the house is permitted to stay in a private room with wooden door. Wine is also stored on the ground floor which serves as the central place of communication between gladiators and slave-girls.
During the day, gladiators train under the instruction of the Doctore in a courtyard which sits in view of an upper balcony which Batiatus & his wife frequently make use of to entertain guests with interest of the gladiators. Training occurs with wooden versions of their preferred weapons so as not to injure their training partner. One edge of the courtyard is open to a deep valley to discourage escape. The courtyard also doubles as a place of cremation and coinciding ceremonies.
When the gladiators fight at the arenas (old & new), the crowd is depicted as blood thirsty, violent, and savage. Some women go topless with no punishment or unusual treatment. Capua's old site of sport shown in Gods of the Arena was filmed in an outdoor square location with no more than twenty seating wooden seating benches (stadium style) per each side of the square sand box, with an elevated platform on one side for VIPs. The new arena is a massive ovally shaped venue akin to the Colosseum
Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
. Due the large scale of Roman architecture, the creators decided to render the arena through computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
and special effects. The desired effect of a realistic depiction was successful.
Seasons
- Season 1 (2010), Spartacus: Blood and SandSpartacus: Blood and SandSpartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
- Prequel (2011), Spartacus: Gods of the ArenaSpartacus: Gods of the ArenaSpartacus: Gods of the Arena is a Starz television mini-series and prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which premiered January 21, 2011. The series follows the character Gannicus , the first gladiator to become Champion of Capua representing Lentulus Batiatus...
- Season 2 (2012), Spartacus: VengeanceSpartacus: VengeanceSpartacus: Vengeance is a Starz television series and the second season and sequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and is scheduled to premiere on January 27, 2012...
Andy Whitfield's departure & recasting of Spartacus
On March 9, 2010, several media entities reported Andy Whitfield being diagnosed with early-stage non-Hodgkin lymphomaNon-Hodgkin lymphoma
The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of blood cancers that include any kind of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphomas. Types of NHL vary significantly in their severity, from indolent to very aggressive....
. He immediately began treatments and in a May 2010 interview with British media outlet, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, cast member John Hannah stated the cancer was in remission. In a July interview at the San Diego Comic-Con, Whitfield's hair remained intact and he appeared healthy in comparison to his being on the show. Despite plans of returning to the show for another season, in September he issued a statement in a Starz press release that the cancer had returned and that he would be resigning from the show.
Due to the chaotic nature of cancer, upon learning of his illness, creators developed a 6-episode prequel, Gods of the Arena. The prequel did not include Spartacus in the storyline.
Speculation of who would come to be recast as Spartacus was seen in web articles as early as November. Three individuals were strongly being considered; Stephen Amell
Stephen Amell
Stephen Amell is a Canadian actor known for his role on the television series Rent-a-Goalie, as well as his work co-starring opposite Shirley MacLaine and Mischa Barton in the feature length motion picture Closing the Ring....
, Aiden Turner
Aiden Turner
Aiden Turner is a British actor known for his role as Aidan Devane on All My Children , which he played from 6 June 2002 until he left AMC on 21 December 2009.-Early years:...
, and Liam McIntyre
Liam McIntyre
Liam McIntyre is an Australian actor most known for his work in several short films and guest starring roles in Australian TV series...
. In January 2011, Starz released a statement confirming McIntyre being recast as Spartacus along with Whitfield giving his blessing to the hiring.
The next season, set to air in 2012, will star McIntyre.
Main Cast
| Character | Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gods of the Arena Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a Starz television mini-series and prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which premiered January 21, 2011. The series follows the character Gannicus , the first gladiator to become Champion of Capua representing Lentulus Batiatus... |
Blood & Sand Spartacus: Blood and Sand Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S... |
Spartacus: Vengeance Spartacus: Vengeance Spartacus: Vengeance is a Starz television series and the second season and sequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and is scheduled to premiere on January 27, 2012... (2012) |
|
| Spartacus Spartacus Spartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable... |
Andy Whitfield Andy Whitfield Andy Whitfield was a Welsh actor and model. He was best known for his leading role in the Starz television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand during 2010, a year before his death at the age of 39.-Career:... |
Liam McIntyre Liam McIntyre Liam McIntyre is an Australian actor most known for his work in several short films and guest starring roles in Australian TV series... |
|
| Quintus Lentulus Batiatus Lentulus Batiatus Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Batiatus was the Roman owner of a gladiatorial school in Capua , in southern Italy. It was from this school that in 73 BC, the Thracian slave, Spartacus, and about 70 to 78 followers, escaped... |
John Hannah John Hannah (actor) John David Hannah is a Scottish actor of film and television. He has appeared in Stephen Sommers' Mummy Series, Richard Curtis' Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow... |
||
| Lucretia | Lucy Lawless Lucy Lawless Lucy Lawless, MNZM is a New Zealander actress and singer best known for playing the title character of the internationally successful television series Xena: Warrior Princess.... |
||
| Doctore/Oenomaus Oenomaus In Greek mythology, King Oenomaus of Pisa, the father of Hippodamia, was the son of Ares, either by the naiad Harpina or by Sterope, one of the Pleiades, whom some identify as his consort instead... |
Peter Mensah Peter Mensah Peter Mensah , is an English/Ghanaian actor, best known for his roles in Tears of the Sun and 300, and more recently on the Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.-Early life:Mensah comes from an academic family... |
||
| Crixus Crixus Crixus was a leader of the slave rebellion in the Third Servile War, along with Spartacus and Oenomaus.He was a Gaul , and had been a slave for several years before the revolt. Crixus had fought for the Allobroges against the Romans and had been captured. Like his companions, Crixus had trained as... |
Manu Bennett Manu Bennett Manu Bennett is an actor from New Zealand who has appeared in television series and movies.- Early life :Born in New Zealand, Bennett's mother was an Australian bikini model, his father a New Zealand singer. The family moved to Australia when Bennett was a few months old... |
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| Ashur | Nick Tarabay Nick Tarabay Nick E. Tarabay is an American actor of Lebanese descent.- Early life :Tarabay was born in Tripoli, Lebanon to a large family. His mother and father still reside in Lebanon as does his younger brother and a large extended family of cousins, uncles and aunts. He moved to New York after high school... |
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| Barca | Antonio Te Maioha Antonio Te Maioha Antonio Te Maioha is a television and film actor from New Zealand. He first came to international prominence when he played a gladiator named Barca in the television drama Spartacus: Blood and Sand.-Background:... |
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| Naevia | Lesley-Ann Brandt Lesley-Ann Brandt Lesley-Ann Brandt is a South African-born actress who is based in Auckland, New Zealand, and Los Angeles, United States. Brandt has acted in a number of New Zealand television series and first came to international notice with her role as a slave girl Naevia in the series Spartacus: Blood and... |
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| Solonius | Craig Walsh Wrightson | ||
| Gannicus | Dustin Clare Dustin Clare Dustin Clare is a Logie Award winning Australian actor. He is best known for his starring role as Gannicus in the Starz mini-series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and will reprise his role in Spartacus: Vengeance.-Biography:... |
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