Steven S. DeKnight is ready to dive into the bloody world of Spartacus once again, as it has been announced that he’s currently developing a sequel series at Starz.
The Spartacus sequel series will “explore uncharted territory and new journeys of the original series’ iconic characters. In the aftermath of the defeat of Spartacus and his rebel army in the series finale, the new drama will depict a new tale of treachery, deceit, and blood unfolding beneath the foreboding shadow of Rome.” The first season of Spartacus, subtitled Blood and Sand, told the story of the man who would become Spartacus as he was sold into slavery and trained to become a gladiator. Filled to the brim with gruesome blood and sexual content, Spartacus was something to behold, particularly with its unique visual style and scripting. Tragically, Andy Whitfield, who played the title character, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and later died, but not before giving his blessing that the series should continue. Following a prequel series, Liam McIntyre took over the role for Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned.
“It’s such an incredible honor to be invited to return to the world of Spartacus and to be met with unbridled creative support from my colleagues at Starz and Lionsgate,” Steven S. DeKnight said in a statement. “Together we are crafting something truly unique and unusual for the next chapter in this epic story.” Kathryn Busby, president of original programming at Starz, added, “It has been over a decade since Spartacus delighted international audiences and we are thrilled to reimagine and expand this gripping, action-packed drama for our viewers today. Spartacus has deeply invested fans who are eager for its return, and we look forward to working with Steven on this exciting next chapter.” Steven S. DeKnight will serve as showrunner and executive producer of the Spartacus sequel series.
While Spartacus may have begun as a guilty pleasure for me, it consistently improved over all four seasons of the series, so I am more than excited to see what the next stage of the story will bring. Gratitude, Mr. DeKnight!
What are you hoping to see from the Spartacus sequel series? And which characters (of the very few who survived) would you like to see return?