John Hannah and Lucy Lawless will star in an upcoming six-part prequel to “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.”
The prequel will focus on the rise the House of Batiatus through the eyes of Batiatus (Hannah) and his wife Lucreti (Lawless) prior to Spartacus' arrival as a slave.
Production will begin in New Zealand this summer, with the currently untitled prequel slated to air on Starz in January 2011.
Several additional characters will also return, including Doctore (Peter Mensah), Crixus (Manu Bennett), Barca (Antonio Te Maioha), Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay) and Naevia (Lesley-Ann Brandt). The prequel will also introduce several new characters, including the gladiator who was the House of Batiatus' champion before Spartacus and Crixus.
“The prequel story maintains the excitement and entertainment value of the first season of ‘Spartacus,’ giving audiences the engaging experience they’ve come to expect,” said Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht. “We look forward to continuing the Spartacus story.”
Earlier this year, production was halted on the second season of "Spartacus" due to actor Andy Whitfield's Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Whitfield is currently responding well to treatments in New Zealand and will reprise his role as Spartacus in two episodes of the prequel.
Producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight will remain on board for the six-part prequel.
