Starz Preps Spartacus Prequel

LOS ANGELES: Starz has announced that pre-production is underway on a six-part prequel to its original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand for a January 2011 premiere.

The acclaimed original series has been renewed for a second season but production was recently postponed to the spring to accommodate star Andy Whitfield cancer treatments in New Zealand. The star is said to be responding well. While Whitfield will make an appearance in the prequel, the six-parter will focus on the characters played by Lucy Lawless and John Hannah, chronicling the rise of the House of Batiatus and its champions before Spartacus arrives as a captured Thracian slave. Other returning actors include Peter Mensah, Manu Bennett, Antonio Te Maioha, Nick E. Tarabay, and Lesley-Ann Brandt, among others. New characters will also be added, most notably the gladiator who was champion of the House of Batiatus before Spartacus. Production on the as-yet-untitled show begins this summer in New Zealand, and is slated to air on Starz in January 2011.

“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 Chris Albrecht, the president and CEO of Starz. “Fortunately, Andy is responding to his treatments, and will be able to be part of this prequel in a limited capacity. As soon as he’s able, we look forward to continuing the Spartacus story.”