Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is coming soon to a TV near you. By first look, just another gladiator TV show. But first, before you flip that web page to another website, take another look… a look at the creative powerhouse behind Gods of the Arena. In this article we show you a few teaser clips, and the article is peppered with first-look preview images from the first episode of the prequel, so keep your eyes peeled!
When you see that Spartacus: Gods of the Arena comes from executive producers Sam Raimi & Rob Tapeert (Evil Dead, A Simple Plan, Spider-Man trilogy, Xena: Warrior Princess), Steven S. DeKnight, exec producer & head writer: (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, Dollhouse), Joshua Donen (Armored, Priest, The Quick and the Dead), and directed by Rick Jacobson (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, Bitch Slap) you can’t help but feel excited for the show when you look at the lineage of experience that is brought to this Starz Entertainment series.
This is a six-episode prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which starred Andy Whitfield, but don’t fret, the prequel can stand on its own and do not need to have seen the first season Blood and Sand. And despite what looks like a lot of gratuitous blood and violence, the story underneath it all is what makes this series tick like no other series I’ve ever seen. Sometimes the violence is really a tension builder as you fret and worry for your favorite character. I’ve come to hate the arena as it can spell doom to a favored character. And then I find myself breathing a sigh of relief when my guy walks out victorious.
Spartacus Gods of the Arena- Episode 1-Jaime Murray as Gaia & Lucy Lawless as Lucretia
The show is about going for the throat of your adversary, whether it be in gladiator combat or in shrewd and diabolical political business moves. In Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, there’s lots of lying, cheating and maneuvering… like in real life!
Starz Press:
The House of Batiatus is on the rise, basking in the glow of its infamous champion Gannicus, whose skill with a sword is matched only by his thirst for wine and women. These are the times a young Batiatus has been waiting for. Poised to overthrow his father and take control; he’ll freely betray anyone to ensure his gladiators are in the highest demand. And he’ll have his loyal and calculating wife Lucretia by his side for every underhanded scheme, drawing on the brazen talents of her seductive friend Gaia when it counts. Together, they will stop at nothing to deceive the masses, seize power, and bleed Capua dry in this audacious prequel to “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.”
Spartacus Gods of the Arena- Episode 1-John Hannah as Batiatus & Dustin Clare as Gannicus
The show runners have a take no prisoners approach and don’t shy away from the sexuality and violence, portraying it as realistically as possible.
“A man on a mission is capable of anything.”
“Do not surrender in this house”
“There is only one way to become champion… never lose.”
Below is a first look preview, with Steven S. DeKnight giving us some insight to the upcoming series that is premiering on January 21st, 2011.
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Spartacus Gods of the Arena- Episode 1-Peter Mensah as Oenonaus
Here is the first teaser clip:
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Spartacus Gods of the Arena-Gallery- Dustin Clare as Gannicus
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena stars Dustin Clare who plays Gannicus, John Hannah (Batiatus), who will surprise you right out of your seat at how evil he can be, Lucy Lawless… the man-hungry wife of Batiatus, Peter Mensah as Oenomaus, who later becomes Doctore in Blood and Sand, Jamie Murray will play Gaia. U.S. TV audiences may remember her as the deliciously beautiful H.G. Wells on the Syfy Channel’s Warehouse 13. Manu Bennett “returns” as his younger Crixus self, & Nick E. Tarabay “returns” as Ashur.
Spartacus Gods of the Arena- Episode 1-Lucy Lawless as Lucretia & Jaime Murray as Gaia
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sources: First Look with Steven DeKnight, TV Squad Exclusive; Other promotional material via Starz press
About Bruce Simmons
I've been writing newsletters since 1999. Of late, I've been focusing on the entertainment consumer angle on mostly the sci-fi, fantasy and action genres of TV, movies and books.
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