If you follow Cinema Static on Twitter, or Brusimm on FB, that I fired off this info yesterday…
STARZ announced that Spartacus: Vengeance, starring Liam McIntyre, will be premiering on the pay cable channel on Friday, January 27th at 10pm ET/PT.
If you recall the season finale of the first season, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, you know that there was a blood bath to be had at the House of Batiatus and Spartacus led the revolt to freedom.
In Spartacus: Vengeance, the 2nd season premiere takes place a mere few weeks after events from the 1st season finale.
Capua is in disarray, with all the gladiators having escaped. And all the gladiators have formed what could be called an uneasy alliance.
Spartacus is focused on revenge for the murder of his wife, but he will come to realize that his actions have started something bigger than avenging Sura’s death.
Now, he has a different mission, and that’s to build a new army, free the slaves and bring the Roman Empire to its knees.
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Andy Whitfield lost his battle to non-Hodgkin Lymphoma recently. Fans of Andy Whitfield and his latest project, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, were very sad to receive this news.
Starz has shown a pleasantly abnormal amount of support for Andy Whitfield and fans are appreciating it.
For those who are able to subscribe to Starz, you’ll be pleased to know that Starz will be paying a short tribute to the man by airing five of his best episodes of Spartacus: Blood and Sand on October 2nd.
They will then be playing the entire season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand on December 16th, 2011.
After the break, a quote from the network and tribute video:
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In horribly sad news today (9-11-11), 39-year-old Andy Whitfield died today, losing his battle to non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. he passed away in Sydney, Australia.
A statement released today by his wife, Vashti, said he was a “beautiful young warrior” who died on a “sunny morning” in the “arms of his loving wife.”
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Spartacus: Vengeance TV News
Coming to Starz in January of 2012 is the second season of Spartacus, called Spartacus: Vengeance. The second season has its touchy spot, with Liam McIntyre taking the place of Andy Whitfield.
'Spartacus: Vengeance,' Katrina Law, Liam McIntyre, Manu Bennett
Some fans seem resolute to NOT watch the show because they think that the season should not have the Spartacus character in the show, with Whitfield needing to bow out due to his battle with cancer.
Others might have a wee bit more faith in the very same creative team that knocked their socks off with Spartacus: Blood and Sand. I’m in the latter camp and have faith.
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Starz, via Entertainment Weekly, released a few first-look images of Liam McIntyre in his new guise of Spartacus from their upcoming new series, Spartacus: Vengeance.
I’ve been privileged enough to be able to check out the DVD package of Spartacus: Blood and Sand and just recently, caught up on the prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. If these two series are any indication of how good the upcoming new season, this will be a great show. (And if anyone out there loves some of the story work behind the collective of Joss Whedon franchises, you’ll see in a bit why I think you’ll love the stories behind this franchise!)
Despite the obvious, that this series is based around the Roman gladiatorial, um, business structure (Would this be the first reality TV-like entertainment!?), the creative team behind the franchise creates incredible dramatic story lines within every layer of the story, from the cages of the slaves/gladiators to the political ugliness of the upper caste of Roman society. It is rather riveting entertainment if you ask me.
The creative team behind the franchise is an incredible collective…
Steven S. DeKnight (Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse, Smallville, Angel, Buffy…) created, wrote and exec produced the franchise, with producers Sam Raimi, Robert G. Tapert and even Jed Whedon co-produced a couple of eps from the prequel! But these folks are a small part of this wonderful franchise.
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I’ve been keeping a close eye on the web for any news what-so-ever on the status of Andy Whitfield‘s battle with his cancer. As most will know, Andy had to bow out of the second season of the most awesome TV series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
[Updated 9-11-11: Please see my very sad update on the death of Andy Whitfield.]
I recently caught what looks like a great update from Nick E. Tarabay‘s Facebook page. Nick Tarabay played Ashur in Blood and Sand & the prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.
Per his FB post, he said the following:
“To all the fans, I just got great email from Andy( Spartacus ) He’s doing great and looking even better ( As you can see ) and before you know it I’m sure you all gonna see him on TV again. That man is a true warrior. everybody repeat after me, SPARTACUS SPARTACUS SPARTACUS….. LOL“
That is such wonderful news to hear. I know everyone is pulling for Andy, as are we here at Brusimm.com. I found this update via the great folks over at Hey, That’s Awesome Bro!.
At this point in time, we’ve had the first season of the most excellent Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and its prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. But are you wondering who might be returning from the first season for the second season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand?
If you don’t want to be spoiled, I’d suggest moving along… there’s nothing to see here! LOL. But if you’re curious and can handle it, here’s a rundown of returning characters:
Spartacus will be returning of course, but the role has been recast with Liam McIntyre due to Andy Whitfield’s issues.
Lucretia, Gannicus, Crixus, Oenomaus/Doctore, the ever plotting Ilythia, Ashur, Naevia will return but recast with a different actress, Mira, & Legatus.
So basically, most of the primary non-slave cast is returning.
No matter what, I’m sure they’ll crank it out and make it another hot season of blood and guts with a huge dose of engaging drama, much like last season! You can see my review of the first season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand DVD series.
For more details, check out TV Squad.
[1-25-11; 2111]The prequel known as Spartacus: Gods of the Arena premiered to pretty good ratings.
Last Friday night the premiere episode of the prequel pulled in just over 1 million viewers. This number is almost 70% higher than the premiere of Blood and Sand. But I suspect that’s because we all now know just how good the show is.
Blood and Sand is completely captivating, even within the confines of a gladiatorial setting.
Starz will soon be kicking in production of season 2 of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, starring Liam McIntyre.
[Deadline Hollywood]
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Update 1-16-11; 1103 hrs: After Gods of the Arena aired in four telecasts that encompassed Friday (2), Saturday (1) and Sunday (1) nights of the first weekend of the show, total viewers who watched amassed to 2.8 million! Spartacus: Gods of the Arena ranked as No. 1 among households for all cable programs aired over the weekend, and was also tied for first among Adults 18-49 and ranked 7th overall for all cable programs for the week. [Starz press update]
The 2nd season of Starz Spartacus: Blood and Sand has cast Liam McIntyre in the lead role of Spartacus, thus officially replacing Andy Whitfield in the titular role.
But rather than replace Andy, Starz was looking at who could take the role and lead the series moving forward, all with the approval of Mr. Whitfield to boot.
Australian TV knows Mr. McIntyre from Neighbours and Rush and we’ve seen him in HBO’s The Pacific.
Ladies, you’ll be happy to know he is now in New Zealand working his *! off to get in “gladiator” shape, just in time for the start of production of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which takes place in the Spring of 2011.
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A wee bit of time ago some news was dribbling around the net that tossed Wentworth Miller’s name into the grab bag of web-guesses as to who might take over the role of Spartacus in the second season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
It was a print-byte of Miller saying he would be interested. It wasn’t Miller actually auditioning and going the nine yards to try and snag the role.
[Rumors of Wentworth Miller Interested in Spartacus Role]
Right now Deadline is reporting that not only is Dominic Purcell interested in the role but he took it a step farther and actually emailed in a taped clip of an audition to the Starz brass. This would put him in contention with Liam McIntyre and some other “name” actor for the role.
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