Spartacus TV Series Revived With Original Creator And The Story Is Excellent

Over the years, Starz has often struggled to differentiate itself from other networks via original programming. One of the biggest hits the network ever had, though, was Spartacus: Blood and Sand in 2010. That show was so successful that it led to the follow-up seasons Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned as well as the prequel series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.

For all the success of these period pieces, though, Starz hasn’t had any original Spartacus content since War of the Damned wrapped up back in 2013. We thought we had seen the last of this successful franchise, but Starz has now given the greenlight a decade later to Spartacus: House of Ashur. At a glance, it looks like the show will be a success because it blends many of the elements that made earlier seasons a hit while adding some innovative new elements.

To longtime Spartacus fans, the fact that Nick Tarabay is returning for House of Ashur is good news. The actor has been a mainstay of the franchise from the beginning, appearing in Blood and Sand, Gods of the Arena, and Vengeance. His popular character is a former gladiator who got injured and later became a spy and special agent for wealthy patrons such as Praetor Glaber.

Of course, if you are a longtime fan of the franchise, you’re probably wondering just how the hell could Ashur come back for Spartacus: House of Ashur after we saw him die onscreen. The simple answer is that this new show is effectively an alternate universe spinoff. According to the show’s official description, the series answers questions such as “what if Ashur hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance” as well as “what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and putting an end to the slave rebellion?”

Due to his brief appearance in the J.J. Abrams-directed Star Trek Into Darkness, we know that Nick Tarabay is no stranger to bringing alternate timelines to life, and he won’t be alone in doing so. The return of Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight to the franchise has us quite excited, and it seems like he is equally jazzed by the opportunity to serve as both executive producer and showrunner. “To be afforded the opportunity to return a decade later to a series you loved is such a rare, wonderful opportunity,” DeKnight said.

Nick Taraby might have made a fierce Klingon in Star Trek, but we’re pretty damned hype to see him get back to the fierce warrior role in Spartacus that made him famous. House of Ashur sounds like it will be a fun excuse to return to a world of captivating characters, killer drama, and amazing setpieces. And whether or not you like movies about gladiators, we recommend you make the time for this spinoff to the original, Emmy-nominated Spartacus.