Deadline has reported that Spartacus: House of Ashur has been cancelled by Starz, bringing the latest tale of blood and sand to a close after just one season. However, there is still hope as Lionsgate Television, which produces the series, is shopping it to other platforms.
Spartacus: House of Ashur
The series took place in an alternate timeline in which Ashur, who originally died in Spartacus: Vengeance, had lived and even helped to kill Spartacus and bring his rebellion to an end. The Romans reward his treachery by giving him the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus. Eager to make his mark on the world, he recruits Achillia, a fierce and powerful gladiatrix eager to prove herself worthy in a man’s world. Toss in copious amounts of blood, sex, and that wonderfully quotable dialogue, and you’ve got a fun time.
Unfortunately, the viewership couldn’t reach the levels of the original Spartacus series. Deadline’s sources add that the audience also “did not quite align with Starz’s focus on women and underrepresented audiences.“
Nick Tarabay returned as Ashur, with the rest of the main cast including Graham McTavish (The Witcher), Tenika Davis (Jupiter’s Legacy), Jamaica Vaughan (Home and Away), Ivana Baquero (Pan’s Labyrinth), Jordi Webber (Choose Love), Claudia Black (Farscape), India Shaw-Smith (The Pines Still Whisper), and Leigh Gill (Joker). Lucy Lawless (Xena) also briefly returned as Lucretia. Be sure to check out Alex Maidy’s review of the series.
It’s a shame the series isn’t going to continue, as I do love the highly stylized world Steven S. DeKnight created. Reacting to the cancellation on social media, DeKnight said, “All I can say at the moment is one door closes, another, better door opens…“
The Original Series
The first season of Spartacus, subtitled Blood and Sand, tells the story of the man who would become Spartacus as he’s sold into slavery and trained to become a gladiator. Filled to the brim with gruesome blood and sexual content, Spartacus was something to behold, particularly with its unique visual style and scripting. Tragically, Andy Whitfield, who played the title character, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and later died, but not before giving his blessing that the series should continue. Following a prequel series, Liam McIntyre took over the role for Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned.
How do you feel about Spartacus: House of Ashur getting cancelled?
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