There have been a great number of expansions to beloved TV franchises in recent years, and soon we’ll have Spartacus: House of Ashur, a spinoff to Starz’s Spartacus. The drama brought all kinds of action and incredibly violent and gory deaths to the small screen more than a decade ago, and now the popular show will be given new life with something that is less of a sequel and more of a new branch on the timeline. The upcoming series, which will center on Nick Tarabay’s ill-fated villain from the original run, is something that has been in the works for quite some time, and we’re all pretty excited to see how it pans out.
But, before that happens, we have put together a quick yet comprehensive guide to the upcoming sword and sandal TV show and the long-awaited return to one of the bloodiest series of the 21st century (seriously, the original show was gruesome). That said, let’s break down everything we know about Spartacus: House of Ashur.
What Is The Spartacus: House Of Ashur Premiere Date
At this point in time, we don’t know when Spartacus: House of Ashur will make its small-screen debut as Starz has yet to reveal a premiere date. Considering we haven’t heard anything about the production, there’s a good chance we won’t see the franchise’s return until sometime in 2025. That said, we’ll make sure to update this in the coming weeks and months as soon as we learn anything about the premiere or even a release window.
The Spartacus: House Of Ashur Cast
Like the original run, the Spartacus: House of Ashur cast is going to be one that is both large and full of immensely talented actors. With a mix of returning stars and new actors, there’s a lot to look forward to with this one. Let’s check them out now.
Nick Tarabay as Ashur
Back in November 2023, Starz announced that Nick Tarabay would lead the Spartacus: House of Ashur cast as the villain he played all those years ago. Maybe we’ll see a new side of the character.
Lucy Lawless as Lucretia
In July 2024, Deadline reported that Lucy Lawless, who played the scheming and resourceful Lucretia back when Spartacus first premiered years ago, would be taking on the role once again. It looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of the Xena: The Warrior Princess star.
Graham McTavish as Korris
Leading the newcomers to the Spartacus: House of Ashur cast is Graham McTavish. In July 2024, Starz announced that the Outlander and House of the Dragon actor would be playing Korris, a former gladiator who now trains combatants for battle.
Tenika Davis as Achillia
Tenika Davis, best known for her work on Jupiter’s Legacy and Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, will play a talented gladiator known as Achillia.
Jamaica Vaughan as Hilara
Jamaica Vaughan will step into the picture as Hilara, a house slave who is madly in love with series lead Ashur. Vaughn previously appeared on shows like 800 Words and Home & Away.
Ivana Baquero as Messia
Ivana Bquero, best known for her performance in Pan’s Labyrinth, will take on the role of Messia, a house slave infatuated with Hilara.
Jordi Webber as Tarchon
Jordi Webber will take on the role of Tarchon, a headstrong and fearless gladiator in the new series. His credits include Power Rangers Ninja Steel and Home & Away.
Claudia Black as Cossutia
Claudia Black, who has appeared on shows like NCIS, The Dresden Files, and Haven over the years, will portray Cossutia, an ambitious politician with a certain disdain for Ashur.
India Shaw-Smith as Viridia
India Shaw-Smith, who you may remember from Supernatural, is set to take on the role of Viridia, Cossutia’s daughter.
Leigh Gill as Satyrus
Leigh Gill, whose previous credits include Joker and Game of Thrones, will show up as Satyrus, the leader of a rival group of gladiators.
What Is Spartucus: House Of Ashur About?
Ashur was very much dead by the time the credits rolled on Spartacus: Vengeance, yet he gets his own spinoff series? How’s that possible? Well, as noted in the Starz press release about the new show, it was revealed that the series will ask two simple questions. First, what if Ashur didn’t lose his head on top of Mount Vesuvius all those years ago? And second, what if he had been gifted Batiatus’ gladiator school in return for helping cut down Spartacus and ending his rebellion?
Both of these questions open the door for a lot of things to happen and offer up a really cool “what if?” premise for the new show. Instead of it being a retcon that acts like the final season of Spartacus never happened, the spinoff will instead branch off in a different direction and hopefully be as impactful as Marvel’s animated What If…? series on Disney+.
Steven S. DeKnight Will Return As The Showrunner For House Of Ashur
Nick Tarabay and Lucy Lawless won’t be the only people involved with the original series to return to Spartacus: House of Usher, as Steven S. DeKnight will be serving as the showrunner. DeKnight, who has gone on to work on shows like Daredevil and the short-lived Jupiter’s Legacy, as well as 2018’s Pacific Rim: Uprising, created, wrote, and produced Spartacus during its original run.
In a statement provided in Starz’s November 2023 press release about the series pickup, DeKnight said it was a “rare, wonderful opportunity” to be able to return to the series all these years later. It hasn’t been revealed if DeKnight will direct any of the episodes, but we should know more soon.
How Many Episodes Will There Be In Spartacus: House Of Ashur?
We may not know who’ll be appearing on the show besides Nick Tarabay, but we do know how many episodes will make up the first season of House of Ashur. When Starz picked up the series, the network announced that it had ordered 10 episodes, the same number as in the final two seasons of the original series.
What Will Spartacus: House Of Ashur Be Rated?
If the show features as much violence, nudity, and other extreme images as its predecessor, it’s hard to imagine it being rated anything besides TV-MA. Remember, Spartacus had a higher body count than Game of Thrones during its second season, averaging 25 dead bodies per episode during its 2012 offering. Then there was all the nudity, crass language, and everything else that made the Starz original series such a wild experience.
Steven S. DeKnight Has Other Spartacus Spinoff Ideas If House Of Ashur Is Successful
This could very well be the start of something when it comes to spinoffs, as Steven S. DeKnight has alluded to more from the world he created nearly a decade-and-a-half ago. When responding to a fan’s question about the long break and if more ideas are in development on X (this is something he does quite regularly), DeKnight responded with:
I was a wee busy with other stuff. And yes! Several other spinoff ideas if House of Ashur is successful.
Honestly, there are so many characters from the original series that could get their own spinoff, especially if the franchise were to continue the branching timelines being started here. Quintus Lentulus Batiatus, Lucretia, Crixus, and countless others would all make good subjects for another series.
Production On Spartacus: House Of Ashur Started In July 2024
In the same announcement revealing all the additions to the Spartacus: House of Usher cast, Starz also announced that production on the series kicked off in New Zealand in July 2024. The network didn’t reveal how long the shoot would last or if it would take place solely in New Zealand, but it should be an extensive one if it’s anything like the original series. Expect to hear much more very soon.
How To Watch The Original Spartacus Series
If you missed out on Spartacus when it originally aired back in the 2010s, you’re not out of luck, as you can watch it on several of the best streaming services. First, the entire series is streaming on Starz (where you’ll also be able to watch House of Ashur). You can also watch the show on the Roku Channel, where all but only the first season is free. Alternatively, if you have the Starz add-on with your Hulu subscription, you can check out all four seasons, but you will need to pay an extra monthly fee.
Stream Spartacus on Starz.
Stream Spartacus on the Roku Channel.
Expect to hear much more about Spartacus: House of Ashur as the show’s development continues. While we wait for news on its production and eventual release, get all caught up on the 2024 TV schedule to find out what new and returning shows are coming to the small screen this year.
