Nick Tarabay returns as Ashur, back from the dead and running the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus, with series creator Steven S. DeKnight serving as showrunner and executive producer.
The gods of the arena will return. Starz has confirmed the Spartacus sequel series, Spartacus: House of Ashur, is officially in development, according to THR. The series will directly continue the franchise, which ended with Spartacus: War of the Damned in 2013. Nick Tarabay will reprise his role of Ashur from the former series.
“A decade ago, the groundbreaking original Spartacus captivated viewers worldwide, and we’re excited to deliver more enthralling, high-octane drama that our fervent fans have been anticipating,” said Kathryn Busby, president original programming at Starz. “It is an honor to team up with Steven again as he expands upon the storytelling within this thrilling, action-packed universe.”
House of Ashur is described as: “The series poses the question: What if Ashur hadn't died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance? And 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?”
Series creator Steven S. DeKnight will return to showrun and executive produce. “To be afforded the opportunity to return a decade later to a series you loved is such a rare, wonderful opportunity,” said DeKnight. “I could not be more excited to craft this next chapter in the Spartacus saga with Starz, Lionsgate, and the incomparable Nick Tarabay.”
Starz current parent company Lionsgate Television will produce Spartacus: House of Ashur, despite the upcoming split. No word yet on whether Cause+FX will return to create the bloody VFX.