or


[10/27/08 - 11:18 AM]
Starz Declares - "We Are 'Spartacus!'"
Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Joshua Donen are the executive producers of the series with Steven S. DeKnight serving as showrunner.

[via press release from Starz]

Starz Declares - "We Are 'Spartacus!'"

Starz Productions and Raimi/Tapert/Donen to Create an All New Action Series Exclusive to Starz Channels and Additional Platforms

Premium Service Continues Push Into Original Drama and Comedy Series That Pair With Lineup of Top Hollywood Feature Films

BURBANK, Calif. and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 27 -- The world of gladiators comes to life as the Roman Empire's most brutal fighters clash in the ultimate arena. Starz's new series, "Spartacus," an entirely new twist on the ancient legend, will utilize virtual environments giving it a unique graphic novel look and style, along with a fresh narrative approach. Debuting exclusively on Starz, "Spartacus" will be produced by Starz Media with Executive Producers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Joshua Donen. The announcement was made today by Stephan Shelanski, executive vice president, programming, for Starz Entertainment. It will begin production in early 2009, debuting on Starz and its suite of channels later in the year.

This is the second original drama series on Starz, and the first drama produced in-house by the premium service's studio sibling, headed by William Hamm, executive vice president, originals productions. Hamm brought the project to the channel.

Steven S. DeKnight ("Smallville," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") has been signed as head writer and show-runner of the series, which was developed by Raimi (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 and Evil Dead), Tapert (The Grudge, "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys") and Donen (The Quick and the Dead) and is being produced in New Zealand by Starz Media's Starz Productions. DeKnight is one of the most sought after Producer/Director/Writers in television and is currently consulting on Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" and tapped to write for the upcoming season eight in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book series.

From the talented team responsible for some of the biggest action feature film hits, and consistently popular action TV series, "Spartacus" will take the story of the rebellious warrior-slave and re-imagine it for a generation of TV viewers raised on graphic novels and cutting-edge production technology. Audiences will get 13 hour-long episodes of unsparing action, set in the brutal world of gladiators. Because the series is being produced for Starz -- the fastest-growing premium television service -- there is no shortage of intense action and vivid, R-rated storytelling. This will be a TV series with an original narrative and a very unique look and feel.

"When 'Spartacus' debuts in the summer of 2009, it will give our subscribers a show unlike anything currently on TV: a fresh, high-energy action series with nothing held back," Shelanski said. "We think it will be the destination show for next summer. It, along with our other original productions underscores our commitment to being a new kind of TV company, programming the biggest movies and the best new television series."

"By utilizing the latest digital filmmaking techniques to create the look of this series, we'll be able to tell the story in a way never before seen with production values far beyond what even the most ambitious TV series can offer," Tapert said. Raimi added "It is going to be very exciting to take one of the most beloved and inspiring characters of all time, re-invent and bring them to life for a whole new generation of TV viewers."

Starz's new "Spartacus" series was inspired by the actual slave of the Roman Republic who in 73 BC led a slave revolt that grew to more than 120,000 fighters. Defying the Roman Republic's legions of soldiers, they campaigned for two years through much of what is now Italy before succumbing to a much larger army. The new series will tell a new set of stories rich in character, action, sex and combat.

Starz Media's Anchor Bay Entertainment will hold exclusive worldwide home entertainment distribution rights to "Spartacus," while the company's Worldwide Distribution group will handle international television and domestic syndication sales.

"Spartacus" is just the latest original series for Starz. Its first dramatic series, "Crash," a co-production from Starz Entertainment and Lionsgate, premiered Oct. 17. Starz Media will also produce "Party Down" for Starz, debuting in early 2009, the companies announced recently. These come on the heels of Starz's original half-hour comedy series, "Head Case," which stars Alexandra Wentworth and is currently in production on additional episodes. Starz also features "Starz Inside," a monthly series of original specials examining people, trends and culture in entertainment, hosted by film critic Richard Roeper.

About Starz Media

Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming -- including theatrical films -- and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media (http://www.starzmedia.com/) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.

About Starz Entertainment

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz� and Encore� brands with approximately 17 million and 31.3 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Encore HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex On Demand, Starz HD On Demand, Encore HD On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand, and Starz Play. Starz Entertainment (http://www.starz.com/) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Entertainment Group, a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.





  [october 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (UPN)
· DOLLHOUSE (FOX)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· SPARTACUS (STARZ)
· XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (SYNDICATION)





[05/28/25 - 09:06 AM]
Apple's "The Morning Show" Returns for Season Four on Wednesday, September 17
Season four of "The Morning Show" opens in spring 2024, almost two years after the events of season three.

[05/28/25 - 09:03 AM]
FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" Scores Season Five Order
Also revealed today were new details about FX and Disney+ Latin America's "Necaxa," a new docuseries from Eva Longoria in partnership with Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, the three of whom are all investors in Aguascalientes, Mexico-based Club Necaxa.

[05/28/25 - 09:01 AM]
Netflix's "Leanne" Starring Leanne Morgan and from Co-Creator Chuck Lorre - First Look & Date Announcement
All 16 episodes will premiere globally on July 31.

[05/28/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - "The Kollective" (Only on Hulu)
Taking audiences around the world from Budapest to St. Petersburg to London, "The Kollective" is a gripping thriller about a group of intrepid young citizen journalists who, after a sudden tragedy, find themselves sucked into a globe-spanning web of government lies and corruption.

[05/28/25 - 09:00 AM]
First-Time Tony Nominee Darren Criss and Tony Award Winner Renee Elise Goldsberry to Host "The Tony Awards: Act One"
The live pre-show with exclusive content is available to viewers for free on Pluto TV - the leading free streaming television service - beginning Sunday, June 8 at 6:40-8:00 PM, ET/3:40-5:00 PM, PT.

[05/28/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Drops a Gripping Trailer and Official Key Art for "Countdown," Starring Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane & Jessica Camacho
The pulse-pounding series will debut exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Wednesday, June 25, with a three-episode premiere.

[05/28/25 - 08:11 AM]
TLC's "Match Me Abroad" Returns for a Second Season Beginning June 22
The series returns for a second season, following six American singles who take a bold step to find love across international borders.

[05/28/25 - 08:01 AM]
"The Gentlemen" Season 2 Announces Cast as Filming Begins
Joining the cast for season two will be Hugh Bonneville, Benjamin Clementine, Benedetta Porcaroli, Michele Morrone, Sergio Castellito, Amra Mallassi, Tyler Conti, British professional boxer Chris Eubank Jr and TV host, DJ and entrepreneur Maya Jama.

[05/28/25 - 08:01 AM]
Nicole Curtis Rescues Neglected Historic Homes In Detroit and Wyoming in a New Season of HGTV's "Rehab Addict" Premiering Tuesday, June 24, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Across the fresh four episodes, she will embark on one of her biggest challenges yet - fighting to save two derelict properties that are 1,500 miles apart.

[05/28/25 - 07:52 AM]
Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix Telecast on ABC Attracts Largest Live Audience Ever for Iconic Event
The audience broke the event's record viewership of 2.0 million that watched last year's race, with viewership peaking at 2.6 million during the 10:30-10:45 a.m. quarter hour.

[05/28/25 - 07:10 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Unveils Trailer for "Smoke," Gripping New Crime Drama from Creator Dennis Lehane Debuting June 27, 2025
"Smoke" follows an arson investigator who begrudgingly teams up with a police detective as their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions.

[05/28/25 - 07:03 AM]
Tom Cruise to Join David Beckham on the Paramount+ Exclusive "Beckham & Friends Live"
Cruise will be a guest on the an altcast for CBS Sports' UEFA Champions League coverage that will stream exclusively on Paramount+ on Saturday, May 31 at 3:00 PM, ET.

[05/28/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Ultimatum: Queer Love" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Six new couples, made up of women and non-binary people, put their love to the test by moving in with other partners. Are they ready for marriage - or is "the one" actually someone else?

[05/28/25 - 06:05 AM]
"The Chi" Season Seven Premiere Scores Two Million Cross-Platform Viewers
The season seven premiere scored two million cross-platform viewers, making the season seven premiere the most-streamed in the series' history, up +2% on streaming versus last season.

[05/28/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Billionaires' Bunker" - Date Announcement - Netflix
As the world crumbles, a group of billionaires confine themselves within a luxury bunker, where old enemies and new schemes have nowhere to hide.