or


[12/21/09 - 11:13 AM]
Starz Returns to the Arena with More 'Spartacus'
The newcomer has been picked up for a 13-episode second season, a month ahead of its series premiere.

[via press release from Starz]

STARZ RETURNS TO THE ARENA WITH MORE 'SPARTACUS'

Second Season of Highly Anticipated Action Adventure Series Gets Green Light Prior To January 22 Premiere

Burbank, Calif. - December 21, 2009 - In a bold vote of confidence, Starz executives announced plans today to order a second season of the ground-breaking new original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," set to premiere Friday, January 22nd at 10 pm ET/PT. The unusual timing of the renewal, more than one month prior to the debut of the highly anticipated program, gives returning executive producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight (who is also the head writer on the show) the green light to start production in New Zealand on 13 new episodes in the first quarter of 2010.

"We couldn't be happier with the first season. Spartacus delivers on all levels - action, characters, intrigue, romance and excitement," said Starz Entertainment EVP, Programming, Stephan Shelanski. "Spartacus is the most ambitious original project we've ever undertaken, and speaks to the commitment to our subscribers to provide truly original programming along with our unmatched lineup of theatrical features."

"Steven S. DeKnight and his team of writers have created a rich narrative that lays the groundwork for more great stories," added Executive Producer Rob Tapert. "The slave rebellion led by Spartacus and the oh-so-current political intrigue and personal dynamics laid out in the first season provide rich source material for the second season and beyond."

The title of the second season is expected to be "Spartacus: Vengeance," but other details are being kept under wraps, so as not to spoil any of the sure-to-shock plot twists the first season promises to deliver.

Nearly 4 million moviegoers saw the new "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" trailer in theaters over the weekend and it is expected to hit wide online today.

"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" features Australian newcomer Andy Whitfield as the title character, a Thracian fighting to return to his wife after being sold into slavery at a gladiatorial school. He is joined by Lucy Lawless ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Battlestar: Galactica") as the deceptive Lucretia, John Hannah (The Mummy movies) as her power-hungry husband Batiatus, Peter Mensah (300) as the head of the gladiatorial school, Doctore, along with a cast of familiar as well as fresh faces.

The series is shot utilizing virtual environments in the graphic novel style of such successful features as 300 and Sin City. The process gives the show a fresh narrative approach and a hyper-realistic look that is unlike anything yet seen on TV. It's an entirely new vision of the ancient legend.

Debuting exclusively on Starz, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is produced by Starz Media with Executive Producers Rob Tapert (The Grudge, "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys"), Sam Raimi (Spider-Man and The Evil Dead), Joshua Donen (The Quick and the Dead) and Steven S. DeKnight ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer").

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 ( 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 17.3 million and 30.7 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 (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Starz (NASDAQ: LSTZA), a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.





  [december 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SPARTACUS (STARZ)





[10/27/25 - 01:06 PM]
ESPN and Sony's Beyond Sports Forge Expanded Agreement, Deepening ESPN's Commitment to Innovation and Audience Expansion with More Animated Telecasts
With this new agreement, ESPN will produce animated telecasts for a NFL, NHL, NBA, and WNBA game across The Walt Disney Company and ESPN platforms during the 2025-26 season.

[10/27/25 - 12:03 PM]
Second-Most Viewed NBA Opening Week on ESPN Since 2014; "Inside the NBA" Averaged 1M Viewers in Its Opening Week Debut on ESPN
Last week's NBA coverage averaged 2.2 million viewers.

[10/27/25 - 11:53 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - "Joy to the World"
The film, starring Chad Michael Murray, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Ayesha Curry and more, premieres November 1 on Disney+ and Hulu.

[10/27/25 - 11:18 AM]
ESPN Updates NHL Exclusive Games for 2025-26 Season
Five national exclusive games have been updated across ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu, beginning December 4 with the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets (ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu) at 7:30 p.m. ET.

[10/27/25 - 11:03 AM]
Wildlife Series, "Vantara: Sanctuary Stories," Hosted by Biologist and Adventurer Forrest Galante Premieres Friday, November 7 at 9PM ET/PT on Animal Planet
Hosted by Forrest Galante, the six-episode series will take audiences on a visually stunning journey into Vantara, the world's largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility that offers lifelong care for some of the most magnificent animals on Earth.

[10/27/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Paul McCartney: Man on the Run" - Official Teaser Trailer - Prime Video
The documentary film from Morgan Neville will premiere on Prime Video in February 2026.

[10/27/25 - 09:38 AM]
Video: Tubi's "Sidelined 2: Intercepted" Reveals Trailer
The sequel will focus on freshman star quarterback Drayton (Noah Beck) as he struggles with the weight of expectations after a devastating setback, while dancer Dallas (Siena Agudong) begins to question the future she thought she wanted.

[10/27/25 - 09:34 AM]
Date Announcement: Hulu Original Docuseries "Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth"
The two-part docuseries will premiere in full on Monday, November 10 on Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers, and Disney+ internationally.

[10/27/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Watch the All-New Promo for "Fear Factor: House of Fear"
Hosted by Johnny Knoxville, the iconic reality competition "Fear Factor" is coming back bigger, bolder and more daring as "Fear Factor: House of Fear!"

[10/27/25 - 08:30 AM]
High-Octane Thriller "The Assassin" to Premiere Exclusively on AMC+ Thursday, November 20
The exhilarating six-episode series sees retired assassin Julie (Keeley Hawes) and her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore) forced to work together in a fight for survival, testing their dysfunctional relationship to its limits.

[10/27/25 - 07:24 AM]
ID Unpacks Stranger-Than-Fiction Colorado Case in "The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder"
The three-part docuseries, due November 26, unpacks the shocking case that rocked a small, close-knit Colorado community to its core.

[10/27/25 - 07:00 AM]
Paramount+ Set to Premiere Psychological Thriller "Little Disasters" on December 11
The series focuses on a decade-long friendship among Jess (Diane Kruger), Liz (Jo Joyner), Charlotte (Shelley Conn) and Mel (Emily Taaffe), four expectant mothers who were thrown together with little in common apart from their due dates but have been there for one another throughout motherhood.

[10/27/25 - 06:02 AM]
Video: "Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks" - Official Trailer - Peacock Original
This three-part docuseries celebrates the history and legacy of Universal Destinations & Experiences.

[10/27/25 - 04:01 AM]
"City of Shadows," The New Netflix Thriller Arrives on December 12
A macabre crime has taken place at La Pedrera - Casa Milà: a burned body has been discovered on the façade of Gaudí's iconic building.

[10/26/25 - 07:00 PM]
HBO Max Announces Early Debut of "IT: Welcome to Derry" Episode Two in Celebration of Halloween
The episode will also air on HBO on Sunday, November 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.