May 2009 Archives   28 May 2009 Spartacus Comic News Jimmy Palmiotti talks to Pink Raygun's Rachel Pandich about the new Power Girl comic series on the PinkRayGun.com site and was also asked about the Spartacus: Blood and Sand comic. RP: You are going to be working on Spartacus: Blood and Sand soon with R.H. Stavis and Josh Blaylock. Can you tell us a little bit about this new series? JP: Well, I am very happy to be working with R.H. on this project since I hear nothing but good things about her and her work and what I can say at the moment is that I will be working on a single-issue story under her guidance and it is based on the Starz series that looks to be a pretty cool project. I am flattered to be asked to do this project and with Josh and I currently working on Vampire Hunter D at the moment, I guess it was a natural that he included me with the line up. I really do enjoy working on all kinds of genre projects, so the idea of writing about gladiators is something new for me. Read full interview     25 May 2009 Michael Hurst Directing Spartacus Episode 1.5 The following news was posted on Michael's Official Site about his upcoming Director duties on Spartacus: Spartacus: Blood and Sand Michael is directing episode 1.5 of the new American tv show Spartacus: Blood and Sand for Starz Productions. Spartacus will be shown on the Starz premium cable channel in the US beginning January 2010     25 May 2009 Cast News - Lesley-Ann Brandt The following was posted throng.co.nz site Sunday interviews Lesley-Ann Brandt who plays Leilani in Diplomatic Immunity.  The article covers the mixed reviews of the show and outrage that a South African (Brandt) plays the role of a Pacific Islander. Brandt started her career in modelling before moving into IT recruitment and doing TV work on the side.  Her next role is playing Naevia in Spartacus: Blood and Sand - a handmaiden to Lucy Lawless' character. Source News submitted by Barbara Davies     24 May 2009 Lucy Lawless to imprison "Spartacus" The following was posted on the PrideSource website Deep Inside Hollywood Originally printed 5/14/2009 (Issue 1720 - Between The Lines News) A perfect storm of gay TV is on the horizon, thanks to ancient Rome and Xena. The upcoming Starz series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" was already set to feature a "300"-style interpretation of the Spartacus legend, meaning that lots of muscular, barely-dressed men would be training or battling non-stop on your basic-cable system. We've also been promised queer characters. But now that the cast is fixed, lesbian audiences have a reason to tune in: Lucy Lawless. Yes, yes, it's a cliche, but it would appear that all lesbians everywhere on earth still love Lucy. Recently seen online interrogating former "L Word" cast members about the murder of Jenny, Lawless will star on "Spartacus" as the owner of the gladiator prison holding the rebel slave. That means she'll probably be somewhat wicked. And who doesn't like that? So while the warriors may be men, the princess returns to weekly TV in January of 2010. That gives you about eight months to plan the viewing party.     23 May 2009 Lucy To Be Spartacus Panel at Comic Con - Unconfirmed Lucy is mentioned as being a panelist at the upcoming 2009 Comic-Con Spartacus panel. This hasn't been officiallly confirmed as yet but here is the message from Rachel Stavis on her Twitter account: Rachel Stavis is overseeing the Spartacus: Blood and Sand comic mini-series for Devil's Due: Hey guys! This just in: I'll be on the Comic-Con Spartacus panel! Lucy Lawless, Sam Raimi, and more! Come see us! #SDCC about 11 hours ago from TweetDeck News contributed by Barbara Davies     8 May 2009 NZ Casting Call - Bodybuilders Needed The following was posted on a New Zealand Bodybuilding forum: SPARTACUS' TV SHOW EXTRAS Kia Ora We are currently searching for people to be involved as extras and featured extras for a show called SPARTACUS. It will be a stylistic show set in Rome around 300BC and similar to '300' the movie  in look, made by the same company who created Hercules & Zena. The show will air on US cable and will have a rating equivalent to our own R18 and will contain graphic violence and appropriate nudity. Click here to read more News contributed by Barbara Davies     8 May 2009 Michael Hurst To Direct Spartacus The following is from Michael's official site:   Spartacus: Blood and Sand Michael will be directing episodes of new American tv show Spartacus: Blood and Sand for Renaissance Pictures.  It will be shown on the Starz Network and is expected to premiere in January 2010.      Read More Archives