January 2010 Archives   31 January 2010 New Spartacus/Sura Art by Klippart Added a new piece by Klippart entitled "Kill Them All" Click here to see the artwork. Click here for more art by Klippart. Click here to see all the Spartacus fan art on AUSXIP.     30 January 2010 Spartacus Premiere Photos From Lesley Ann Brandt's Facebook Lesley Ann Brandt posted photos from the Spartacys Premiere on Facebook. You can see images of Lucy, Erin, Viva, Lesley Ann as well as Andy, John Hannah, Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi. Click here to see the photos. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     30 January 2010 Lucy Lawless & John Hannah Interview On FilmReview In the new Starz' series Spartacus: Blood and Sand Lucy Lawless portrays the deceptive Lucretia and John Hannah plays her power-hungry husband Batiatus, the owners of a gladiator school. Financially falling on hard times, Batiatus buys a new slave named Spartacus hoping he will turn into a star gladiator, but Lucetia fears that he can not be tamed and will bring misfortune to both of them. With Xena: Warrior Princess in Lucy Lawless' resume and The Mummy in John Hannah's, both actors are used to the extensive green screen that is used for the TV series. I spoke with them at the TV Critics Association about their new venture into ancient Rome. Does this, in any way feel thematically like a homecoming, or does it feel completely different to what you were doing on Xena? Lucy Lawless: Tonally completely different, the fighting, the technology, everything has changed so much. I don't recognize the fights at all, the way they do them is foreign to me. This show is appealing very strongly to two very extreme sensibilities with the sex and violence. Lucy Lawless: Do you think? I think maybe that's really fundamental to human life. Maybe we're just in denial about that, but I think it's visceral. You and John have a scene where you are using slaves as foreplay, for lack of a better description. How do you shoot a scene like that? Do you giggle through it? Lucy Lawless: John doesn't do anything with a straight face. The minute the camera is stopped, he's laughing. You laughed through 13 episodes, didn't you? He's a very serious actor. John Hannah: All that stuff is really difficult, but it's as choreographed and as physically composed as the fight scenes. From an individual human level, it's kind of embarrassing and a bit strange, but to create a world which is so visceral, so real, so basic and so different from our society, our civilization, and then to get coy abut that kind of thing [seems silly]. It would just be a tragedy for the whole production to not embrace that. Click here to read the full interview. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     30 January 2010 Spartacus' Lucy Lawless: Sex Scenes Mean Business "When you talk about it, it sounds like you're doing a lot of sex scenes, but I don't feel like I do that much," she says. "My concern was that it fit with the story and that there wasn't any gratuitous sex in this, and it doesn't really trouble me as long as it's relevant to the scene. It's part of the story that they're around in various states of undress. Human beings have always had sex, and a lot of business got done during these transactions. That's what the sex is about." For Lucretia, the business of sex is to provide her husband, gladiator school owner Batiatus (John Hannah), with an heir -- any which way she can, including sleeping with the gladiators at the camp. "She begins, what I think, is quite an abusive relationship with the chief gladiator, the champion, hoping that he might impregnate her," Lawless says. "She's desperate." Click here to read the full interview.     30 January 2010 Starz Thrills and Shocks - APCritic Interviews Lucy, Andy FRAZIER MOORE, AP Television Writer Published: 12:02 p.m., Thursday, January 21, 2010 NEW YORK (AP) -- "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" isn't exactly put-your-feet-up-and-relax television. Premiering on cable's Starz network at 10 p.m. EST Friday, this new action-adventure series grabs you with its raciness, derring-do and visual pizazz. It's based on the real-life Thracian slave-turned-rabblerouser from the first century B.C. (and, a couple of millenniums later, on the Stanley Kubrick film starring Kirk Douglas). But more, this TV reimagining teems with the sort of fabulousness that thrilled, inspired and grossed out fans of Zack Snyder's digitized masterpiece, "300." Like that 2006 film, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is a blend of hyper-realism and epic fantasy where, during battle, ragged streams of a victim's spilled blood pause lazily in mid-air before soaking the ground. It's a world where brawny gym rats clad themselves in circa-B.C. thongs, or less; where steamy trysts and orgies are the rage; where even leading lady Lucy Lawless ("Xena: Warrior Princess") has her moments in the buff. One spicy scene finds her, as Lucretia, about to get romantic with husband Batiatus (John Hannah), a Roman sports impresario whose "ludus" -- an extreme training camp for gladiators -- is where Spartacus is enslaved. Lucretia and Batiatus are hot for each other, that's clear. But to get things started with maximum ease, each spouse calls upon an attendant to supply the needed foreplay. In short, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is a series guaranteed to make you sit up and take notice. Click here to read the interview with Lucy & Andy News submitted by Adi.     29 January 2010 Spartacus PR: Erin Radio Interviews Erin did the following Radio interviews today, please send us a link if you see any of these streamed online. Thanks! 6:00amPST   WPCV-FM - Tampa/Orlando Florida             Morning Show: 97 Country Morning 6:10amPST    WDSY-FM Y108, Pittsburgh             Morning Show: Monty, Ally and Zeke 6:20amPST    National syndicated (out of Portland OR )             The Art of the Interview             Host: Chris Messina 6:30amPST    WVHR-FM, Jackson/Nashville, TN             Hosts: Kelly & Bo 6:40amPST    WAFL (Eagle 977)  Delaware /Philly             Format HOT AC/Top 40             Hosts- Petch & Paula 6:50amPST    WOCM-FM 98.1 Syndicated Maryland DE, VA, NJ             Show: Bulldog and The Rude Awakening Show             Hosts: Bulldog, John Smith and the Dude       29 January 2010 Spartacus Panel At The Annual Xena Con In LA! Some terrific news for us fans, looks like there will be a Spartacus panel at the Annual Xena Convention at LAX next weekend. From Erin's Twitter: Just found out - I will be speaking on a Spartacus panel at the XenaCon next Saturday, Feb 6! Hope the Xena fans can make it!     29 January 2010 Erin Interview With Dave Navarro On Dark Matter Dark Matter with Dave Navarro - Last night's Dark Matter, w/ guest Erin Cummings, now on iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/cqdubp or you can stream it here: http://bit.ly/e7oOy     29 January 2010 10 Questions for Lucy Lawless - Answers On Starz.Com Starz has posted Lucy's responses fans submitted earlier this month... 1. What you think the best and worst qualities or characteristics are in Lucretia? (Czarina) Lucretia's worst characteristic is that she is a liar... the ultimate liar. She's also very venal. Her best quality -- well, her best qualities ARE her worst qualities, because she's so good at them. She's the most talented liar and no one is more persuaded by money. Click here to read Lucy's responses to all 10 questions. News submitted by Lori Boyles.     28 January 2010 "Spartacus: Blood & Sand" Red-carpet Premiere Red carpet premiere of the new Starz series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" January 14, 2010 - Billy Wilder Theater In attendance: Lucy Lawless, Andy Whitfield, John Hannah, Peter Mensah, Manu Bennett & Erin Cummings. Click here to watch the video. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     28 January 2010 Steven DeKnight Podcast On BlogTalkRadio Internet radio program covering the TV scene. Our guest: Spartacus executive producer/head writer Steven S. DeKnight. Click here to listen to the podcast. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     27 January 2010 Spartacus Season 1 Episode 2 Online Starz has released the second episode of Season 1 Sacramentum Gladiatorum Enslaved in gladiatorial school, the newly christened Spartacus must try to suppress his desire for vengeance when his new master promises to reunite him with his wife. Credits | Official Page | Promo Pics | Promo Video | MaryD's Episode Review     27 January 2010 Lucy On Wendy Williams Show - Video & Screencaptures Lucy appeared on The Wendy Williams Show on 26 January 2010 to promote Spartacus Blood and Sand. Screencaptures and Video created by Roger. Click here for video and screencaptures     27 January 2010 Lucy Interview On The Wendy Show Lucy appeared on The Wendy Williams Show to promote Spartacus Blood and Sand - 26 January 2010. Click here to watch the video.     27 January 2010 Spartacus Episodes, Podcasts On iTunes, Netflix Folks in US and in Canada can enjoy Spartacus podcasts for free on iTunes, as well as the documentaries Starz aired on their YouTube Channel as well as during promoting the show. Altogether there are 11 files you can download at the moment, including trailers, interviews, San Diego Comic Con highlights and the first episode, "The Red Serpent". Pull up iTunes, type in Spartacus and select the results to take to the podcast. News submitted by Jane. Netflix features Spartacus for their instant queue to stream on your desktop available free if you have a subscription.      27 January 2010 Press Release: Spartacus Gets 3.3 Million Viewers News Release Issued: January 26, 2010 4:47 PM EST Record Audience of 3.3 Million Powers Weekend Debut of New Starz Original Series, 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Updated figures for the series premiere of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" indicate that more than 3.3 million total viewers* tuned in for episode one of the new Starz Original, a record performance for a series debut on the premium pay TV network. Based on live plus same-day DVR viewing, the Friday night 10PM ET/PT airing on Starz drew a 2.1 HH rating (661,000 viewers) and Encore a 1.2 rating (580,000 viewers), or more than 1.2 million viewers combined. An additional 430,000 viewers (1.6 HH rating) watched at 11PM ET/PT on Starz. The 3.3 million viewership figure includes three additional weekend airings on Starz and Encore with same-day DVR usage. Figures from other Starz channels, additional DVR usage, starz.com viewership and on-demand/online previews with affiliates are expected to grow that figure well past 4 million total viewers. With a gross average viewing audience of more than 2.5 million for the six Starz/Encore airings, Stephan Shelanski, executive vice president, programming for Starz Entertainment commented, "This is the most successful premiere in the company's history. We are very gratified to see that our excitement and faith in the series - already renewed for a second season - has been matched by initial demand. This show is unlike anything ever seen on television, and we are confident that passion for the series will grow as the character development and incredible story arcs unfold." Post-premiere episodes of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" debut on Starz on Fridays at 10PM ET/PT with an additional airing on Sunday nights at 10PM ET/PT. About "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" Produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is the most highly anticipated original series in the history of Starz. The 13-episode hour-long drama was renewed for an epic second season prior to the series premiere on January 22, 2010. Continue reading Press Release: Spartacus Gets 3.3 Million Viewers.     26 January 2010 Lucy Radion Interview On FM1021 In Milwaukee FM1021 in Milwaukee, WI is advertising Lucy as a guest on their Kramp & Adler morning show this Thursday. The interview will most likely be posted on their website. Click here to visit their site. News submitted by Colleen.     26 January 2010 "Spartacus" Premiere Draws 659,000 On Starz Disclaimer: The show has already been renewed for a second season, so no hand wringing over the ratings is necessary! I don't really have enough historical data for shows on Starz to handicap the premiere of Spartacus: Blood and Sand on Starz that averaged .659 million viewers and a 0.3 adults 18-49 rating.  A simulcast on Encore drew an additional .578 million so that's a total of 1.237 million.  If that was all on Starz I'd say that was pretty good. Even just the .659 million might look good after a Crash season two finale that scored a 0.0 adults 18-49 rating and 94,000 viewers! We'll have to see what the numbers look like when its not simulcast on Encore. numbers via @TravisYanan Source. News submitted by Lori Boyles.     26 January 2010 'Most explicit show ever' coming to the UK A TV programme described as the most sexually explicit ever made is expected to hit UK screens this summer. Spartacus: Blood And Sand debuted in the US last week and features full-frontal nudity and sex scenes, as well as graphic violence. The series focuses on the Roman gladiator Spartacus, who led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. The cast includes Four Weddings And A Funeral star John Hannah, as well as Lucy Lawless, who is best known for her role as Xena: Warrior Princess. Speaking about the series, Lucy said: "I think a lot of people are going to be shocked and they are going to shut off their televisions. "And I absolutely encourage that because if they're shocked by the first few episodes, it ain't going to let up. But for the people who have the stomach for it, this is a bloody good yarn." A second series of the show was commissioned before it even premiered on cable channel Starz in the US. It hasn't been confirmed yet which UK channel will be daring enough to screen the drama. Click here to read the article. News submitted by Jeffrey.     26 January 2010 Lucy Interview On Phillips & Company Morning Show Lucy called in to the Phillips and Company show disguising her voice initially, then giving an interview about a variety of issues. The hosts have loved Lucy since Herc, they discuss her comedic roles, then talk about Lucretia. Click here to listen to the podcast of the show. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     26 January 2010 Andy Interview On Crave Online We talk to the star of the new cable series, 'Spartacus'. by Fred Topel Jan 25, 2010 Madness? THIS IS SPARTA-CUS! Yeah, I made a 300 reference. Spartacus: Blood and Sand uses the green screen technology of that other ancient fighting story for its gladiator battles. Andy Whitfield plays the famed slave turned hero in an episodic TV version of the story, fully R-rated for the Starz network. Whitfield joined a conference call to discuss the show, which airs Friday nights on Starz.   Q: How do you like the way you look in slow motion?   Andy Whitfield: There was this camera called the Phantom camera that show 1000 frames a second. You can slow things down, you can freeze things and that meant two things. One, it meant I couldn't have a stunt double because you could see it wasn't me. So I pretty much did most of my stunts. Secondly, I had to learn a whole new way of holding my face and learning to not blink because a blink is a minute long. Also, if I had to scream in anguish, I had to get it in early, otherwise it was at the end of the sequence which was only like two seconds but stretched out to 30. So yeah, there were a few technical things to learn but wow, it just looks phenomenal. Read the full interview. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     26 January 2010 Lucy & Andy Interview From 13WHAM Rochester, NY's 13WHAM added it's morning show segment of the Lucy & Andy interview from last week's PR blitz. Click the following link and scroll to the bottom to find the video Lucy Lawless & "Spartacus" (8:50). News submitted by Barbara Davies.     25 January 2010 Lucy On The WJBQ Morning Radio Show According to their website, Lucy will be on the WJBQ Morning Radio Show sometime next week. "Lucy Lawless, yes, Zena Princess Warrior has a new show on STARZ, "Spartacus!" We will chat with her next week about that! " It's been a while since I've seen Xena spelled like this. :D Watch the show's website for the exact date to be announced. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     25 January 2010 Sci-fi Princess Makes The Move To Ancient Rome Lucy Lawless is attracting a lot of attention for her latest character -- not that the New Zealand actress isn't used to recognition. As Xena: Warrior Princess, Lawless gained a surfeit of spirited sci-fi fans that adored the cult TV show for six years before following it as one of the sexy Cylons on Battlestar Galactica. [...] Lucky for the cast, Spartacus is a thrilling mix of gritty violence and graphic imagery to distract viewers from any blemished bodies. In fact, with the world of gladiators largely produced in post-production, one might assume it a challenge for actors. "We don't think about it at all; your imagination kind of fills in the blanks but its just gorgeous to see the finished product," said Lawless.  "It's not like Avatar, where the whole world is CGI. "We have really big, practical sets that you can climb up and balconies -- it's really solidly constructed -- so it's not all imagined; not playing everything to a tennis ball on a stick like we used to in the old days." No matter how it's put together, Spartacus seems destined to be Lawless' third sci-fi success. Starz, the series' U.S. distributor has already ordered a second season. It seems that in 2010, audiences are as fascinated by gladiators as ever. "It satisfies some sort of blood lust we have," said Lawless of the series' timeliness. "(Even) if you took away all the boobs and all the blood and all the special effects, it's just a thrill ride from start to finish." Click here to read the full article. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     24 January 2010 TV Guide's Roush Review Praises Spartacus From this week's US TV Guide: Roush Review looks at Caprica and Spartacus, praises both, but notes that while the former lacks in intensity, Spartacus doesn't. Good points about both shows. Click here to see the article. Submitted by Roger.     24 January 2010 Warrior Returns: Canberra Times Article Added scans of a Lucy interview that was published on the Canberra Times of 9th of January (Canberra, Australia).  They used an older picture of Lucy, the interview itself is the same as the "Tribune News" one of 4th of January. Click here to see the scans. Scans submitted by Leila.     24 January 2010 Spartacus Episode 2 Preview On Starz Ep 102 'Sacramentum Gladiatorium' - Enslaved in gladitorial school, the newly christened Spartacus must try to suppress his desire for vengeance when his new master promises to reunite him with his wife. USA - 2010 - TVMA Click here to watch the preview.     24 January 2010 Even More Photos Of Lucy & Andy From Movie Premire Rex features posted some terrific photos of Lucy & Andy from the NYC premiere of the Harrison Ford & Brandon Fraser movie Extreme Measures. Click here to see the images.     24 January 2010 The Pix Morning Show Images Of Lucy StarTraksPhotos has more images of Lucy from The Pix Morning Show. There are additional images of Lucy with Nick Lachey. Click here to see the images. INF images has photos of Lucy at the studio before or after the filming of her interview. Click here to see the INF images. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     24 January 2010 Lucy & DeKnight TCA Interview From Premieum Hollywood Although the new Starz series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," may involve a lot of guys and gals running around and committing all sorts of swordplay, you should in no way take the fact that it's executive produced by Robert G. Tapert to indicate that it will in any way resemble earlier Tapert productions like, say, "Hercules" or "Xena." I mean, heck, if the warrior princess herself doesn't see any similarities, then anything you think you've spotted is strictly a case of looking too hard to find something that isn't there. "It's totally different to me," said Lucy Lawless, who plays Lucretia on the show. "Completely different, tonally. The fighting, the technology, everything has changed so much. I don't recognize the fights at all. The way they do them is foreign to me." Read the full article.     24 January 2010 Genre Goddess Lucy, Actors, Writer On Violence/Nudity By Jenna Busch posted: 22 January 2010 11:02 am ET Add action and over-the-top violence to some pretty darn cool effects, excellent writing, genre goddess Lucy Lawless and Dollhouse, Buffy, Angel, and Smallville alum Steven S. DeKnight, you may very well have a hit on your hands.  (Lead Andy Whitfield in some pretty darn kick ass and super bloody fight scenes certainly doesn't hurt.)  'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' premieres on Starz tonight, and we highly recommend you call your cable provider if you don't get it yet.  A little 300, a little Rome and a little sex, drugs and rock...wait...sex, swords and naked dancers.  Same thing.  Want another reason to watch?  The show has already been renewed for a second season...before the first one has even aired!  We got a chance to take part in a conference call with Lawless, DeKnight and Whitfield about the show last week where we got the scoop on the show, the sex scenes, working with a slo-mo camera and yes, the fluffers.  Lucy Lawless:  All of us, the actors and the writers, are very serious about what we're doing.  We do not want one single thing to be gratuitous, even when there is a sex scene.  In fact, there is also business being transacted.  The scene is about something else.  Otherwise it would be on the Playboy channel...this is not soft porn.  It's a bloody good yarn and you want to be on board.  It's a great show. Read the full interview. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     24 January 2010 Lucy To Appear On The Wendy Show Jan 26 Love and Betrayal. From warrior princess to a gladiator's mistress, Lucy Lawless is telling Wendy all about her new show, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" on the Starz network. Plus, Lucy is known for changing her hair and will tell Wendy if blondes really do have more fun. Then, "Ugly Betty" star Mark Indelicato stops by! Plus, Wendy serves up some advice for members of her studio audience during "Ask Wendy." Don't miss it! Source News submitted by Barbara Davies     24 January 2010 Lucy To Appear On The Wendy Show Jan 26 Love and Betrayal. From warrior princess to a gladiator's mistress, Lucy Lawless is telling Wendy all about her new show, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" on the Starz network. Plus, Lucy is known for changing her hair and will tell Wendy if blondes really do have more fun. Then, "Ugly Betty" star Mark Indelicato stops by! Plus, Wendy serves up some advice for members of her studio audience during "Ask Wendy." Don't miss it! Source News submitted by Barbara Davies     23 January 2010 NY PIX Morning News Lucy Lawless Video NY PIX Morning News Lucy Lawless Airdate: 21 January 2010 Actress/singer Lucy Lawless joins us in the studio this morning to talk about her starring role in the new Starz series Spartacus: Blood & Sand, which premieres this Friday. Spartacus: Blood and Sand is an upcoming Starz original TV series that focuses on Spartacus, a Roman gladiator, who later became the leader of a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Watch Interview Video     23 January 2010 Lucy Interview - TVGuide 411 Video Interview Lucy Lawless is back on the small screen in Starz’ new series SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND. Lawless joins Marc Istook in the Hollywood 411 studio to talk about recreating ancient Rome on a green screen set. She also shares the benefit of playing a woman in ancient Rome as opposed to a man where the women bare much less! Airdate: 22 Jan 2010 Click here to view video     23 January 2010 The Happy Warrior - Lucy Lawless NY Times The New York Times has a great article about Lucy and the rest of the cast as they work out during their PR tour... The Happy Warrior... WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. “IS my slave here?” Lucy Lawless asked a publicist while crossing the lobby of the London Hotel here. Ms. Lawless wore stiletto sandals that brought her frame above six feet. She glanced over her shoulder as the publicist took two paces for each of her strides. Hotel clerks and guests looked up or swiveled in their chairs to watch her pass. “Ever since I cut my bangs again, people have been like, ‘Oh! Xena!’ ” she said, referring to “Xena: Warrior Princess,” the TV series in which she starred — with bangs — as an Amazonian vixen. With her skimpy armor and high-pitched battle cry, she kicked and karate-chopped her way to sci-fi cult status. Near the elevators, the two women were intercepted by another publicist holding a bag of workout clothes and shoes for the actress, who promptly went to change into them. Ms. Lawless was in town to promote “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” a series on the Starz network where she — once again — plays a fearsome dominatrix from yesteryear. The show had its debut Jan. 22, and its production is very much a family affair: her husband, Robert Tapert, is an executive producer (as he was for “Xena,” where the couple met), and her daughter from her first marriage, Daisy, who is 21, works in the sound department. Ms. Lawless, who is 41, also has two young children with Mr. Tapert, and the family has moved back to her native New Zealand from Los Angeles for the series. “Xena” was also filmed there. Since that show wrapped in 2001, Ms. Lawless has done turns on “Battlestar Galactica” and “The X-Files” and has been raising her children, she said. Like “Xena,” “Spartacus” is set deep in history and coated in fantasy. This time, Ms. Lawless plays Lucretia, a social climber in ancient Rome who favors orgies, back-stabbing and hot gladiators. On the roof of the hotel, Ms. Lawless met up with several other Spandex-clad “Spartacus” cast members, including Andy Whitfield, who plays the title character, and Peter Mensah, who plays a gladiator trainer. They were there for a group workout. Lesley-Ann Brandt, who plays Lucretia’s head slave, greeted Ms. Lawless with a hug. They danced together — pumping their arms and wiggling their hips — without music near a poolside cabana to keep warm. Read More     23 January 2010 ShowPatrol Q&A With Lucy, Andy & Steven DeKnight From Show Patrol: The makers of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" splatter the screen with sex, violence and plenty of R-rated language, but you won't convince them that any of it is out of place. "I take issue with you using the word gratuitous," star Lucy Lawless said. "In fact, all of us, the actors and writers, are very serious about why we do it. We do not want one single thing to be gratuitous; it's not what we're about." Lawless plays Lucretia, a Lady Macbeth-like figure in Starz new series premiering at 9 p.m. Friday. It tells the story of Spartacus, the gladiator who eventually leads an uprising against the Roman empire. So why all the sex? "It seems relevant to that time and what a sort of volatile, crazy world," said newcomer Andy Whitfield. "Actually, it would be inauthentic to not go there." Read the full interview. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     23 January 2010 IESB Interviews Andy Whitfield iesb.net interviews Andy Whitfield. Q: Were you ever asked to show what you looked like without a shirt on, prior to being cast? Andy: No, surprisingly, I wasn't. I was waiting for them to do that, but that didn't happen, so I had a month to convince them that they had made the right decision. [...] Q: What has Erin Cummings been like to work with? Andy: She's great. I think she actually got me the job. She came in to do a workshop with Steven DeKnight and the director, Rick Jacobson, in the audition process. I was doing these scenes, and there were some romantic scenes in the auditions. The casting director was there, but we couldn't really generate the chemistry. So, they brought in this girl and she was like a whirlwind. She was like, "Okay, everybody stop. You and I will just go in the corner and get to know each other." She was great. I was just like, "This is what Spartacus would feel like with that woman." She was just this whirlwind of energy. [...] Q: Did Lucy Lawless give you any advice about what it's like to carry a show like this? Andy: I never realized I was carrying it until about half-way through. I just always assumed it was an ensemble thing, where I was just on the poster. I guess I was in a little bit of denial. I came to acting late, just a few year ago, and it's not something I ever wanted. I guess I've overcome that by enjoying the process and the work. Obviously, Lucy's been through it before. Click here to read the full interview.     23 January 2010 More Movie Premiere Photos Of Andy & Lucy More images of Lucy and Andy from the NYC premiere of Extreme Measures. Zimbio: Premiere, After Party, AP Images, StarTraks, Corbis, Bruno Press, INF Events Photos of Lucy & Andy out and about at AP Images. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     23 January 2010 Torch Online Interviews Lucy, Andy & Rob Dennis Hensley interviews Lucy Lawless, Andy Whitfield, and Rob Tapert at the LA premiere of Spartacus: Blood And Sand. Click here to watch the video.     23 January 2010 The Inside Reel Interviews Lucy & Andy The Inside Reel Interviews Lucy Lawless and Andy Whitfield for the Starz Original Series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." Lucy and Andy discuss what makes their characters so unique and exciting. Click here to watch the video.     23 January 2010 TV Guide: Spartacus Gets a Brazen Update The Spartacus team is well aware the series can't survive on lust, gore and ancient eye candy alone. "Viewers won't keep returning just to see two gladiators beat the crap out of each other in the arena," DeKnight says. "Basically, we're softies. At the core of our show is a sweeping drama and a passionate romance." Early in the first episode, Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) and his wife, Sura (Erin Cummings), are brutally separated by Roman soldiers who condemn him to die in the gladiator games and sell her off to a Syrian slave trader. "It's Spartacus' all-consuming love for his wife that makes him survive against impossible odds," Whitfield notes. "It's a story so amazing you can't get your mind around it. I still stand back and go, 'This guy I'm playing actually built an army of slaves and took on the entire Roman Empire? Really?'" Whitfield's own story ain't too shabby, either. A former engineer who hails from Wales, he only took up acting seven years ago--at the age of 30. Until then, he'd made his living as a facade specialist, scaling the exteriors of skyscrapers and bridges to spot architectural problems. "Finding Andy was like finding another Russell Crowe or Viggo Mortensen--a tough son of a bitch with soul," DeKnight says. "We really lucked out." But the execs didn't push that luck when casting the plum female role, Lucretia, a desperate, social-climbing conniver married to Batiatus (John Hannah), the downwardly mobile owner of a gladiator school. They simply handed it to Tapert's internationally adored wife, former Xena star Lucy Lawless. "I keep being asked, 'Why are you doing the sword and sandals thing again?', but this is so different," Lawless says. "And who doesn't want to play Lady Macbeth?" (Click here to read our Q&A with Lawless.) Read the full article     23 January 2010 Lucy Interview In Boston Herald Lucy Lawless knows some viewers will be offended by her new series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," premiering tonight at 10 on Starz. "I think a lot of people are going to be shocked and they are going to shut off their televisions," Lawless said in a recent telephone interview from Los Angeles. "And I absolutely encourage that because if they're shocked by the first few episodes, it ain't going to let up. But for the people who have the stomach for it, this is a bloody good yarn." Lawless plays the conniving Lucretia, who owns the slave Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) with her husband, Batiatus (John Hannah). "She does terrible things, but she does them out of desperation and need, which is how most people get involved in criminal activities," Lawless said. "She is venal, but she is also religious. She is full of contradictions, and my aim is to make her so real and so believable that the audience will say, 'Yes, you know what? I can see myself doing the same thing if I was in her shoes.' " Click here to read the full interview.     23 January 2010 Andy Whitfield: A warrior made - Boston Herald For the first time, Andy Whitfield didn't have to go back to being an engineer after completing an acting job. The Australia native stars as the title character in "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," tonight at 10 on Starz. "I only got into this (acting) business six or seven years ago. I had one of those epiphanies: 'You mean I don't have to do the thing I studied in college?' " Whitfield said in a recent telephone interview from Los Angeles. "I've always had to act in my spare time and chip away at it and then go back to the day job. I guess I was sitting on the fence a little bit, mainly out of concern for feeding my family." But after an international search, the father of two was cast as the slave who led the rebellion against the Romans. He finally was able to quit his day job. Sometimes he still can't believe it. "It was so grueling, this job. It was really tough," he said. "When we were filming down in New Zealand, on the way home in the car, I'd go, 'Wow, this is a TV show. I'm going to be a lead.' I would just forget." Click here to read the full interview.     23 January 2010 Lucy Lawless Gets Down and Dirty - IGN Interview Lucy Lawless Gets Down and Dirty The former warrior-princess talks to IGN about her sexy new role in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, her demise on BSG, and playing a zero on Flight of the Conchords. by Matt Fowler US, January 21, 2010 - On Friday, January 22nd, the Starz channel will unleash Sam Raimi (Spider-Man, Drag Me to Hell) and Rob Tapert's (30 Days of Night) Spartacus: Blood and Sand onto an unsuspecting public. Taking a hyper-realistic visual approach and creating a world akin to the green screen realms of Sin City and 300, Tapert and executive producer/writer Steven S. DeKnight retell the time-honored tale of Spartacus, the Roman Gladiator-turned-Rebel. This is a phrase that might get used way too often, but this new vivid, gory series is literally "not your father's" Spartacus. Laced with sex, nudity and dismemberment, Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a blood-spattered, mature take on the legendary story. At the TCA Winter Press Tour last week, it was announced that Starz has already picked up Spartacus for a second season - to be named Spartacus: Vengeance. One of the big selling points for this series, beyond the carnal offerings of copulation and savagery, is the casting of Lucy Lawless as the conniving Lucretia. Lawless has a fan base that spans the globe thanks to six seasons of playing the beautiful battle-babe Xena on the Raimi/Tapert-produced syndicated series, Xena: Warrior Princess. Lucretia, wife of Batiatus (The Mummy's John Hannah) - who runs a Ludus, or gladiator training school - has constant designs for power and glory. IGN TV was able to speak with Lawless about her new, salacious role on Spartacus, as well as some chit-chat about Battlestar Galactica, Flight of the Conchords and Raimi's new World of Warcraft project. Click here to read the interview     23 January 2010 Lucy & Andy At The Premiere Of Extraordinary Measures A-List Stars Come to 'Extraordinary Measures' New York PremiereAdd CommentJanuary 22, 2010 04:30:28 GMT [...] Some celebrity guests at the event included Gerard Butler, Brooke Shields, Tony Bennett, Andrew McCarthy, Lucy Lawless and Andy Whitfield as well as Steve Guttenberg. Click the links to see the photos from this event on the following websites: AceShowBiz, Life, Getty, Wireimage, PRPhotos, WENN, Film Magic     23 January 2010 Spartacus Cast At The LA Premiere Listen to comments about Spartacus from the cast and the creative forces behind the show. Lucy Lawless, Andy Whitfield, Erin Cummings, Peter Mensah, Viva Bianca, Manu Bennett, Sam Raimi at the LA premiere of the show. Watch the video. News submitted by Lori Boyles     23 January 2010 Lucy on Today Show & Live with Regis HQ Captures HQ Screencaptures of Lucy from The Today Show and Live with Regis & Kelly are now online. Screencaptures created by Roger. Live With Regis & Kelly Watch Video   The Today Show Watch Video     23 January 2010 Lucy Interview The Today Show on AUSXIP Video Lucy was on The Today Show and was interviewed about Spartacus. The video is now available to view on AUSXIP Video. Created by Roger. Click here to view     23 January 2010 Lucy Interview Regis & Kelly On AUSXIP Video Lucy was on the show Live with Regis & Kelly 22 January 2010 with Jerry and Kelly (Regis was not there but Jerry O'Connell was the guest host with Kelly). Lucy briefly discussed Spartacus Blood and Sand. Video by Roger. Click here to watch video on AUSXIP Video     22 January 2010 Spartacus PR Upcoming Interviews Update Received the following updates from Spartacus PR of upcoming interviews - mainly updates to interviews already listed but more info about them: This Week Friday, January 22, 2010 – live INTERVIEWS Live with Regis & Kelly Date: Friday, January 22, 2010 Time: 9a.m. – 10a.m.* ET / MST/ PT (Lucy interview scheduled during the final half hour ) *Please check your local listings. Featuring: LIVE Interview with Lucy Lawless of “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” The Today Show Date: Friday, January 22, 2010 Time: During the 10 o’clock hour, ET* *Please check your local listings to confirm. Featuring: LIVE Interview with Lucy Lawless of “Spartacus: Blood and Sand Coming Up Next Week “Wendy Williams” with Lucy Lawless will air sometime next week - a definite date will be posted tomorrow “Live with Rachel Ray” will air in the next few weeks.     22 January 2010 Stream Lucy's 965thebuzz.com Interview You can now listen to Lucy's interview from The Buzz on the show's website. Lucy called in to Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz to chat about Spartacus. A little show called Xena also came up... Click here to listen to the interview. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     22 January 2010 Lucy's Fancast Q&A - Transcript Now Available Update: You can now read the transcript of the Q&A below. -- fancast has sent me the code to follow the fancast Q&A with Lucy (and you can send your question directly from the form below!) The chat is live Thursday, January 21 at 2:00 pm EST / 11:00 am PST, and the content is entirely fan-driven, everyone can feel free to send in their own questions.           22 January 2010 Lucy As Mistery Caller On KFNS Martin Radio Show Listen to Lucy calling in to the KFNS Martin Radio Show. She initially disguises her voice a little to throw the hosts, but once they realize it's her, Andy joins in on the conversation. Lucy, Andy and the hosts discuss Spartacus. Click here to listen to the interview.     22 January 2010 Lucy Discusses Lucretia In Complex.Com Interview In this mini interview Lucy discusses Lucretia's motivations and notes that each episode will bring viewers something they haven't seen on TV before. Click here to watch this video. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     22 January 2010 Lucy, Andy & John Talk Nudity, Sex, and Violence in Spartacus In case you haven't heard already, the new Starz series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," has a lot of nudity in it. We're talking full-frontal, kids. Did I mention there's a lot of sex, too? And a lot of sweaty, grunting, oiled-up dudes grappling with each other? Moreover, there's a lot of bloody violence, which is made either more or less graphic by the fact that it's stylized, "300"-style, with slow-motion streams of blood that hang in midair after spurting out of a man's jugular. As star John Hannah puts it, "We're really pushing the boundaries." Last night, Sling.com chatted with John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, and Andy Whitfield about their new series, which premieres on Friday (and has Starz so excited that they've already ordered a second season). The show got picked up for a second season. What was it like when you heard that? Lucy: Oh, it's wonderful. Starz has got some cojones, man. They got behind us, boots and all. There's posters everywhere, and they put trailers before "Avatar" and before "Sherlock Holmes" -- really big movies -- and I'm really, really thrilled and grateful, and we want to do them proud to rebrand that station. They deserve it. Click here to read the interview.     22 January 2010 Lucy's WPIX Video Interview Now Online Actress/singer Lucy Lawless joins us in the studio this morning to talk about her starring role in the new Starz series Spartacus: Blood & Sand, which premieres this Friday. Spartacus: Blood and Sand is an upcoming Starz original TV series that focuses on Spartacus, a Roman gladiator, who later became the leader of a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Lawless plays the sexually voracious Lucretia, who takes the gladiator Crixus for a lover, but longs for a child she is so far unable to bear. She thinks Spartacus is an uncontrollable beast that has cost too much and fears he will bring misfortune upon the ludus. The New Zealand native is most famously known for her title role as Xena the Warrior Princess and recently starred in the hit sci-fi show Battlestar Gallactica. Following her run on Celebrity Duets, Lawless' singing career has launched with great success and has enjoyed back-to-back sold out concerts. Spartacus: Blood and Sand premieres on Friday, January, 22 at 10pm on Starz. For more information, visit www.starz.com/originals/spartacus. Click here to watch the video. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     22 January 2010 Lucy's Entertainment Tonight Interview Now Online Lucy talks about filming the series, loving HBO's Rome, how technology and 300 have inspired the creation of the show, as well as the different standards of Ancient Rome. Click here to watch the video. News submitted by Lori Boyles.     22 January 2010 Erin's Attack Of The Show Interview Now Online From Erin's Twitter: In case you missed my interview on @AOTS... Kevin Pereira sits down with Erin Cummings to talk about her epic new series, 'Spartacus', on Starz, taking on a role in the historic Roman Republic and life after 'Bitch Slap.' Watch the interview     22 January 2010 Lucy Lawless' 'Spartacus': Blood, Sex And A Rockin' Yarn Lucy Lawless' 'Spartacus': Blood, Sex And A Rockin' Yarn Lucy Lawless has been at the center of whirlwind of promotional activity trying to make everyone aware that her provocative new series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is premiering Friday on Starz. The former "Xena: Warrior Princess" star was in Pasadena at the Television Critics Association winter press tour Saturday where she chatted a bit with Fancast.com. She then called a few days later for follow-up from New York City where she is doing a flurry of television appearances and radio, print and online interviews. "I'm doing everything," she said from New York Tuesday. "I'm really thrilled that we can give this show this big launch. I feel like, 'Oh thank God!' Let's put it out there and into the hands of the people and let's see how excited we can get them. I think it really can deliver." "Spartacus," produced by Sam Raimi and Lawless's husband Rob Tapert, is already riding a wave of buzz because it is filmed in New Zealand almost entirely in CGI and features large doses of bloody violence, nudity and graphic sex. "If you take away all the blood and sex, the special effects, you still got a rockin' yarn," the actress says. "They're great stories and very gracefully told. I knew that this was going to be a new force in television just like "Hercules" and "Xena" which brought Hong Kong action to television. This will do the same thing. It's edgy and intense. For the 41-year-old Lawless, the role of Lucretia is a real acting feast. "The role is just a knockout," she says. "My character is the ultimate manipulator and her ambition knows no bounds. She's full of contradictions. She loves her husband more than life itself, she'd go to the ends of the earth to please him even to the point of sleeping with a gladiator to try and provide my husband with a son." Lucretia is the manipulative owner of a gladiator camp along with her husband, Batiatus (John Hannah) and is equal to her spouse in cunning. Among the gladiators they own is Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) who they hope will help them out of hard times by restoring them to their previous lofty status in the world of gladiator contests. Still, she thinks of Spartacus as an uncontrollable beast and fumes when her husband does things like play chess with him. Full article     22 January 2010 Lucy & Andy Interviewed By Yahoo!News "Actors Lucy Lawless and Andy Whitfield, who star in the new Starz cable series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," talk about their roles and swordplay." Lucy and Andy talk about shooting the show, the news of the second season, Lucy's potential involvement with Caprica and more... Click here to watch the video. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     22 January 2010 Lucy Interview On Philly.Com Of Rome's Lady Macbeth & Xena A good interview by Ellen Gray from Philly.com: "All of us are nude every day," declared the famously frank New Zealander in an interview here last weekend to discuss her new series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," which premieres tomorrow night on Starz. SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND. 10 p.m. tomorrow, Starz. PASADENA, Calif. - It's not as easy as you might think to talk about nudity to an actress you've just seen topless on screen, engaging in the kind of sexual high jinks that make much of what we see on even premium cable seem tame, but Lucy Lawless went easy on me. "All of us are nude every day," declared the famously frank New Zealander in an interview here last weekend to discuss her new series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," which premieres tomorrow night on Starz. Produced by Lawless' husband, Rob Tapert ("Xena: Warrior Princess"), "Spartacus" features the former "Xena" as Lucretia, wife of the gladiator school owner Batiatus (John Hannah) who acquires the newly enslaved Spartacus (Andy Whitfield). A sort of ancient-Rome Lady Macbeth whose ambitions for her husband know few bounds, she's also remarkably free - by modern standards, at least - about sex, as is just about everyone else in "Spartacus." Even Lawless admits being a little surprised by just how free. "I've all week [in interviews] been defending" the series from suggestions that it crosses a line, she said, mimicking herself saying, " 'I take issue with the words "soft core" and "soft porn" or whatever.' And then I saw the premiere the other night, and went 'Oh, my God! That's what they were talking about!' So I have to be honest and say that I was a little surprised myself." Lawless added that "the show finds its groove in about Episode 5. Every series takes a little while to figure out what's the tone of the show, where its boundaries are." Still, "they are really provocative. Even I, having been through 13 episodes . . . was quite provoked and shocked by the premiere. But it certainly lets anybody who's prudish or squeamish know this is not the show for you . . . If you're not up for Episode 1, you won't be up for Episode 13." The actress, who's about to set a whole new standard for fitness among 41-year-old mothers of three, said, laughing, that "I think I would have been stressed by the idea of doing any form of nudity at any age." But "if you're an artist of any sort whatsoever - if it seems important to the role or telling the story, or authentic, or historically accurate, then I don't see that you would have an excuse not to do it." As for Lucretia, "who wouldn't want to be playing a woman who's the rod in her husband's back and is pushing him to new highs, or new lows, depending on your point of view?" Plus, "I knew this was going to be a new kind of television. I knew it from the way Rob talked about it, from the images and influences he was taking out of history and from modern technology," she said of the series, which Tapert describes as "a green-screen show" where all the exteriors are filmed indoors. Read the full interview. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     22 January 2010 Lucy & Andy Interviewed By Yahoo! OMG "What's the Buzz" segment from Yahoo!'s OMG: an interview with Lucy and Andy about shooting the series, their characters. Lucy also talks about moving back to New Zealand, her fans and the cast starving on set to stay in top shape. Click here to watch the video. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     22 January 2010 Lucy, Rob & Andy Mentioned In Ecollywood's Roundup From mnn.com: Our weekly roundup of eco-related celebrity news including the one actor who became a vegetarian to upset his parents. "I believe there is a catastrophic change coming if we don't do something now," declares eco-advocate Lucy Lawless (pictured right) an ambassador for New Zealand Greenpeace who has an organic garden, recycles, and switched to CFL light bulbs at home. The former Xena: Warrior Princess is now playing Lucretia in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, debuting on Starz Jan. 22. Reminiscent of both 300 for its stylized look, freeze-frame violence and flying blood and HBO's Rome for its explicit sex and nudity, the 13-part series, already renewed for a second season, is co-produced by Lawless' husband Rob Tapert in New Zealand, where the production endeavored to be as green as possible. "No paper cups, no Styrofoam, virtually no heat on the stages," he says.   In the title role of the slave turned gladiator and rebellion leader is Andy Whitfield, a Welsh-born, Australia-trained actor discovered in a worldwide casting search. Having formerly climbed buildings by rope, inspecting buildings for a structural engineering firm, he's no stranger to physical labor but nevertheless found playing Spartacus and performing most of his own stunts a grueling endeavor. "Some things I couldn't do, for insurance reasons, but I pretty much hit the deck, every time, and threw the punches and swung the swords. It was hard."   A married father of two kids ages 5 and 2, Whitfield is a dedicated recycler and is acutely aware of "the whole connection between food and the Earth, and the way animals are bred and fed. "I think processed things have caused so many problems with everyone, and that's going to affect the environment," he believes.   Whitfield will also be seen in The Clinic, an Australian-made 1970s-set thriller about unborn babies stolen from pregnant women. "I play the husband of a woman who it happens to," he says. Source News submitted by Barbara Davies       22 January 2010 Fancast Q&A - Follow it Here Starts NOW! fancast has sent me the code to follow the fancast Q&A with Lucy (and you can send your question directly from the form below!) The chat is live Thursday, January 21 at 2:00 pm EST / 11:00 am PST, and the content is entirely fan-driven — everyone can feel free to send in their own questions.           21 January 2010 Fancast Q&A with Lucy - Update I just got an email with more info about the fancast Q&A with Lucy from Khermarin Sokan from Fancast: I just wanted to pass along some exciting news I thought you and your Spartacus fans might be interested in—Fancast is hosting a live chat with Lucy Lawless! The chat is live Thursday, January 21 at 2:00 pm EST / 11:00 am PST, and the content is entirely fan-driven — everyone can feel free to send in their own questions. Just wanted to pass along— thought it might be interesting for your fellow Spartacus fans! Best, Khemarin Sokan For more info on this go to http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/live-chat/live-chat-with-spartacus-blood-and-sand-star-lucy-lawless/a     21 January 2010 Loincloths, Gladiators and Lucy Lawless A strong following by the gay community has propelled Lucy Lawless from Xena through Battlestar Galactica and onto her new series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Lawless will be the first to acknowledge and thank her fans for their support throughout the decades. "They, along with the geeks, are my life," Lawless said. "I say that lovingly, along with geeks and nerds, [gays] are the most loyal fans and who will follow you and give your career such a solid platform for the rest of your life. I owe them a big thank you and they know that. God love ’em." Read Full Article News submitted by Mesh / Barbara Davies     21 January 2010 Lucy Lawless - The Blood, The Sex and Gore of Spartacus Q&A: Lucy Lawless of 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' Lucy Lawless, on the blood, sex and gore-filled 'Spartacus,' and her former life as Xena. Lucy Lawless says it’s true: She was cast in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, an audacious new TV series for Starz, after sleeping with the producer. But don’t get the wrong idea. “I’ve been married to him for a long time,” she says with a laugh, “and he doesn’t put me in anything he doesn’t think I’m right for.” Lawless, whose enduring claim to pop-culture fame is as ,em>Xena, Warrior Princess, is back on the airwaves in another stylishly made swords-and-sandals drama. But Spartacus is so different from Xena, the 1990s TV sensation. Xena was campy and cartoon-like; Spartacus is brash and brutal, a marriage of soft-core sex and hardcore violence. Also, Lawless is a villain this time, not the hero. Set in the days of the Roman Empire, when gladiators fought to the death as entertainment for the masses, Spartacus is the story of a warrior slave who must survive not only his bloody battles in the arena, but also the deadly schemes of those around him. Andy Whitfield, a British-born actor who’s well-known to Australian audiences but a newcomer to the U.S., plays the title role. Lawless plays Lucretia, the cunning wife of the man who owns the gladiator camp where Spartacus is imprisoned. She is a wicked, wicked woman and will stop at nothing to gain status and ensure her survival. It’s a different kind of character for Lawless. But her producer husband, Rob Tapert, who she met during the Xena years, was correct: She is right for it. “And I’m really grateful to have this second 15 minutes of fame,” Lawless says. Spartacus: Blood and Sand premieres at 9 p.m. CT Friday, Jan. 22. Read Full Interview     21 January 2010 Spartacus is Thought-Provoking Feast for the Eyes Warning: This review discusses the identity of the gay character in Spartacus: Blood and Sand. First, let’s talk loincloths. Much ado has been made about the full-frontal female and male nudity on the new Starz show Spartacus: Blood and Sand, debuting this Friday, and the eye-candy is definitely there. But after all the hype and build-up, I confess I was a tad disappointed by this aspect of the show. On the other hand, I can’t quite stop thinking about the loincloths on all the men. It’s impossible to watch the show and not be struck by all the impressive male bodies on display – and the attractive way those loincloths feature those bodies. In the case of Spartacus's costume design, less is more, but sometimes a little more is more too. But the great appeal of this show, for gay viewers and everyone else, is about much more than just the loincloths. All that other hype about how, like the movie 300, the show is filmed almost entirely in CGI and how “revolutionary” it all is? Read Full Review     21 January 2010 Lucy Lawless: Rome-ing on 'Spartacus' Windy City Times Windy City Times has an interview with Lucy Lucy Lawless plays Lucretia in the upcoming Spartacus: Blood and Sand for the Starz network. Windy City Times called her up halfway around the world to get the scoop on the warrior princess' new project. Windy City Times: G'day, mate! How's New Zealand this time of year? Lucy Lawless: It's hot and muggy. It's been incredibly tropical. WCT: It's the opposite here. You are done filming the first season of Spartacus, correct? Lucy Lawless: Yes. You are all going to be disappointed but there are only 13 episodes. WCT: Well, I watched three of them so far. Your part seemed smaller in the first one but is getting juicier each episode. Read More     21 January 2010 Watch The Red Serpent on Starz Official Site For those who have been thinking they couldn't watch the first episode without buying a subscription to Starz, think again. Starz has released the first episode "The Red Serpent" on their site. It's open to everyone (if you are over 17) and from all regions.   Click here to view online Episode stills for the first episode are available in the Spartacus Image Galleries     21 January 2010 Spartacus Premiere New York 19 Jan - Pictures Andy, John and Lucy attended the New York premiere of Spartacus on 19 Jan 2010 and below are the images from the event (from Wire Image)     Lucy Lawless             Andy Whitfield               John Hannah             More images off site: - Getty - Film Magic - Wenn - Globe Photos - Life - Rex Features - Star Track Photo - INF Events     20 January 2010 Review: SPARTACUS Slays (and Guts) the Competition Posted on 19 January 2010 by Tim O'Leary, Associate Editor Five Torches (Out of Five) Spartacus: Blood and Sand, the much-hyped new show from Starz, is finally premiering this Friday, January 22nd at 10 PM. At long last, a chance to see if the product lives up to its claim of pushing the boundaries of violence and nudity you've seen on television. So does it? In two words, hell yeah. Even if you've seen the mega-violent 300, which Spartacus unabashedly takes a lot of its visual aesthetic from, don't think you're prepared -- the similarities end once you cross the look and get into the content. Both have that "living graphic novel" feel, as much of the show is shot with actors against a green screen, allowing the ancient world to come to life behind them. But while 300 was strictly a testosterone-fueled fightfest, Spartacus actually gives its characters a lot to say and feel ... and eviscerate. Click here to read the full article.     20 January 2010 John Hannah Interviewed On Good Day NY From MYFOXNY.COM: John Hannah stars in the new series "Spartacus:  Blood and Sand." The Scottish actor plays Batiatus, the Roman gladiator owner in the Starz original series. Batiatus buys the warrior Spartacus for his Ludus gladiator training school in the hope that the raw potential he sees in the Thracian will restore his finances and reputation. He shares a passionate marriage with Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) and there is very little he can or will deny her. Hannah established a successful career in television and theater, notable for his breakthrough film role as Matthew in the box office hit romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral. Click here to see the video. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     19 January 2010 The Women Of Spartacus In Maxim Magazine Ad The gorgeous women of Spartacus are featured in an ad in Maxim Magazine ad alongside a full page ad of Andy Whitfield as Spartacus (previously see in Emmy Magazine). Click here to see the full size ad. News submitted by Lori Boyles.     19 January 2010 Terrific Behind The Scenes Of Spartacus Video Starz Studios: Spartacus Blood and Sand - Go behind the scenes and on the set of the Starz Original series 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand.' Starz posted a terrific 15-minute behind the scenes of Spartacus feature on their official YouTube Channel. The feature has interviews with the lead actors as well as the show's creators. You can hear Lucy, Andy, Erin, Peter Mensah, Jai Courtney, Viva Bianca, Craig Parker, as well as producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Chloe Smith discuss the series. You can also hear from the stunt coodinator and set designer, a superb way to catch a glimpse of how this exciting show is being crafted. Click here to see the video. News submitted by Lori Boyles.     19 January 2010 If Magazine Interviews Exec Producer Steven S. DeKnight Exclusive TCA 2010 News: 'SPARTACUS' RENEWED FOR SEASON TWO AND GOES FOR 'VENGEANCE' Executive producer Steven S. DeKnight reveals the new subtitle and the plans for the future By CARL CORTEZ, Contributing Editor Published 1/16/2010 THE SKINNY: While at today's TCA, Starz announced that their new action series SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND has been renewed for a second season because of the complications involved with the special effects and the time needed to have it back on the air by next year. One of the big differences though, is each season will have a different subtitle. Season Two will be called SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE and we spoke with executive producer Steven S. DeKnight about the reasoning behind it. "We were greatly influenced by graphic novels," he says. " Instead of SPARTACUS Season 1, 2 or 3 - each season will have a subtitle to what we're doing for the next season. While I don't know how long the show is going to go, I have four out of five in mind." While the early second season pick-up has been encouraging for a longer run of the series, and of course DeKnight knows where it's going to end, but not sure how long it will take there. "It's so hard to tell, until we get into season two or three, and possibly four to see how much story there is to tell," says DeKnight. "Spartacus still has an end game, according to history, but it doesn't end quite the way people think it does with the movie. But ultimately, we know where we're headed, which is a great thing. How long it goes, will be dictated by the popularity of the show and if we feel we can tell compelling stories for six or seven years." Read the article News submitted by Barbara Davies.     19 January 2010 Peter Mensah Interview In The Birmingham News Actor Peter Mensah trains gladiators in Starz Network's 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' By Kenneth Carter -- The Birmingham News In the brutal world of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," Doctore doles out wisdom and punishment with unflinching coldness and precision.     That the actor who portrays the menacing ex-slave and gladiator trainer is such a friendly, likable guy is a tribute to his talent and ability to immerse himself in his part.  Set in the heyday of ancient Rome, the Starz Network's "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" follows a Thracian warrior betrayed and sold into slavery, forced to fight for his life in the bloody gladiatorial games. Actor Peter Mensah is Doctore, teacher and trainer to Spartacus and other gladiators.  "I certainly found him to be a very interesting character to play," Mensah said. "He is an ex-slave who has grown up as a slave, as a gladiator, and after a fairly disastrous battle, recovers and starts to train other gladiators. The interesting thing about him is that he understands the life-and-death, absolutely brutal world of gladiators, but he also is a father figure to many of these men."  Doctore is a title, and the only name Mensah's character goes by. "The moniker stuck as a reference to him to imply his name, but it actually isn't his name. There is a name, but you'll have to wait until the last episode to find out," he said.  Mensah has been athletic all his life -- he's studied martial arts since he was 6 -- but the training that he and the other actors had to endure for the series was challenging.  "The fantastic stunt crew on 'Spartacus' actually put us through a boot camp for three weeks before we started shooting, and that involved a combination of cardiovascular as well as core training and also specific training in what's called the 'Blood and Sandals' world of swords and shields and what have you," Mensah said.  But, once you look like a gladiator, you have to keep looking like a gladiator, and Mensah said a strict diet was necessary.  "We sort of had to be on a specific diet just cutting out sugars and the normal excesses just so we could stay in the right form and give the audience the right images for the entire period of the shoot," he said. "Yeah, it's an adjustment. You give up chocolate and beer. But, hopefully, you like the result that goes with it."  And that result is a hard-edged slice of Roman culture, with a heavy dose of "300"-like atmosphere thrown in for good measure.  Read the full article News submitted by Barbara Davies.     19 January 2010 More TCA Images Of Lucy, Andy, John & Viva Getty Images has posted more images of Lucy and the cast from the 2010 Winter TCA Tour - Day 8. The photos show Lucy, Andy, John Hannah and Viva Bianca in good spirits. :D Click here to see the images.     19 January 2010 Spartacus Early Premieres, Motion Comics, iPhone Game & More News Release Issued: January 18, 2010 8:15 AM EST Enter the World of 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' With Early Series Premieres and Free Previews, Motion Comics, iPhone Game & More ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The dawn of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is drawing near, as the much-anticipated Starz original series debuts this week. But even before it premieres at 10:00 PM (ET/PT) on Starz on January 22, the series will be available via on-demand and online series previews, beginning on January 20. Episode 2 will follow the same staggered release schedule one week later, January 27 for on-demand and online previewing, followed by January 29 for the Starz 10:00 PM premiere. Participating cable and satellite affiliates offering the free on-demand sampling opportunities for the first two full episodes include (alphabetically): Charter Communications (HD), Comcast (HD), Cox Communications (HD), DIRECTV (HD on The 101 Network), Insight Communications (HD), Mediacom Communications Corporation (HD), and WOW! ("HD" noted above = HD On Demand availability for free preview) DIRECTV will also offer episodes 1 and 2 of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" for all subscribers on The 101 Network in both HD and standard definition, beginning with episode 1 on January 21st at midnight (ET/PT), followed by episode 2 on The 101 on January 28th, also at midnight (ET/PT) . Fancast (www.fancast.com) and Starz.com will have free full-episode streams of episodes 1 and 2 available for early sampling on January 20 and January 27, respectively, while iTunes will make available free downloadable podcasts of the first two full episodes of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" on January 22 and January 29 respectively. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" iPhone Game, Motion Comic, Workout Details; iTunes Storefront As the anticipation to the debut of 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand" builds, Starz Digital Media announced the recent launch of the "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" mobile game designed for iPhone and iPod touch with Artificial Life, Inc. (OTCBulletinBoard: ALIF). The game utilizes the multi-touch and Wi-Fi connectivity features of the popular mobile devices and brings to life the action and violence in the series. Also, Starz Digital Media, in association with Double Barrel Motion Labs, is bringing to market a four-part "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" motion comic series. The first three installments of the motion comic series are available now for purchase on the Amazon, iTunes, PlayStation® Network, and Xbox LIVE platforms, with the fourth and final episode of the series available beginning tomorrow. Digital versions of the "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" official comic book print series, produced by Starz in association with Devil's Due Publishing, are available for purchase on iTunes through various iPhone applications, including the newly launched Graphic.ly digital content delivery platform. Finally, in partnership with Men's Health magazine, the official "Spartacus" workout is available as a free download at the iTunes App Store. The workout was designed by Men's Health fitness experts to get anyone into fighting shape for the new year. The first two episode podcasts, motion comic series, mobile game, and Men's Health workouts are all available at the "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" iTunes Storefront at www.starz.com/spartacus_itunes. "This series will make an impact with viewers due to its unique look and style and incredible performances by its talented cast," said Stephan Shelanski, executive vice president, programming for Starz Entertainment. "We are delighted that the interest from our multichannel video and online affiliates has been so strong and are optimistic that the series will be very well received." Marc DeBevoise, senior vice president, digital media, business development and strategy for Starz Media and lead executive for Starz Digital Media added, "This incredible and unique series presented us with several digital opportunities to reach the prospective fan base. Motion comics and mobile games are but two ways that we can promote the new series in advance of its debut and offer additional outlets for meeting the demands of the fans." The official "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" trailer, motion comic trailers and behind the scenes videos are available at www.starz.com/spartacus. Follow "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" on Twitter: @spartacus_starz and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/spartacus.starz. About "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" Produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is the most highly anticipated original series in the history of Starz and is scheduled to debut on the pay TV network. The UK-born and Australia-based Andy Whitfield portrays Spartacus, a soldier in the Roman Auxiliary who is taken prisoner. As punishment for defying a Roman Legate, Spartacus is sentenced to die in the gladiator arena. But after surviving numerous fights, his sentence is commuted and he is sold as a slave to be trained as a gladiator. A newcomer in the U.S., Whitfield has gained acclaim in numerous Australian drama series and also starred in the feature film Gabriel, one of the highest grossing films at the Australian box office in 2007. Lucy Lawless is cast as Lucretia, who along with her husband Batiatus (John Hannah), own the slave Spartacus and the gladiator camp where the former soldier learns the ways of the arena fighter. The couple has fallen on hard times financially and has bought Spartacus hoping his fighting prowess will help them regain their status in the brutal world of gladiatorial contests. Among her many roles, Lawless is best known for portraying "Xena: Warrior Princess" in the long-running global hit series, and has appeared in Syfy's critically acclaimed "Battlestar Galactica." Hannah is the BAFTA Film Awards nominee best known for his work in The Mummy trilogy as well as Four Weddings and a Funeral and on a number of successful British TV series, including "Rebus," "New Street Law" and "MDs." Additional cast members include: Erin Cummings as Spartacus' Thracian wife, Sura; Peter Mensah as Doctore, Batiatus' most loyal and trusted slave; Manu Bennett (30 Days of Night, The Condemned) as Crixus, the top gladiator at Batiatus' gladiator school; Antonio Te Maioha ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Legend of the Seeker") as Barca, a big, hulking brute of a man who is Batiatus' bodyguard and hit man; Craig Parker (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, "Legend of the Seeker") as Glaber, a Roman Legate, who blames Spartacus for his failed military campaign; and Nick E. Tarabay ("Crash," "The Sopranos") as Ashur, a former gladiator who is now the school's resident bookie. DeKnight is the head writer for the series, which was produced in New Zealand by Starz Media. DeKnight consulted on Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" and will be writing the upcoming eighth installment of the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" comic book series. Starz' 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 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 and new original series every 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, a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation. Starz Digital Media, an operating division of Starz Media, LLC, is responsible for all digital and on-demand distribution of library content from Overture Films, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Originals from Starz Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment. Through a range of distribution and marketing partnerships with multichannel video providers, Internet distributors and wireless operators worldwide, Starz Digital Media makes its content available under numerous business models including download-to-own/electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, subscription video-on-demand and ad-supported streaming. The division also programs and supports numerous ad-supported broadband channels and develops games and gaming-related content from many of its properties for distribution worldwide.     17 January 2010 Photos From The 2010 TCA Promo Tour Added photos of Lucy, Andy Whitfield and John Hannah from the 2010 TCA promotional tour for Spartacus: Blood And Sand. Click here to see the images.     17 January 2010 Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide Articles Added Added the Spartacus related articles from the January 15 and January 22 issues of Entertainment Weekly, January 25 issue of People Magazine and TV Guide to the Spartacus gallery. Terrific photos and reviews from both these popular magazines. Be sure to get your copies at the checkout lane! Click this link to see the images. Scans submitted by Lori and Roger.     17 January 2010 Rob Tapert Interview In The New York Times Sex and Gore? That's Ancient History By CHARLES McGRATH WHEN the Victorians were feeling gloomy about their prospects they used to compare themselves to the ancient Romans. They read Gibbon, Plutarch and Tacitus and looked for parallels: a society burdened by empire, corrupted by wealth, deficient in manly virtue. Lately we have been doing much the same, only instead of consulting the Latin texts we turn to screen epics like "Gladiator," the HBO series "Rome," and the 2007 Zack Snyder film "300," which, strictly speaking, was about Spartans, not Romans, but let's not be fussy. The cable channel Starz, as part of an effort to expand its slate of original programming, is extending this classical tradition with "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," a 13-part series that starts Friday, and has already taken the unusual step of commissioning a second season before the first one even runs. [...] The early episodes include a number of well-drawn personalities, many of them plucked (or embellished) right from Plutarch, our main source for what little we know about Spartacus, a man, the text says, "not only of high spirit and valiant, but in understanding and in gentleness superior to his condition." (Plutarch does not mention abs or lats, which Andy Whitfield, an Australian actor who plays the character, has in abundance, but they probably go without saying.) Read the full article     16 January 2010 Rob Interview Metro News 15 January 2010 Metro News has an interview with Rob Tapert - 15 January 2010: When the promotional trailer for the new series Spartacus: Blood and Sand was released during San Diego Comic Con, many viewers were surprised by the amount of, well, blood -- and naked flesh. Along with plenty of slow-motion spurting arteries, there are some quick -- and some not-so-quick -- flashes of nearly ever inch of the cast, including Andy Witfield (as the titular gladiator) and Xena: Warrior Princess and Battlestar Galactica vet Lucy Lawless. "(The network) wanted to do something that's groundbreaking and boundary-pushing," explains series executive producer Rob Tapert, who put the show together along with fellow executive producer Sam Raimi (himself no stranger to buckets of blood) and writer Stephen S. DeKnight, who cut his teeth writing for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Read More     16 January 2010 Lucy Speaks About Sexy Spartacus - AOL TV 15 Jan 2010 AOL Television has an interview with Lucy - Lucy Lawless Speaks About Sexy 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' 15 January 2009 Lucy Lawless graduates from a Princess to a Queen, playing the stunningly sensual gladiator school madam Lucretia in 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand,' an original movie on Starz airing January 22. This is not a rehashing of the classic Kirk Douglas yarn, but a far more risque interpretation. In an interview with AOL TV, Lawless insisted the bloody brutality of the gladiators and "everything goes" sexual philosophy is historically accurate. There are so many graphic sex scenes that some people may think this is soft porn. Do you agree? I keep hearing that words soft porn and I really rally against it because a) it's historically accurate where there is nudity (during the Roman gladiator times) and b) it's used in the context of the story properly. All the actors are serious about their craft and they don't want to be viewed gratuitously. There were perhaps some scenes in the earlier first two episodes where we realized that it had gone too far and it had been cut out. In terms of the sex for my character, we wanted to keep everything pretty realistic. The scene where the servants prepare [us] for sex certainly tells you that you're not in Kansas anymore, doesn't it?! [Laughs] It's like nothing else. The Romans' relationship to sexuality, nudity, religion, to homosexuality, prostitution, to food was completely different to ours. Read More     16 January 2010 Spartacus Blood and Sand Premiere Screening - Starz Updates Starz has posted the following update to their facebook page for those attending the screenings of The Red Serpent Update for fans attending the Spartacus: Blood and Sand premiere screenings. Starz will be providing refreshments at all the 7:15pm receptions: New York City Los Angeles Denver Dallas San Diego - A glass of beer, wine or soft drink & light appetizers will be served Chicago – A soft drink, popcorn and candy will be served Sorry, Chicago ;)     16 January 2010 Lucy Interview - Access Hollywood 15 Jan 2010 Lucy's interview for Access Hollywood is now on their website. Lucy Lawless talks with AccessHollywood.com's Laura Saltman about her new show, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," created by her husband, Robert Tapert, and how this show is a lot more racy than some of her better known roles. Click here to watch     16 January 2010 Spartacus Cast Attends Spartacus Premiere 14 Jan 2010 The cast of Spartacus attended the premiere of "Spartacus:Blood And Sand" on January 14, 2010 - Billy Wilder Theater Westwood Village, CA United States. Added photos from Wire Image and PR Photos (Licensed)     Andy Whitfield     Erin Cummings           John Hannah         Katrina Law         Lesley-Ann Brandt         Lucy Lawless     Manu Bennett       Nick Tarabay     Peter Mensah         Steven DeKnight         Viva Bianca     15 January 2010 Lucy Lawless Cuts Loose - The TorchOnline 14 Jan 2010 The TorchOnline has a fantastic interview with Lucy. Check it out. Interview: On SPARTACUS, Lucy Lawless Cuts Loose (Even as She Tones it Down). Lucy Lawless is not Xena. On some level, we all know this; I interview actors all the time, so I definitely know they’re not the parts they play. But when I interviewed Lucy at the Television Critics Association conference in Pasadena last July, I honestly wasn’t prepared for just how much she isn’t Xena. Xena is somber, down-to-earth, and practical, haunted by her famous “dark” past; Lucy is cheeky, irreverent, and impish, always looking for an opportunity to cut it up. But they have things in common as well: they’re both fiercely intelligent and very kind-hearted. And of course, they’re both statuesque and stunningly beautiful. At 41, Lucy looks sensational. With Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a high-profile CGI-intensive retelling of the story of the ancient Roman slave that debuts next Friday on Starz, Lucy is showing the world yet another example of her considerable acting abilities. She not the “star” of the show, but rather, a major supporting player. Lucretia, the wife of the owner of the training camp where Spartacus trains as a slave, is also very different from Xena: she’s flighty and superficial, at least at first, but also cunning and scheming. And as Lucy herself noted in our interview, she’s not particularly powerful, at least not at the beginning of the series. Read Full Interview     15 January 2010 Starz Posts The Red Serpent Clips - Clips Removed 15 January 2009 Update Alas the clips are no more. Starz has posted the following to their facebook page Spartacus Editorial had a change of mind. Didn't want to reveal so much of the show pre-premiere. Sorry for the take-down. 1/20 you can see the full episode on Starz.com. 13 January 2009 Starz has posted 10 video clips from the first episode The Red Serpent. Please be aware that at least one of the clips is age restricted. Dead, All of Them Spartacus rallies the Thracians for the Roman Army. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?   First Light Spartacus spends an intimate night with his wife Sura before heading to war.   A Warning Sura receives a harbinger from the Gods   Hold The Line Warning: language and violence The Thracians battle the savage Gedi   Middle of War Ilithyia surprises her husband Glaber on the front lines.   Send The Gods... Glaber ignores Spartacus' warning for reinforcements.   Gratitude to Batiatus Batiatus introduces his gladiators, Barca, The Beast of Carthage and Crixus The Undefeated.   Mockery of the Profession Lucretia tries to calm an enraged Batatius.   It's Only Politics Batiatus bites his tongue as his rival Solonius makes a pass at his wife, Lucretia       15 January 2010 Lucy Lawless Heats Up Spartacus TV Guide 14 Jan 2010 Lucy Lawless Heats Up Spartacus by Michael Logan January 14, 2010 02:11 PM EST First came Xena: Warrior Princess. Then Battlestar Galactica. Now Lucy Lawless could be headed toward her third straight international mega-hit with Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The new Starz series, heavy on sex, rough language and slo-mo CGI gore, stars Wales export Andy Whitfield as the famed Thracian rebel and Lawless in the plum role of Lucretia, a desperate, social-climbing conniver married to the downwardly-mobile owner of a gladiator school (John Hannah). Here Lawless dishes with TV Guide Magazine about everything from her bare boobage (she does her first topless scenes ever in Spartacus!) to the separation anxiety she's feeling now that she's half a world away from her BFF, former Dancing With the Stars contestant Marissa Jaret Winokur. Awesome show! You sure know how to pick 'em. [Laughs] Not everybody thinks so! I keep being asked, "Why are you doing the sword and sandals thing again?" But this is so different. The opportunity to do this series was not to be taken lightly. And who doesn't want to play Lady Macbeth? You're married to Rob Tapert, one of the exec producers of Spartacus and your former Xena boss. Did he beg you to be in this, or did you beg him? He said, "I would love you to do this, but there's no pressure." Rob's great that way. It meant moving back to New Zealand, the place of my childhood, and, honestly, I was so happy living in Los Angeles with my little life and all my friends, that I wasn't really ready to stop adventuring. But I'm so glad that I'm doing Spartacus, and so grateful for the quality of the role. Only Rob knows what to do with me. You really think that? Battlestar Galactica handed you an extremely cool part. That's true. Well, yes, I guess when you put it like that. But this is certainly a more grownup role that I have in Spartacus. And it's going nowhere good, which I love. Lucretia is living in such moral peril. She and her husband are really on hard times, and they're in a society where there's no Social Security, where no one's going to help you out, so she's determined to claw her way up. She latches on to the Paris Hiltons of Rome to raise her social status. She wants to be with the pretty girls but she's older. She hasn't had children, which is a terrible pain for her--she's desperate to have a child!--and at every turn someone's rubbing her nose in it. And, of course, she's carrying on a secret affair with one of her husband's top gladiators. She's in a lot of pain much of the time and that's so much fun to play! Read full interview     15 January 2010 SciFi Interviews Lucy Lawless - 14 January 2010 Battlestar Galactica's Lucy Lawless finally bares it all for her role as Lucretia, the rapacious wife of John Hannah's Batiatus, in Starz's upcoming Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and she's not shy about it. At all. "It's a way of telling the audience, 'You ain't in Kansas anymore,'" Lawless said in a conference call Wednesday. "It certainly jolts you into a new reality where people had completely different relationships to their bodies and other human beings. Slavery, different attitudes to sexuality, prostitution, you name it. They thought of things differently, but essentially human beings haven't evolved so very much, so you're still able to relate to them." The hourlong drama is a new take on the story of a Roman gladiator who eventually leads a slave rebellion against Rome itself. A kind of mixture of HBO's Rome and Zack Snyder's 300, the show is notable in part for introducing us to Lawless in the buff, beginning with the second episode. But there's a reason for it, she assures us. Continue reading SciFi Interviews Lucy Lawless - 14 January 2010.     15 January 2010 Katrina and Erin Tweet About Spartacus Katrina Law (Mira - a role that will surface later in the first season) and Erin Cummings (Sura) have both tweeted. Katrina talks about the Spartacus Workout and Erin gives a brief look into the Spartacus dinner last night. Misskatrinalaw Just shot the "Spartacus Workout" for Extra! and Men's Health Magazine with my SPARTACUS cast mates. Now it's time for all of us to eat! ErinLCummings What a night! Starz pre-Sparty premiere dinner. Shared industry war stories and got fashion advice from an icon. Still a bit in awe...     14 January 2010 More Lucy Spartacus PR For Next Week Lucy's Sparty PR list has been added to include the following shows: - Rachel Ray (Next Week) - Access Hollywood (date unknown) - Extra (date unknown) The full list of Lucy's upcoming interviews are: - TCA Panel - 16 Jan 2010 (Lucy, Andy, Rob etc) - Wendy Williams (Daytime Talk Show) - Jan 2010 - Rachel Ray (Next Week) - Access Hollywood (date unknown) - Extra (date unknown) - Regis & Kelly - 22 Jan 2010 - The Today Show - 22 Jan 2010 You can watch Lucy's already completed interviews: - NPR "Not My Job" Jan 2010 - Listen to Interview - Good Day, LA - 12 Jan 2010 - Watch Video / Captures     14 January 2010 Spartacus enters new-series arena - Rave Review The following is by JEANNE JAKLE San Antonio Express-News, also printed in The Houston Chronicle and available at the paper's website. Spartacus enters new-series arena Spartacus: Blood and Sand is easily the raciest of TV's midseason entries -- if only for the copious amounts of blood splashing on screen. However, all that red stuff is only part of the TV spectacle that is Spartacus. The new Starz series, which premieres at 9 p.m. Jan. 22, is from a producing team that includes Spider-Man director Sam Raimi. It's packed with action, interesting characters, ripped physiques and strong drama. This is a cast of striking unknowns -- a standout being the magnificently buff Andy Whitfield, who plays the title role -- as well as more seasoned names such as Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) and John Hannah (The Mummy). Spartacus pushes the envelope big time when it comes to violence, sexuality, nudity and language. "Put the kids to bed, lock the door, pull down the shades because you ain't seen nothing like this," Bill Hamm, Starz vice president for creative development, said at the Spartacus press session. He's right. The way Raimi, fellow executive producer Rob Tapert and head writer Steven S. DeKnight tell it, the story of the legendary slave is worlds apart from the Spartacus Kirk Douglas and Stanley Kubrick gave us. Because of the heavy use of digital technology, it has the feel of a graphic novel. Though the fight scenes are full of mayhem, they're presented in such a hyper-realistic style -- think Zack Snyder's 300 -- that they register as more entertaining than upsetting. "We didn't want to do horror," said Tapert, a longtime collaborator with Raimi on everything from Xena to The Evil Dead. "We wanted to show gladiators battling in the arena. We wanted to bring some of the technological tools that are available to heighten action and utilize those. And as a byproduct of it, blood was spilled in a way that it was different to give it more of a balletic feel." Spartacus also is enriched by a story that builds addictively. It tells of Rome's most infamous rebel, who's torn from his homeland and the woman he loves and condemned to the brutal arena. "I was fascinated by it because Spartacus is this legendary character who goes through this tremendous transformation of a slave," Raimi said. "He's somebody who has been captured and forced to fight for his life and probably died a very unexpected leader of people." If you're wondering whether women have a place amid all this testosterone, consider the scene-stealing Lawless as Lucretia, a kind of Lady Macbeth to her husband (Hannah). He may be the monarch of the gladiator school, but she's the power behind the throne. "The role is just a knockout. I'm so grateful to them for writing such brilliant women's relationships," Lawless said. "It's terribly deadly and very subtle." Starz has such faith in the series, in fact, that it already has green-lighted Spartacus for a second season. Writer DeKnight (Smallville) revealed that Spartacus will go from leading a revolt to becoming a top gladiator to finally getting back to his original mission. Though the show is very visceral, it also succeeds as a strong character piece. "Hey, this is a show that has action, has blood, has sex, has all of those components that you don't get on network television," Taper said, "but all of that is just the initial wave from which behind really good drama is awaiting." Source News submitted by Ross.     14 January 2010 iPhone Spartacus Game - Video Review Added a video review of the new Spartacus iPhone game Game: Spartacus, 8/10. This game is very bloody beat em up type game. You go 1 on 1 with other characters in a fight to the death. This game offers local wifi and bluetooth multiplayer. It does needs some updates because some times it can get kind of laggy, plus it needs full online multiplayer. Overall i would recommend this game to fan of games like Blades of Fury. This game is $4.99 in the app store Click here to watch video on AUSXIP Video     14 January 2010 New Sura and Spartacus Artwork by Klippart Added new artwork by Klippart based on Sura and Spartacus. "There Is No Life Without You" Check out more Spartacus art from Klippart here The main Spartacus Art Galleries are here Submit artwork The new AUSXIP Spartacus Artwork section is now open for submissions. After the show premieres and you would like to create some artwork based on the show or the current promo images which are now online, you can submit it to maryd@ausxip.com Any images on AUSXIP Spartacus Blood and Sand can used in your artwork and that includes upcoming episode stills, screencaptures, promo images etc. Since the show contains nudity and this site is general access, artwork containing full frontal nudity for the women and men / breasts for the women will not be accepted. Submission doesn't guarantee your artwork will be accepted. This rule strictly needs to be followed. Type: The artwork can be hand-drawn art or graphical manipulation Resolution: any resolution you wish but the higher resolution is better Based on the same rules that are in place for the AUSXIP Xenaverse Art Section. Artwork submitted here: maryd@ausxip.com     14 January 2010 Spartacus Ep 3: Legends Screening At Xena Con The following is from Sharon Delaney from Creation Entertainment: Airing Spartacus Ep 3 at Xena Convention Feb 5-7! SPECIAL SCREENING AT XENA CONVENTION FEBRUARY 5-7: "SPARTACUS BLOOD AND SAND" Thanks to our friends at STARZ we will be screening the episode "Legends" starring LUCY LAWLESS in our theatre. Lucy's new show SPARTACUS airs weekly on STARZ. This series is rated TVMA and is unsuitable for those under 17. The episode will be screened at night on a complimentary basis for all our attendees! This is the episode that is due to air that weekend on Starz.     14 January 2010 Cast Of Striking Unknowns Roaring In, Swords Drawn Houston Chronicle - 13 January 2010 Cast of striking unknowns roaring in, swords drawn Spartacus: Blood and Sand is easily the raciest of TV's midseason entries -- if only for the copious amounts of blood splashing on screen. However, all that red stuff is only part of the TV spectacle that is Spartacus. The new Starz series, which premieres at 9 p.m. Jan. 22, is from a producing team that includes SpiderMan director Sam Raimi. It's packed with action, interesting characters, ripped physiques and strong drama. This is a cast of striking unknowns -- a standout being the magnificently buff Andy Whitfield, who plays the title role -- as well as more seasoned names such as Lucy Lawless ( Xena: Warrior Princess) and John Hannah ( The Mummy). Spartacus pushes the envelope big time when it comes to violence, sexuality, nudity and language.     14 January 2010 Spartacus: Spartacular!!! - Off The Reel The countdown is officially on, folks. In less than two weeks Movie Central will be blessing your TV sets with the most exciting series I’ve seen in a while. Picture this – if Rome and 300 had a lovechild, it would be Spartacus: Blood and Sand. It’s an underdog story of a slave, but fierce fighter, Spartacus, who is forced to work the brutal underbellies of Rome and compete as a gladiator in the spectacle arena so that he may one day be reunited with his wife. Treachery, deceit, corruption, and lust surround him and his competitors, constantly testing their limits. From the blood-drenched pits Spartacus must rise and deliver, or else. What’s special about this series is its mixture of elements. The visual style is unmatched. The characters are well developed. We’re not just talking about grunting, muscle bulging, posturing men at war with each other, but people with ambition, emotions. Strength juxtaposed with vulnerability. Sympathy for each is easily swayed. It’s also filled to the brim with gore, violence, excitement and sex – to the likes I’ve never seen on a primetime series. There’s also a pinch of humour in the writing to lighten the mood. Ladies, don’t feel left out, Spartacus is sure to deliver a visceral viewing experience for you as well. Talk about co-viewing potential huh? It truly has something for everyone…..well, you might want to put the kids to bed first. Spartacus stars the dashingly handsome Aussie actor, Andy Whitfield. If any MC fans out there checked out the movie Gabriel – yes that’s him. Spartacus also ushers in a triumphant return for Lucy Lawless, but don’t get confused – this is no Xena. Other mentionables include John Hannah of The Mummy fame and Peter Mensah from 300. Do enjoy this journey to an era of unrelenting action and claims to glory. Spartacus: Blood and Sand airs Mondays on Movie Central at 9 pm MT, starting January 25. Whet your appetite for gladiator contests by watching the movie Spartacus, this Friday at 9 pm MT on Encore Avenue! This classic film stars Kirk Douglas as a Thracian slave who leads a revolt against the decadent Roman Empire. Source     14 January 2010 Lucy Lawless Tones it Down For "Spartacus" - AfterElton AfterElton has a great interview with Lucy about Spartacus and Xena. Check it out: Lucy Lawless is back! Actually, she never really left. Since hanging up her chakram as Xena, Warrior Princess, in 2001, she's kept plenty busy, appearing in roles like the Number Three cylon on Battlestar Galatica and her crowd-pleasing runner-up finish on Celebrity Duets in 2006. She's also popped up in television guest spots on everything from The L-Word to CSI: Miami. But now she's back to episodic television full-time, in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a CGI-intensive retelling of the story of the rebel slave Spartacus, premiering January 22nd on the Starz network, a premium cable channel. While her role as the wife of the owner of a gladiator school is very unlike that of Xena, and the show itself has a far more serious tone, Spartacus is very much another high fantasy series set in the ancient world. It was co-created (along with Spider-Man director Sam Raimi) by her husband Rob Tapert, also the man behind Xena. Lucy says, "People in Hollywood were like, 'Why? Why are you doing that? Spartacus sounds like Xena again. It's like you're going backwards.' And I was like, 'It's really good. Really Good.' They couldn't know what I know about my husband." Recently, I sat down with Lucy to talk about the show and her status as a gay icon. And while I wasn't at all surprised to find how eager she is to embrace her gay fans, I was pleasantly surprised by her irreverent, almost impish sense of humor. Read Full Interview     13 January 2010 Spartacus Article in Entertainment Weekly 15 Jan 2010 Entertainment Weekly showcases Spartacus in their 15 January 2010 issue. Click on the thumbnail for the larger scan. Scanned by Roger. For more Spartacus Articles go to AUSXIP Spartacus Press     13 January 2010 Flesh & Blood - Spartacus in TV Guide January 2010 TV Guide has a fantastic article on Spartacus which looks at the show and also looks at the two stars of the show Andy Whitfield and Lucy Lawless. Flesh & Blood - Spartacus Blood and Sand TV Guide 18-24 January 2010 Starz whips up the sex and violence for Spartacus, a graphic adaptation of the Roman slave myth. A 2,000-year-old dead guy is about to change the future of television. Spartacus: Blood and Sand—the new Starz show about the famed Thracian rebel who led a revolt of 120,000 slaves against the Roman Empire—is the first series ever to be presented in the graphic-novel style that made the film "300" a worldwide box-office smash. That means violence and bloodshed galore—slashed throats, skin ripped from skulls, entire bodies sliced in half like overripe honeydews— all of it artfully done in balletic slo-mo, along with frontally nude gladiators, no-imagination-necessary sex scenes and wildly foul language. (We're talking enough C-words and F-bombs to make David Mamet faint.) Already green-lit for a second season before it hits the air, Spartacus is so visually dazzling and complex that each episode requires 120 days for the editing and effects alone—in other words, this is the kind of stuff you'd pay to see at your multiplex. It's intended to shock and awe and shock some more, and the show's execs make no bones about it. "It was always our goal to push the boundaries of what's possible on TV, and I think we even surprised ourselves," says creator Steven DeKnight {Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Adds executive producer Rob Tapert (Xena: Warrior Princess): "Most television is not about setting a new bar. It's about playing it safe. Starz was willing to go out on the ledge and take the leap with us, without all the feedback and silly note-giving. It's unprecedented, really." Read Full Article     13 January 2010 Spartacus mini review in TWoP video segment TV Without Pity's "New Year, New Shows" segment features a mini review of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The video introduces new shows for 2010, New York Nonstop's gurus from TV Without Pity weight on what you can expect this year. Spartacus is being lauded for being a delicious mix of 300, Gladiator and HBO's Rome, the reviewers are very excited about the new show. The Spartacus review starts around the 2.05 mark and lasts for about 50 seconds.     13 January 2010 Spartacus Gladiator Fight App for iPhone Botme introduces a new iPhone app that allows you to pick and fight gladiators from Batiatus' ludus or even have Spartacus and Glaber fight in the arena! You can even do multiplayer battles fighting others via WiFi or Bluetooth. The sole female gladiator visible may or not be Sura. Her identity is merely a guess at this point, as there are not female gladiators in the show. Yet. :D     12 January 2010 Send questions via Twitter for Lucy & Andy Looks like ShowPatrol will interview Lucy and Andy in an upcoming show, they tweeted that you can send in questions for the stars or Spartacus. http://twitter.com/showpatrol: Busy week of interviews. Send questions for Katee Sackhoff; Sharon Gless & Tyne Daly; Lucy Lawless & Andy Whitfield; Matt Bomer & Tim DeKay.     12 January 2010 AfterElton.Com's Spartacus mini review From The AfterElton.com Winter TV Preview! Why It's Gay: Incredibly hot men in loincloths! Lucy Lawless! Lots of gay characters! And did I mention the loincloths? When It's On: The show premieres Friday January 22nd at 10 PM on Starz. The Great Gay Says: "People in Hollywood were like, 'Why? Why are you doing that? Spartacus sounds like Xena again," Lucy Lawless tells the Great Gay. "And I was like, 'I don't know. It's really good.'" Regarding the show's much-discussed female and male nudity, Lawless says, "I have to be naked on screen. I'm terrified. I hate it. But if it's right to fulfill a scene, and it's what a character would do, you gotta go there, because that part, I'm an artist. No matter what my pathetic middle-class morals [say], I want to be truthful more than I want to protect myself. [Anyway], there's plenty of things for people who like bosoms, and there's plenty of things for those who like naked male bodies. However, all that stuff is meaningless unless you care about the character." News submitted by Barbara Davies.     12 January 2010 TCA - Tentative Spartacus Panel Details The Spartacus cast and creators will be a part of the TCA panel shows do for the press as the new season begins. spartacus_starz    @bhdaviesuk Yes, TCA panel is 1/16 10:30am. For Spartacus on panel tentative: Andy, Lucy, John, Rob, Steven. News submitted by Barbara Davies.     12 January 2010 Chicago Now Spartacus Article: Blood, sweat and cheers Swords, sweat and sex. That heady mix saturates "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," the epic drama premiering Jan. 22 on Starz. The cable network's epic based on the life of the slave-turned-gladiator-turned-rebel-against-Rome, Spartacus (Andy Whitfield), leads the pack of mid-season TV shows that are heavy on thrills, chills and heart-pounding action. "It's hardcore, man," star Lucy Lawless said at Comic-Con last summer. She should know. The former "Battlestar Galactica" co-star slashed her way to fame in the 1990s wielding sword and chakram as "Xena: Warrior Princess." "Spartacus" isn't for the faint of heart. A cross between HBO's sexy "Rome" and the films "300" and "Gladiator," it delivers bold action both in the Coliseum and between the sheets. "I'm pretty sure you haven't seen anything like this before on TV," writer and exec producer Steven S. DeKnight said. Lawless cold-blooded Lucretia crosses paths with Spartacus, a Thracian soldier sold into slavery, when he is bought buy her husband to be molded into a money-making gladiator. Spartacus fights to survive so he can find his wife and free her from slavery. Lawless remembers her fighting skills from "Xena," but she won't be using them. Lucretia's more sexy schemer than battle-hardened warrior princess. "I get some action, buddy," she told a fan at Comic-Con, it's just in the bedroom. "I don't like Spartacus, but I sure like the other gladiators." Source News submitted by Barbara Davies     10 January 2010 New Lucretia/Batiatus Artwork Added Added new Lucretia/Batiatus artwork by KatXena, click this link to see her new pieces. Check out the Spartacus Art gallery for all the artwork.     10 January 2010 LA Times Articles: Starz lives by the sword Like 'Spartacus,' Starz lives by the sword The pay-cable channel hopes to attract attention with its bloody, steamy take on the gladiator tale. Green screen helps save some green. [...] The cable outlet, best known as an outlet for studio features, is joining the industry's rush into original series programming. "Spartacus" is a flashy, big-budget attempt to forge a brand, complete with a big-name costar ( Lucy Lawless, erstwhile heroine of the syndicated "Xena: Warrior Princess") and the heavily stylized, comic-book-like use of green-screen technology familiar from movies like "300" and "Sin City." [...] The green-screen technology enabled the producers to cut costs, with a price tag of less than $3 million per episode, less than the typical broadcast series budget. "Empire" and "Rome" were shot using Italian studios and locations, where expenses quickly mounted. "Spartacus" took advantage of tax breaks in New Zealand -- where Tapert and Lawless now spend much of the year -- and was shot entirely on soundstages, with effects and settings filled in later by computer. [...] Whitfield, who plays the title role, noted that a PG-13 version of "Spartacus" is scheduled to be shown in his native Australia. "I'm anxious to see it," he said with a wry chuckle. "I can't imagine what's in it." Source     9 January 2010 Eight New Spartacus Videos from Starz Starz has released eight new videos which were originally shown on the Starz channel to promote Spartacus leading up to the premiere on January 22. The videos have been posted to AUSXIP Video Spartacus Blood and Sand Channel. Interviews The Gladiators – Spartacus Blood and Sand Meet the Gladiators. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" premieres on Starz, January 22, 2010 at 10 pm et/pt   The Women – Spartacus Blood and Sand The women of Spartacus: Blood and Sand can be just as ruthless and skilled. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" premieres on Starz, January 22, 2010 at .. Doctore – Spartacus Blood and Sand Before Spartacus battled in the arena, he was trained by Doctore. Peter mensah as Doctore. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" premieres on Starz, January 22, 2010 ... Crixus – Spartacus Blood and Sand Meet the ringleader of the ravenous pack of dogs that is the gladiators, Crixus. Manu Bennett as Crixus. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" premieres on Starz, ... Sura – Spartacus Blood and Sand Not even the Gods can keep Spartacus from the love of his life, Sura. Erin Cummings as Sura. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" premieres on Starz, ... Spartacus – Spartacus Blood and Sand Andy Whitfield as Spartacus. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" premieres on Starz, January 22, 2010 at 10 pm et/pt. Trailers/Promos Die By The Sword – Spartacus Blood and Sand Meet the Gladiators. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" premieres on Starz, January 22, 2010 at 10 pm et/pt   Worth Fighting For – Spartacus Blood and Sand Spartacus must fight for the woman he loves. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" premieres on Starz, January 22, 2010 at 10 pm et/pt.     7 January 2010 Spartacus Screenings in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, LA, NYC, San Diego From the official Starz Spartacus Facebook page: "Starz is pleased to invite you to a free, advance screening for the premiere episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand on Tuesday, Jan 19th." Time and location details are available for Chicago, Dallas, Denver, LA, NYC, San Diego screenings. Reception 7:15 pm Screening from 8:00-9:00pm Must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets are limited.     7 January 2010 Starz gives Chicago a sneak screening of 'Spartacus' The gladiators of Starz' exciting new series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," won't step into the Coliseum until Jan. 22, but Chicago fans can get a sneak peek of the show on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Starz will screen the series premiere at Century Centre Cinema in the Century Shopping Centre, 2828 N. Clark St. A reception begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by the screening from 8-9 p.m. Make sure you get there early because space will be limited. And you must be at least 21 years old to attend. It can get naughty. "Spartacus," from producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi and writer/producer Steven S. DeKnight, is a heady mixture of "300," "Rome" and "Gladiator." There is plenty of gore, sex and intrigue provided by the strong cast consisting of newcomer Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless ("Xena"), John Hannah ("Four Weddings and a Funeral"), Craig Parker ("Legend of the Seeker"), Peter Mensah ("300"), Erin Cummings and Manu Bennett. Watch the trailer for the series below, and click the "Spartacus" link for my past coverage, including an interview with Lucy Lawless and Andy Whitfield's photo gallery. Source     7 January 2010 Lucy To Appear on Regis & Kelly January 22 According to the official spartacus_starz Twitter account Lucy will appear on Live with Regis & Kelly January 22. The popular talk show is filmed in New York and airs in the mornings, check your local listings.     6 January 2010 Steven DeKnight and Rob Tapert Interview - Fanbolt 05-01-10 Fanbolt interviews Steven and Rob about the show: We had the pleasure of chatting with 'Spartacus' executive producers Steven S. DeKnight and Robert Tapert about their new project which premieres this month on Starz. Check it out below! Is there a connection to Stanley Kubrick's "Spartacus" movie in terms of story? Steven S. DeKnight: We have a prosthetic penis called the Kirk Douglas. Yes we do. It's Spartacus, so it's been told several different times. Rob and I both love the movie. I know Kubrick was a little cool on it himself. I remember when I saw it as a kid and just loved it, loved that world. Once we started digging into it, the big surprise for me was how little is known about Spartacus. Especially his history before he broke out and started making trouble for the Romans. There's literally a page and a half of stuff you can read, and it's just scraps. It's fragments from different historians. Most of them a 100 years later to 200 years later. His true history is just a complete mystery to everybody. It really gave a chance to dig into that storyline. Once we get to the point that everyone knows from the Kubrick movie, there is still a ton of material and anecdotes about this ongoing war for like a year and half and how it built up. When they first escaped, they didn't escape to make a statement about slavery or bring down the Roman Republic. They just wanted to get the hell out of there. Then it just snowballed to the point of almost getting to the gates of Rome. It's going to be as Lucy said, something that we all believe greatly in. As a piece of entertainment and it rises above most of what's out there. Speaking of Lucy, Rob called me up at the office the other day, and said Steven what you think about my wife as Lacretia? I said I was thinking exactly the same thing, I just didn't know quite how to approach it. From the start when I created that character, I thought she would be perfect for the role. She was perfect for the role, and she just knocks it out. Read Full Interview     5 January 2010 Steven DeKnight - Film Review Online 04-01-10 He's written and produced for some of the most successful series on TV, including Smallville, Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Now Steven S DeKnight is hooking up with Sam Raimi and his partner Rob Tapert to bring ancient Rome to the Starz cable channel, with their new series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. And you know what 'cable' means? Nudity, sex, explicit language and graphic violence! Forced into slavery, Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) is reborn as a gladiator, condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are the main entertainment for the wealthy citizens. Ultimately he will become the leader of the rebellion against the Roman republic. Read Full Interview     5 January 2010 Lucy Interview - Tribune News 04-Jan-2010 It's back to sword and sandals for Lucy Xena' Lawless By LUAINE LEE McClatchy-Tribune News Service PASADENA, Calif. - Lucy Lawless, who played "Xena: Warrior Princess" for six years, is a warrior in her own right. A New Zealand scrapper who doesn't acknowledge borders of any kind, she's managed to be true to herself in spite of the notoriety that show brought. When "Xena" ended she wasn't worried, she says, in a small dressing room at a hotel here. "Because I live in the moment. There is no past, there is no future. I wish sometimes I could plan something, but more than a week ahead, I have no idea. I'm not made to multi-task, organize. The greatest talent I have is the talent to surrender to the demands of whatever comes along," she says. Lawless has always been like that ever since she quit college to experience "adventures" in Europe. "There are a lot of people who multi-task they're on the phone, they're arranging things," she says. "It's too hard for me. My brain would explode if I had to do any of that stuff ... Sometimes I wish I could do that because my life is quite full of chaos. I keep it really simple. I have, like, a dirt-track of a brain. If it's not on the dirt-track it might as well not exist. I really think this is in my genes. It's a problem sometimes, but not for me because I'm still on the dirt trail," she laughs. Lawless finds herself on a new kind of dirt trail in Starz's series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," premiering Jan. 22. "I play Lucretia, kind of the Lady Macbeth character," says Lawless, leaning on her elbow. "And my husband owns the gladiator school and the gladiators are fancy horseflesh, and I'm desperate to provide him with an heir. I love my husband, but we're political animals and the fear of annihilation is really high - in Roman society it's dog-eat-dog." Her real-life husband, Robert Tapert, is executive producer of "Spartacus," which was shot in New Zealand. They have two sons, 7 and 9. Continue reading Lucy Interview - Tribune News 04-Jan-2010.     4 January 2010 Screen Talk Interviews Craig Parker Craig Parker made his television debut in the 80s soap Gloss and then went on to Shortland Street where he played a womanising social worker. After checking out of the long-running soap, Parker played an elf in Lord of the Rings, a doctor on Mercy Peak, a villain in Legend of the Seeker and a diplomat in Diplomatic Immunity. Some of his other screen credits include Hercules the Legendary Journeys, Xena and the soon to be released Spartacus. Click on the thumbnail to view video interview on AUSXIP Video In this ScreenTalk interview, Parker discusses: * How terrifying Gloss was but how it taught him about TV * Playing annoying social worker Guy Warner on Shortland Street * The fun of Hercules and Xena * Fighting with Lucy Lawless on set * The dangers of on-set catering on Mercy Peak * An awkward sex scene with good friend Robyn Malcolm * The enormity of Lord of the Rings * How he loved making Diplomatic Immunity despite it not being a complete success * Being part of the yet to be screened TV series Spartacus     4 January 2010 Lucy Interview - Film Review Online 03-01-10 In Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert’s new costume drama Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Lucy Lawless portrays Lucretia, who along with her husband Batiatus (John Hannah), own a gladiator camp. Devious and manipulative, the character couldn’t be more different than the one which propelled her to stardom, Xena, the Princess Warrior. It was a role that would change her personal life forever as well, as she met and married Rob Tapert during the run of the series. Now back in New Zealand working on the series, Lawless enthusiastically spoke of her role and the show. Read Full Interview     2 January 2010 Spartacus Docos on Starz Starz is currently showing the following docos based on the various aspects of the show so if you have subscribed and haven't caught any of them yet, now's the time. SPARTACUS PREVIEW Spartacus: Blood And Sand: Character Long Form Character Long Form 2009 TV14 18 Dec 09 –19 Jan 10 Spartacus: Blood And Sand: Gladiator Camp Gladiator Camp 2009 TV14 18 Dec 09 –19 Jan 10 Spartacus: Blood And Sand: In Production Now In Production Now 2009 TV14 18 Dec 09 –19 Jan 10 Spartacus: Blood And Sand: The Gladiators The Gladiators 2010 TV14 18 Dec 09 –19 Jan 10 Spartacus: Blood And Sand: The Women Of Spartacus The Women of Spartacus 2010 TV14 18 Dec 09 –19 Jan 10 Spartacus: Blood And Sand: Trailer Trailer 2009 TV14 18 Dec 09 –19 Jan 10 News submitted by Barbara Davies     2 January 2010 New Rob & Sam Interview - Film Review Online 01-01-10 Film Review Online has a great interview with Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi about Spartacus Blood and Sand Spartacus: Blood and Sand - Sam Raimi & Rob Tapert Film Review Online - 01 January 2010 Partners for many years, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert were the Executive Producers of the landmark syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: Legendary Journeys, which both ran for six seasons. In 2002, Raimi and Tapert formed Ghost House Pictures which was dedicated to the development of high-concept genre films; their impressive roster of releases include, The Grudge, 30 Days of Night, Boogeyman and Drag Me to Hell. This season they return to television with a new take on ancient Rome with the story of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Betrayed by the Romans and forced into slavery, Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) is reborn as a Gladiator. Airing on the cable network Starz, the series holds nothing back in terms of violence, sexuality or language. Read Full Interview     2 January 2010 Giant Spartacus Ad in Times Square Well whoever was responsible for this promo, mega kudos (and it would have cost mega bucks). A giant Spatacus ad could be seen behind the Time Square countdown ball on New Year's Eve... Click on the thumbnail for the larger version Click here to view youtube video     Read More Archives