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.