November 2010 Archives   30 November 2010 New Lucretia Artwork by Miss Starbuck Miss Starbuck has sent in another beautiful artwork of Lucretia. Click here to view You can also see more of Miss Starbuck's Lucretia artwork here     29 November 2010 This Week's Draw Them All Spartacus Comic Strip - Protection This week's Draw Them All Comic Strip by Olansamuelle is a trilogy with the first two now available. It's called Protection I and II. Click here to view them now     27 November 2010 Michael Hurst Directing Gods of the Arena Episode 3 Michael Hurst's official site has the news that Michael directed episode 3 of Gods of the Arena. 4 February 2011, 9:30 p.m.: Spartacus: Gods of the Arena ep. 3 Airing in the US on Starz; Michael directed the episode. If you are in the LA area around January and want to see Michael and his super talented wife Jennifer, you can catch them at the annual Official Xena Convention. I've seen Michael and Jennifer just once at a convention and they were absolutely FANTASTIC; very talented duo and not to be missed. 28-30 January 2011: Xena Convention Michael and Jennifer will be celebrity guests at Creation Entertainment's Xena Convention at the Marriott LAX; info and tickets here.     27 November 2010 Spartacus Soundtrack, DVD & Blu-Ray Reduced Pricing at Amazon.com It seems there is something called Black Friday in the US after thanksgiving where there are mega sales and Amazon.com is having their own sale. They have reduced prices for the Spartacus Season 1 DVD & Blu Ray! Season 1 Soundtrack is only $9.99! Season 1 Blu-Ray is only $34.99 Season 1 DVD is only $32.99       27 November 2010 Gods of the Arena for Canadian Fans - 23 January 2011 Canadian fans are to see the premiere of GotA on 23 January 2011 according to Channel Canada for the show   Current GotA Premiere Schedule: USA - 21 January 2011 Canada - 23 January 2011 Australia - ??/2011 (GO! has announced it's picked up the show for 2011 - exact date not known yet) Reported by MaryD / Barbara Davies     25 November 2010 New Behind The Scenes Photos of Lesley-Ann on Gods of the Arena Photos just released by Lesley-Ann to her IMDb page of her with cast mates on Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. These are a few of the pics; more to come. Peter Mensah & Lesley-Ann Brandt on set of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena 2011   Click here to view larger image   Lesley-Ann Brandt & Craig Wright Walsh on set of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena 2011 Click here to view larger image     Peter Mensah & Lesley-Ann Brandt - Gladiator Camp (Gods of the Arena) 2010 Click here to view larger image   Lesley-Ann Brandt & Nick E Tarabay on set of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena 2011 Click here to view larger image   Antonio Te Maioha & Lesley-Ann Brandt Gladiator Camp Gods of the Arena 2010 Click here to view larger image   Marisa Ramirez & Lesley-Ann Brandt on set of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena 2011   Click here to view larger image   John Hannah & Lesley-Ann Brandt on set of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena 2011   Click here to view larger image     23 November 2010 Gods of the Arena Cast & Character Information Updated With the recent release of the new Starz GotA videos and official photos we get a better look at the returning characters and new characters. I have updated the cast and characters page to reflect the new information and pics! For those wondering about the Oenomaus pic..I did some cosmetic surgery to his gorgeous face and removed the scar. The original is here Click here to view cast and character info     23 November 2010 GotA Cast Images Update - Ashur, Barca & Crixus With the release of the newest video clips from Starz we get to see our fave characters looking younger, a little more scruffy than normal and totally cool. Added the following character pics to the Character Galleries: Ashur Hands up all those who missed Nick first time round and didn't spot him? Ashur is looking very different and sporting a new funky beard AND looking very fit! Click here to view   Barca Antonio does look young here! The pic is from the recent behind the scenes video. As cute as ever. Click here to view Crixus The scruffy looking gladiator of Capua. I love this look - very wild and just so hot. Click here to view   You can view more Character images on the AUSXIP Spartacus Character Image Galleries     23 November 2010 Gods of the Arena - Behind The Scenes - New Starz Video Is it January yet? Take a look at behind the scenes of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. The characters we love from B&S and we also get to see a few of the new characters as well. I LOVE this show! You can tell they had a great time making this! Roll on January!     23 November 2010 Draw Them All - Weekly Spartacus Comic Strip - Manners This week's Draw Them All Spartacus comic strip focuses on the fantastic episode 13 Kill Them All and our favourite gladiator trainer - Oenomaus!     Manners by Olansamuelle   Click here to view You can also view the entire Draw Them All comic strip here     22 November 2010 Spartacus Art Gallery New Artist Miss Starbuck with Lucretia Artwork! I'm very pleased to welcome Miss Starbuck to the Spartacus Art Gallery. Her first three artworks are all of Lucretia!   Click here to view     21 November 2010 New Spartacus & Lucretia Artwork by Klippart Klippart has sent in two beautiful new pieces - Lucretia and Spartacus "Exquisitely Wicked" Click here to view larger image   "Integrity & Grace" I'm sure we are all feeling Andy's absence from all the Sparty PR stuff that has hit us over the last two days. It's not going to be the same without this wonderful man. Click here to view larger image Check out Klipp's other fantastic artwork in the AUSXIP Spartacus Art Gallery     21 November 2010 Gods of the Arena Now on AUSXIP Video Gods of the Arena has now been added to AUSXIP Spartacus Video channel with the four newly released clips In Production –... Gladiator Boot Camp ... Blood, Lust and Bloo... and Gladiator Boot Camp ... Click here to view the new Gods of the Arena Video Channel     21 November 2010 More Spartacus GotA Episode Stills - Episode 1 Past Transgressions The following photos were posted on IMDb for the first episode "Past Transgressions" - Click here to view the larger versions     21 November 2010 New Spartacus: GotA Artwork - Three Lucretias Carpe Chakram has sent in a gorgeous new Lucy/Lucretia artwork called "3 Lucretias" Click here to view You can also view Carpe Chakram's other art by going to her main Spartacus Art gallery page     20 November 2010 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Episode 1 Episode Stills Starz has released more Episode 1 Past Transgressions Episode stills. Click here to view them all A younger Batiatus finds himself newly in control of his father’s gladiator school. He uses his most skilled fighter to win favor with a cunning nobleman behind the building of the new arena.     20 November 2010 EW Inside TV Exclusive Spartacus Trailer - Blood, Lust and BloodLust EW has an exclusive Spartacus trailer and it looks FABULOUS! Here are some screencaptures from it. Click here to view the trailer     19 November 2010 Spartacus Image Galleries Updated Updated the Spartacus Image Galleries for the following galleries: - GotA Posters Characters - Lucretia - Batiatus - Batiatus & Lucretia - Gannicus - Oenomaus - Gaia - Melitta Episode Stills - Episode 01 - Past Transgressions     19 November 2010 Gods of the Arena Episode Guide Updated Episode 1 + Lucretia Photo Episode #1 - Past Transgressions A younger Batiatus finds himself newly in control of his father’s gladiator school. He uses his most skilled fighter to win favor with a cunning nobleman behind the building of the new arena. USA - 2011 - NA View Official Page     19 November 2010 New Character & Cast Starz BioS + Pics Starz has released some pictures to go with the bio for each of the new and old characters and actors: RETURNING CAST LUCRETIA Lucretia is her husband’s foundation, always supportive of his dreams, however wild the direction they threaten to grow. Though conscious of the role she’s expected to play as a proper Roman woman, through the ideas she and her husband cultivate she will discover that when the moment most needs it, she has a true talent for maneuvering the levers of power. Played by Lucy Lawless Learn more about Lucy Lawless Batiatus Bold and impulsive where his father is restrained and conventional, Batiatus has newly come to inhabit his family’s ludus while his father is away attempting to regain his health. Wishing to seize more for himself and rise beyond his father’s station, Batiatus, with his wife Lucretia ever by his side fueling his ambitions, schemes beyond his reach. Played by John Hannah Learn more about John Hannah Oenomaus Oenomaus is not far removed from the status of top gladiator at the House of Batiatus, having only recently survived his fight with the legendary Theokoles. He longs to return to the sands of the arena and reclimb the peak he feels is rightfully his, but he is yet a slave like so many others and bound to the notions of his masters. Played by Peter Mensah Learn more about Peter Mensah NEW ACTORS / CHARACTERS GANNICUS A true physical specimen, fearless in the arena and possessed by a thirst for the fleeting pleasures of life, Gannicus is the gladiator a girl’s mother doesn’t want her to bring home. Newly promoted to the top position at Batiatus’ ludus, Gannicus is best friend to Oenomaus and his wife Melitta, forming an unlikely triangle of loyal friendship. Played by Dustin Clare Learn more about Dustin Clare GAIA A longtime friend of Lucretia, Gaia arrives unannounced in Capua, bringing along her taste for certain vices. On the prowl for a new husband, endowed with beauty, sexual adventurousness and an artful mind, she lends her assets to the cause of her friends, stoking their schemes. Played by Jaime Murray Learn more about Jaime Murray   MELITTA Personal slave to Lucretia and wife to Oenomaus, the lovely and dedicated Melitta struggles to balance the small portion of freedom she's attained within the villa. Subjected to the careless whims of her masters, she finds herself caught up in a web of desire and betrayal that threatens to tear apart her fragile place in the world. Played by Marisa Ramirez Learn more about Marisa Ramirez       19 November 2010 New Gods of the Arena Wallpapers I'm in Sparty goodies overload! We have new wallpapers and all sorts of magnificent goodies today along with the videos! Let's start with the wallpapers WALLPAPERS Download 1920x1200 Download 1920x1440 Download 1920x1200 Download 1920x1440 Download 1920x1200 Download 1920x1440 Download 1920x1200 Download 1920x1440 Download 1920x1200 Download 1920x1440 Download 1920x1200 Download 1920x1440     19 November 2010 New Spartacus GotA Starz Video - Gladiator Boot Camp! You all remember how Lesley-Ann was telling us how she was doing Gladiator boot camp and it was tough? Well here is the proof of all the hard work all the actors put in to get themselves in shape including Lesley-Ann - Starz has released a new video: Gods of the Arena - Gladiator Camp.       19 November 2010 Spartacus Gods of the Arena In Production Now Video This is all very exciting - we are getting a flurry of videos from Starz in preparation of the premiere of Gods of the Arena in January. All our favourite actors are back plus some new ones we will get to meet. Looks all very exciting! Spartacus: Gods of the Arena - In Production with the cast, crew and executive producers in New Zealand. Premieres Jan 21st at 10 pm e/p on Starz.       19 November 2010 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Teaser Number 2 I'm going to let two my favourite fandoms collide and say "And so it begins..." (Babylon 5 and Spartacus..how different can you get?!) Here's the second trailer (which is actually the first trailer featuring the Gods of the Arena cast)       19 November 2010 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Episode Guide Updated The GotA episode guide has been updated with dates and credits. We only have one episode name so far which was posted on IMDb and that's for the first episode. Strangly enough the episode name has been removed from IMDb (someone posted too early?). You may also notice the new banner for the GotA section of AUSXIP Spartacus. Click here to view the AUSXIP Spartacus: GotA Episode Guide     19 November 2010 Spectacular Spartacus Promo Poster - Gannicus Now this is majorly cool! Ausiello has posted an exclusive look at the new poster with Gannicus, the House of Batiatus' new champion. Nice abs :)   Click here to view larger poster     18 November 2010 Katrina's YouTube Playlist Revealed! Katrina reveals her favorite videos on YouTube!       17 November 2010 Mittens For Detroit - Erin Cummings Charity Mittens for Detroit, the brainchild of Detroit 187 actress Erin Cummings, is a community initiative whose sole purpose is to collect and distribute new gloves and mittens to children and adults in the city of Detroit. to Get Involved If you are interested in carrying a drop box for the Mittens for Detroit cause or if you are in need of our charitable donations, please do not hesitate to contact us! Every little bit helps. Please email info@mittensfordetroit.org for more info. The official site is located here     16 November 2010 Spartacus Blood and Sand Ratings for New Zealand Here are the ratings for Season 1 in New Zealand. Many thanks to Eddy who compiled the data. What's interesting here is that the most popular episodes are #9 (Whore) and #13 (Kill Them All). In Australian #9 generated 205,000 viewers and in the US 1.109 million For the absolutely glorious Kill Them All - Australia (185,000 viewers) NZ (84,200 viewers), US (1.227 million) NEW ZEALAND SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND TV RATINGS Australian TV ratings can be found here US TV Ratings can be found here     15 November 2010 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Episode 1 Beneath The Mask In just a few short months (it has been way too long) and Gods of the Arena will start (21 January 2010). IMDB has now put up their GotA page which also includes the name of the first episode (there will be 6 episodes in the prequel) and the cast list. I've added the official Starz cast descriptions since they are not the same characters we have come to love from Blood and Sand but younger versions and also new characters.   Episode 1 - Beneath The Mask I think we are missing some of the cast from the IMDB listing but here is what they have: Manu Bennett ... Crixus The future Champion of Capua is at this time a newly purchased recruit enlisted into Batiatus’s gladiator school. Crixus revels in the opportunity put before him, to become a gladiator, to reap the glory that he’s always longed for. But to attain it, he’ll have to start at the bottom of the gladiator food chain and fight the titans above him. Dustin Clare ... Gannicus A true physical specimen, fearless in the arena and possessed of a thirst for the fleeting pleasures of life, Gannicus is the gladiator a girl’s mother doesn’t want her to bring home. Newly promoted to the top position at Batiatus’s ludus, Gannicus is best friend to Oenomaus and his wife Melitta, forming an unlikely triangle of loyal friendship. John Hannah ... Quintus Batiatus Quintus is back and looking younger than ever and minus that awful shaving cut from Kill Them All. Batiatus is one in a long line of gladiator owners in his family, and at the time of the prequel, with his father away attempting to regain his health, has newly come to inhabit the role. Bold and impulsive where his father is restrained and conventional, Batiatus wishes to seize more for himself, to rise beyond his father’s station. With his wife Lucretia ever by his side fueling his ambitions, Batiatus schemes beyond his reach. Lucy Lawless ... Lucretia The beautiful and self-possessed wife of Batiatus, Lucretia is her husband’s foundation, always supportive of his dreams, however wild the direction they threaten to grow. Though conscious of the role she’s expected to play as a proper Roman woman, the ideas she and her husband cultivate and the company they are prone to keep means Lucretia continually stretches the bonds of propriety. Though initially reluctant to carry some of their schemes through to the end, Lucretia will discover that when the moment most needs it, she has a true talent for manoeuvring the levers of power. Peter Mensah ... Oenomaus Before he became Doctore...hunky Oenomaus (excuse me while I get my smelling salts...) Oenomaus is who we already know as Doctore. But at this time he is not yet the rigid disciplinarian who will come to reign over the ludus as the gladiator trainer. He is not far removed from the status of top gladiator at the House of Batiatus, having only recently survived his fight with the legendary Theokoles. He longs to return to the sands of the arena and reclimb the peak he feels is rightfully his, but he is yet a slave like so many others and bound to the notions of his masters. He finds himself caught in the middle of much turmoil, his status seized between the generational conflict within the house, between old loyalties and new responsibilities. Lesley-Ann Brandt ... Naevia Naevia is new to Batiatus’ villa, and soon learns that the position of female slave is vulnerable to both her masters’ bidding and the random turn of fate. Nick Tarabay ... Ashur Having just arrived with the new batch of recruits, along with Crixus, Ashur is swept up in the grueling fight to survive and prove himself worthy enough to secure standing as a gladiator. When it quickly proves difficult for him to advance on pure physical ability alone, he must call on his more devious gifts in order to assure his place. Jaime Murray ... Gaia A long time friend of Lucretia, Gaia arrives unannounced in Capua, bringing along her taste for certain vices. On the prowl for a new husband, endowed with beauty, sexual adventurousness and an artful mind, she lends her assets to the cause of her friends, stoking their schemes. Marisa Ramirez ... Melitta Melitta is Lucretia's body slave and Oenomaus's wife. Jeffrey Thomas ... Titus Father to Batiatus, Titus is frail and ill of health yet still looms large as a commanding, paternalistic voice of discretion in his son’s life. Titus is a man of tradition, a proud master of gladiators who is devoted to the old ways and disapproving of his son’s departure from them. His conservative instincts are triggered by the audacious initiatives of Batiatus and Lucretia, throwing them all into greater and greater conflict, which threatens the house he’s given everything to build. David E. Woodley ... Petronius Starz has not released any info about this character as yet     15 November 2010 Spartacus Draw Them All Comic Strip of the Week - My Precious This week's Draw Them All Spartacus Comic Strip by Olansamuelle is looking in at Aurellia's decision to kill young Numerious in the season finale "Kill Them All". Click here to view comic strip You can also catch up with the other comics strips in the Olansamuelle's Draw Them All Spartacus Season 1 comic strip series     14 November 2010 Spartacus Season 1 In Germany 15 December 2010 Great news for German fans. Ralf sent me the following note about Spartacus Season 1 in Germany. Spartacus: Blood and Sand will air in Germany on the Pay TV channel "RTL Crime" (part of SKY Network) from 15/12/2010 on, in the uncut, but dubbed in german version.     13 November 2010 Spartacus Casting News - We May Or May Not Have A New Spartacus Deadline has amended it's original article about the search for the new Spartacus and how Starz has whittled down the casting to three actors Stephen Amell, Aiden Turner and Liam McIntyre. The lastest news is that Stephen and Aiden have been released and it's now down to one. Deadline speculates that it could be Liam or Starz considering other options. That is a mixed bag of maybes. It also sounds like we're back to still searching for Spartacus if Starz doesn't thing Liam is the right man for the job. The other possibility raised by Deadline is that they may make someone else the lead character. So instead of the show focused on Spartacus, it may focus on Crixus or another character as seen by their point of view. An interesting idea. I'm sure the last thing we want is to see the end of the show which will impact on so many people (actors, producers, directors, makeup, wardrobe etc). Recently in the NZ Herald there was an article about the ongoing dispute between the actors and the movie The Hobbit. In the article it made mention of how much it cost to produce Spartacus and how many people are involved: Producer Chloe Smith, who is working on Spartacus with American Rob Tapert, said the level of rebate was no longer competitive but New Zealand had other factors in its favour including the reputation of film-makers such as Sir Peter. She said every production's budget would break down differently, and the level of post-production depended a lot on the level of visual effects. The spending on Spartacus, for example, was soaked up by location shooting; pre-production made up 18 per cent of the budget, while post-production was 17 per cent. Almost half of the total spending was labour costs, covering not only 64 actors but also crew, casuals, extras and security. So we get back to finding the right Spartacus so 64 actors + crew, casuals, exras, production staff can get back to work. There is alot riding on finding the right Spartacus. Read Original Deadline Article | Read the NZ Herald About the Hobbit Dispute Reported by MaryD and Barbara Davies     12 November 2010 Rob Tapert Wins Screen Industry Award - Onfilm/SPADA Industry Champion! Screen industry awards presented at the SPADA Conference on November 12. The award given to Rob was for Onfilm/SPADA Industry Champion! Congratulations Rob! SPADA members include producers, directors, production companies and allied craft professionals working in film, television, TVC, video, post-production, animation and interactive media; lawyers and accountants, completion guarantors, and industry suppliers. Rob Tapert With his latest series, Spartacus, currently in production in Auckland, and all of his productions since 1993, Rob Tapert has brought in $NZ745 million of offshore funding to date. He has produced 375 hours of television in New Zealand, 309 hours of that before the Large Budget Screen Production Grant was introduced. His television series are: 5 x Hercules telefeatures, Hercules, The Legendary Journeys, Young Hercules, Xena: Warrior Princess, Jack of All Trades, Cleopatra 2525, Amazon High, Legend of the Seeker and Spartacus. Plus feature films Boogeyman and 30 Days of Night. He was the first major offshore producer to see the potential of New Zealand not only for stunning locations, but also for talented crews, actors, directors, producers, editors, stunt performers etc. In 17 years of operating in New Zealand, he has enabled the growth of local infrastructure and the development of skills by providing the projects, the challenges, the training and the promotions, while continually raising the bar. He has been responsible for the careers of thousands of kiwis, all the while developing new ways of making television. He is respected and loved amongst kiwi crews for his innovation, generosity and humour, as well as his enormous contribution to the growth of the industry in this country. Tapert's early days were with his producing partner Sam Raimi on cult hits Darkman and Evil Dead, a partnership which has also included the feature films The Quick and the Dead, The Gift and The Grudge. Source News submitted by Pat     11 November 2010 Spartacus Blood and Sand DVD and Blu Ray Release in New Zealand The first season of SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND will be released in New Zealand on dvd and Blu-ray on 2 December 2010 - many thanks to MichaelHurstNow.com for the news! The DVD is selling for $56 NZ$ The Blu-Ray is selling for $75.99 NZ$     11 November 2010 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Wraps for Lucy and Lesley-Ann Lesley-Ann tweeted the following this afternoon - wishing LAB a great flight to the US! Naevia and Lucretia officially wrapped on the prequel. Off to the airport, here I come Cali! about 7 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone You can follow Lesley-Ann's tweets on her Official Twitter account     11 November 2010 Spartacus Gods of the Arena Promo On Starz The following was posted on the Official Starz Spartacus forum by sparta64 Well a movie was going off at 11pm tonight on one of the stations and they showed this 5 or 7 minute type ad for it where they interviewed Lucy, John, Peter, and Dustin Clare who plays Gannicus, as well as Manu and Jaime Murry who plays Gaia. . Let me tell ya..Crixus is gonna look different because they showed clips and he has long hair,,,similar to how Sparty looked in the first episode. It was weird. I can't believe I saw this after I ask this question. Lucretia looks better because her hair is more natural and not that red wig she normally wears. I know they are suppose to look 5 years younger... and they did. They showed some short clips of Gannicus fights and they looked exciting. Anyway if you stay up late enough that seems to be when they show these ads. News submitted by Barbara Davies     11 November 2010 New Spartacus Artist - Tuuli Holman I'm very pleased to welcome Tuuli Holman to the Spartacus Art Gallery. Tuuli's first artwork is of the wonderful Andy Whitfield as Spartacus.     Click here to view Artwork     11 November 2010 New Artwork Section - Draw Them All by Olansameulle I'm very pleased to announce that there is a new section on AUSXIP Spartacus Art and it's for Olansamuelle's Spartacus comic strip "Draw Them All" This section will have Olansameulle's fantastic comic strip! Her artwork that is currently being showcased in the general artwork section View new section     10 November 2010 Andy Now Back in Sydney - Sydney Daily Telegraph 10 November 2010 The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Andy has left New Zealand and is back in Sydney. Spartacus actorAndy Whitfield in new cancer fight WELSH-born Australian actor and Spartacus: Blood And Sand star Andy Whitfield has returned to Sydney as he attempts to battle a second round of cancer. After recently announcing the recurrence of the non-Hodgkins lymphoma he was diagnosed with in February and subsequently quitting the TV action series that propelled him to stardom in the US, the one-time engineer and father-of-two has been seen around town looking frail. Read More     9 November 2010 Three Actors in Final Race For Spartacus Role Deadline Hollywood has an exclusive on the casting of the next Spartacus: EXCLUSIVE: The search for the new lead of Starz's flagship drama series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, is entering its final stage, with the field narrowed down to three actors: Stephen Amell, Aiden Turner and Liam McIntyre. I hear the three are being flown to New Zealand for screen tests and to meet with the show's cast and crew, with a final decision on who would be the next Spartacus expected as early as this week. Read more of the article     9 November 2010 This Week's Spartacus Comic Strip by Olansamuelle - It's A Legatus' Life This Week's Spartacus Comic Strip by Olansamuelle - It's A Legatus' Life View comic strip   View the entire comic strip series by Olansamuelle     7 November 2010 Starz to Decide About Spartacus Recasting By End of the Year The Hollywood Reporter has an article on Starz, QVC Lift Third Quarter for Liberty Media 5 November 2010. Pay TV subscriber units, programming expenses rise; decision on future of Spartacus to come by year's end In part it wrote: Starz management said it is still considering recasting show Spartacus: Blood and Sand [that should be Spartacus Vengeance not Spartacus Blood and Sand] given star Andy Whitfield's health issue, but will make a decision on how to proceed before year's end depending on what the team feels is best for the show and cast. Read Full Article     6 November 2010 Spartacus GotA PR Update - Upcoming Interviews We are now just a few months away from Spartacus: Gods of the Arena premiere on 21 January 2011. We all remember what happened last January when there was a Sparty PR Blitz where it was wall to wall Sparty promos/interviews etc. The first stirrings of a new PR Blitz is now stirring. The following was posted on Twitter by Stacey Harrison who is a writer for Channel Guide Magazine. Setting up interviews for January's "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" on Starz. So far, writer/EP Stephen S. DeKnight. Maybe star Dustin Clare. 2:09 PM Nov 4th via web Stacey Harrison Bio I write for Channel Guide Magazine, covering TV and movies. http://www.channelguidemag.com News submitted by Barbara Davies     2 November 2010 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Confirmed for Aussie GO! in 2011 The edited version Spartacus: Blood and Sand has just ended in Australia on Channel Nine's GO! channel with decent ratings It has now been confirmed that GO! will screen Gods of the Arena some time in 2011. As previously announced, GotA will screen in the US starting 21 January 2011. Before Spartacus struck down his first opponent in the arena, there were many gladiators who passed though the gates onto the sand. "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," the highly anticipated prequel to Starz' hit series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," tells the story of the original Champion of the House of Batiatus: Gannicus (Dustin Clare) in a more ruthless time before Spartacus' arrival where honor was just finding it's way into the arena. The new series adds to the cast Jaime Murray as Capua's sexy social climber Gaia and Marisa Ramirez as Melitta, a beautiful slave who must face the ultimate decision of the heart. Jeffrey Thomas plays Batiatus's father Titus, the traditional and cautious Lanista, head of the Ludus. They join returning cast members John Hannah (Quintus Batiatus), Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), Peter Mensah (Oenomaus, before he becomes Doctore, the gladiator trainer) and Manu Bennett (Crixus). As the prequel begins, Quintus Batiatus is the acting Lanista while his father Titus is on an extended visit to Sicilia. But Batiatus isn't satisfied with just the thought of taking over the Ludus one day; he aspires to political power and prestige in Capua, and perhaps beyond. In the class-conscious world of ancient Rome, the House of Batiatus must first earn the respect of both politicians and socialites before being granted the right for its gladiators to fight in the much-revered championship bouts called the Primus. Batiatus must not only survive the harsh politics of Capua, but also compel his hedonistic fighter, Gannicus, to embrace being a champion gladiator who will bring esteem and respect to the House of Batiatus. "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" is produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight. Season one of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" was the highest rated show for the 18-49 demographic among all cable networks for 12 of the 13 Fridays on which it aired based on coverage rating. More About Spartacus: Gods of the Arena on AUSXIP Spartacus     1 November 2010 This Week's Spartacus Comic Strip by Olansamuelle - Varro's Famous Last Words Olansameulle tackles the demise of Varro in this week's Spartacus Comic Strip Varro's Famous Last Words... Click here to view You can view the Olansameulle's previous Spartacus comic strips here     Read More Archives