“We have tried to make the best of an awful, awful situation and do Andy proud,” says creator and exec producer Steven S. DeKnight. “From the beginning, Spartacus has been one big risk and it continues that way. But even when things get tough, we never bunt. This show always swings for the fences.”

And how. DeKnight had the audacity to kill off most of his top characters in Blood’s Season 1 finale, in which Spartacus slayed his master Batiatus (John Hannah) and launched the slave revolt that will one day make him legend.

Gods will flash back to earlier times when social climbers Batiatus and wife Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) get their first taste of fame by acquiring a superstar gladiator called Gannicus (Dustin Clare). He intends to become Champion of Capua, a title later taken by Spartacus.

But this new dude is no carbon copy. Spartacus was stoic, morally incorruptible and immensely likable, but Gannicus, despite his killer smile, is at first a turn-off — a boozy, reckless egotist. The Australiaborn Clare modelled his character after the controversial Aboriginal boxer Anthony Mundine.

“Unlike Spartacus, Gannicus is self-destructive,” notes Clare. “He uses alcohol and women to escape from his dire reality in the arena. I’d say he has suicidal tendencies.” And lots of nude scenes. Soon after we meet him, Gannicus is having himself a three-way slave orgy. By Episode 2, he’s performing a sex act for the merriment of rich folk.

“Dustin had very little time to buff up before we started shooting, and I’ve never seen anybody get in such amazing shape so fast,” DeKnight says. “He was in decent condition when we cast him, but two weeks later we had him do a costume test and I was like, ‘How the hell did this happen? It’s genetically impossible!”’

But will it keep his character alive in the ring? Since we don’t see Gannicus in the original series, should we assume he doesn’t survive the prequel? “Not necessarily,” teases Clare. “He’s based on a historic figure who became one of Spartacus’ most trusted generals — so read into that what you will.”

Lawless is most certainly a survivor, even though Lucretia seemingly died in the Blood finale with a sword to her pregnant abdomen. “This role is the greatest challenge and pleasure of my career, so I’m grateful I escaped my fate,” says Lawless, who shot Lucretia’s demise two ways — one in which she’s clearly dead, one in which she’s still twitching. Execs chose the latter, assuring she’ll be back for Season 2.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In Gods, the popular actress engages in some sizzling Sapphic sex with costar Jaime Murray ( Dexter), who plays Lucretia’s girlhood pal Gaia — and that’s something Lawless’ fans have been dying to see since the star’s days as Xena: Warrior Princess.

“The lesbian stuff made me nervous as hell, and I don’t think I could have done it without Jaime,” Lawless admits. “She’s really funny and 200 per cent professional.”

And Whitfield, who is undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, remains her kind of man. “Andy didn’t curl up in a ball and think of himself — he’s concerned about all the people making their livelihood with this show,” says Lawless. “He wanted us to continue and we love him for that. It’s no wonder he played Spartacus so well. The guy is a true hero.”

Click here to read more articles about Spartacus: Gods of the Arena