March 2012 Archives   31 March 2012 MaryD Reviews: Spartacus Season 2 Episode 10 And Beyond Well well well isn' t the body count on Wrath of the Gods something to behold. I've never seen a show completely kill off a good portion of it's cast before (usually that's done by the studios when they kill a show).  Won't review the final episode - you can read the reviews here and here but take a different approach and review the characters. Scorecard: Deaths: 7 Core cast members have died: Lucretia, Ilithyia, Glaber, Onomaous, Ashur, Seppia, Mira Lived:  6 core cast members have lived: Spartacus, Gannicus, Crixus, Naevia, Agron, Nasir, Lucy Lawless as Lucretia Deceased / Not Returning for Season 3 Mini bio for Lucretia Lucretia is the Roman widow found alive in her ruined villa, having survived the bloody gladiator revolt that took the life of her husband, the gladiator owner Batiatus. The traumatic devastation that was visited upon her has upended her world and her mind struggles to adjust to a new reality. Where once she and her husband maneuvered to ascend the social ranks of the Roman hierarchy, Lucretia is now left alone to hang on and merely survive. For me this season has been Lucy's show; no doubt about it. She reigned supreme from the moment we saw her as the batsh*t crazy Lucretia with no marbles to the very end. Vengeance was indeed hers. I'll admit I absolutely adored this character even when she was being vindictive and manipulative. There was something about Lucretia (other than the fact that a favourite actor was in the role) that made me like her. This season was brutal on poor Lucretia.  I wasn't thrilled with the rape arc and felt it had gone over the edge (for me personally) but Lucy Lawless did some of her best work. I've watched Lucy in various roles for the last 15 years and this role took her out of her comfort zone and when that happens Lucy turns in spectacular performances. She's VERY good at being the strong character but she also excels when put in a vulnerable position (go and hire the movie The Darkroom. Lucy plays Cheryl, the abused and alcoholic wife - BRILLIANT performance). LOVED her work in Spartacus. Can't say I'm sorry to see her go because this show crossed several lines I wasn't prepared to watch and I stayed because of Lucy's brilliant work. Lucretia kills Ilithyia AND her baby and finally gets her vengeance. She ends her life on a high (as Lucy tweeted) and she went to meet her beloved Batiatus in the afterlife. I sure hope the afterlife is ready to Lucretia. Rating: 10/10 Continue reading MaryD Reviews: Spartacus Season 2 Episode 10 And Beyond.     28 March 2012 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Raises $20,022 For Starship! Happy Birthday Lucy! The 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction has come to an end and wow didn't it go out with a bang! I'm stoked beyond belief that this year we have raised $20,022 - no that is not a typo. (tentative total, not including the donations which Starship will tell me about when it sends the confirmation spreadsheet). What an amazing figure. I triple checked the amount and then went back and checked it again. I could not believe it. To say I was floored would be an understatement. Once I got over my shock, I had a smile on my face that nothing could wipe off; I'm still smiling writing this entry. I am truly humbled by the outcome of this auction. Last year we raised $11,859.50 and of that $9501 for Starship & $2358.50 was for the Alissa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (Renee O'Connor's charity). This auction was initially born to celebrate AUSXIP's 10th Birthday on 15 December 2006. The second auction we held I had enough celebrating AUSXIP's birthday and switched it to celebrate someone else's birthday in March. Since without her, AUSXIP wouldn't be celebrating anything. What's a great gift to give someone who puts herself out there and gives of herself each and every time for charity and now an Eco-Warrior? Lucille Frances Lawless turns 44 today (29 March 2012). HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY! Continue reading 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Raises $20,022 For Starship! Happy Birthday Lucy!.     28 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 10 Wrath of the Gods High Resolution Stills The time for the Season 2 finale is upon us and we are promised that it will be "EPIC". here is the high resolution episode stills and video clips for the final episode of Season 2 called Wrath of the Gods! Dwindling supplies bring the rebellion to its knees; Spartacus tries restore hope. Airdate: 03-30-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills     27 March 2012 Olansamuelle's Draw Them All Season 2 Episode 5 Libertus Olansamuelle's Draw Them All Comic Strip for Season 2 Episode 5  is now available. Spartacus tries to free Crixus from Roman captivity, but a gladiator from the House of Batiatus complicates it. Airdate: 02-24-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills   For more of Olansalmuelle's Draw Them All Comic Strip go to  the AUSXIP Spartacus - Draw Them All subsite     25 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 10 Season Finale Episode Stills Dwindling supplies bring the rebellion to its knees; Spartacus tries restore hope. Airdate: 03-30-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills       24 March 2012 Assignment X Interviews Rob About Spartacus Vengeance 23 March 2012 I'm really pleased that Assignment X has interviewed Rob about Spartacus. We don't get a lot of interviews with Rob and there should be lots more. I'm a huge fan of Rob Tapert so we should hear from him via interviews. Many thanks to Assignment X for the interview. Exclusive Interview: SPARTACUS VENGEANCE producer on the latest season The executive producer talks the change in lead actors and more Starz Network's SPARTACUS series, Friday nights at 10 PM, has gone through almost as many tribulations as its legendary hero. The first season, SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND, starred Andy Whitfield as the Thracian warrior sent into slavery and trained as a gladiator, only to turn on his master and free his fellows. Then Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and the production company did a prequel season, SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA, while waiting for Whitfield to recover. Sadly, Whitfield's cancer returned. He gave his blessing to the producers to recast the role and passed away in September 2011. Liam McIntyre was chosen to step into Spartacus’ sandals, but he trained for months before officially being cast to play the role in the current season, SPARTACUS:VENGEANCE, as well as seasons to come. Robert Tapert, an executive producer on the series along with his longtime producing partner Sam Raimi (the EVIL DEAD films, HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS) and SPARTACUS series creator Steven S. DeKnight, talks about where the series is now and where it may go. Read Interview     24 March 2012 Spartacus 2012 Premium Trading Cards Update Rittenhouse Archives has released the following info via their twitter feed @SciFiHobby: We've been busy this week hand-collating #Spartacus 2012 Premium Pack Trading Cards for next week's release! http://t.co/WNzBuCap This all-new series will feature cards based on the original Spartacus: Blood and Sand as well as the prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena with 2 Autograph Cards per pack! Click here to order     Spartacus: Legends & Lore Card Premium Pack This all-new series will feature cards based on the original Spartacus: Blood and Sand, as well as the prequel series, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Each box will also come with a guarantee of a Lucy Lawless (Lucretia) or Jaime Murray (Gaia) autograph card! Inserts will include 18 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Synopsis Cards (2 per pack), 9 Gladiators in Action (1 per pack), 9 Andy Whitfield Tribute Cards (1 per pack), 9 Women of Spartacus Cards (1 per pack), and 12 Spartactus Gold Plaque Cards (1 per pack). Autographs will include: John Hannah, Many Bennett, Dustin Clare, and many more (2 per pack).     Spartacus: Legends & Lore Card Album This all-new series will feature cards based on the original Spartacus: Blood and Sand, as well as the prequel series, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Each box will also come with a guarantee of a Lucy Lawless (Lucretia) or Jaime Murray (Gaia) autograph card! Inserts will include 18 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Synopsis Cards (2 per pack), 9 Gladiators in Action (1 per pack), 9 Andy Whitfield Tribute Cards (1 per pack), 9 Women of Spartacus Cards (1 per pack), and 12 Spartactus Gold Plaque Cards (1 per pack). Autographs will include: John Hannah, Many Bennett, Dustin Clare, and many more (2 per pack).     CHECKLIST INCLUDES Autograph Cards: (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena): Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), Jaime Murray (Gaia), John Hannah (Batiatus), Manu Bennett (Crixus), Dustin Clare (Gannicus), Craig Walsh Wrightson (Solonius), Temeura Morrison (Doctore), Jeffrey Thomas (Titus), Jessica Grace Smith (Diona), Stephen Lovatt (Tullius), Shane Rangi (Dagan), Peter Feeney (Quintillius Varis); (Spartacus: Blood & Sand): Lliam Powell (Numerius), David Austin (Medicus), John Bach (Magistrate Calavius), Reuben de Jong (Theokoles) and more! (2 autographs cards per Premium Pack) 18 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Episode Synopses Cards, 3 cards per episode (2 cards per Premium Pack) 9 Gladiators In Action Cards (1 card per Premium Pack) 9 Battle for Freedom Cards (1 card per Premium Pack) 9 Spartacus: Vengeance Preview Cards (1 card per Premium Pack) 9 Women of Spartacus Cards (1 card per Premium Pack) 12 Spartacus Gold Plaque Cards (1 card per Premium Pack) Product Configuration: 9 Cards Per Premium Pack 15 Packs Per Box Box Topper: Spartacus Shadowbox Card 2-Box Incentive: Spartacus Relic Card 4-Box Incentive: Peter Mensah (Doctore) Autograph Card 8-Box Incentive: SPARTACUS 2012 Premium Pack Archive Box, including a complete master set of all pack-inserted cards. Click here to order     23 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 9 High Resolution Episode Stills & Episode Clips Added high resolution episode stills from Spartacus Season 2 Episode 9 Monsters Spartacus tries to convince his people to unite against the Roman assault; Lucretia struggles to be free from the men who threaten her fate. Airdate: 03-23-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills     22 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction - Lucy Lawless Items Here is the complete Lucy Lawless related Auction Items with a link to each auction item. You need to be registered to bid on the auction. If you have not done so please register first at http://charity.ausxip.com and once your registration is approved, you can start bidding until 27 January! Happy Bidding! Continue reading AUSXIP Charity Auction - Lucy Lawless Items.     22 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction: Spartacus Items with Links Here is the complete Spartacus related Auction Items with a link to each auction item. You need to be registered to bid on the auction. If you have not done so please register first at http://charity.ausxip.com and once your registration is approved, you can start bidding until 27 March! Continue reading AUSXIP Charity Auction: Spartacus Items with Links.     22 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Viva Bianca Items With Auction Links Here is the complete Viva Bianca related Auction Items with a link to each auction item. You need to be registered to bid on the auction. If you have not done so please register first at http://charity.ausxip.com and once your registration is approved, you can start bidding until 27 January! Happy Bidding! Continue reading AUSXIP Charity Auction Viva Bianca Items With Auction Links.     22 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Lesley-Ann Brandt Items With Auction Links Here is the complete Lesley-Ann Brandt related Auction Items with a link to each auction item. You need to be registered to bid on the auction. If you have not done so please register first at http://charity.ausxip.com and once your registration is approved, you can start bidding until 27 March. Continue reading AUSXIP Charity Auction Lesley-Ann Brandt Items With Auction Links.     22 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Erin Cummings Items With Auction Links Here is the complete Erin Cummings related Auction Items with a link to each auction item. You need to be registered to bid on the auction. If you have not done so please register first at http://charity.ausxip.com and once your registration is approved, you can start bidding until 27 March. Continue reading AUSXIP Charity Auction Erin Cummings Items With Auction Links.     22 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction: Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Lealand Items Here is the complete Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Lealand related Auction Items with a link to each auction item. You need to be registered to bid on the auction. If you have not done so please register first at http://charity.ausxip.com and once your registration is approved, you can start bidding until 27 January! Continue reading AUSXIP Charity Auction: Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Lealand Items.     22 March 2012 Purchase Officially Licensed Spartacus Replicas Starz tweeted today that Museum Replicas has the license to sell Spartacus high-end replicas of the props used on the show. You can view their current Spartacus replicas here From their About Page Museum Replicas Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta Cutlery Corp., a mail order catalog company started in 1971 to sell military surplus, hunting and other hard to find knives and knife making supplies from all over the world. Our well educated and highly trained staff directs the company. Our full time, in-house staff includes experts on historical weapons, a research and design team  as well as Creative Director Dave DiPietro (formerly with Paramount Studios) and Robin Chaudhuri (formerly with Michigan State University Historical Museum in Arms & Armour). Part-time consultants include: Simon Atherton, Prop Master (Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, Mask of Zorro, Kingdom of Heaven & Gladiator), Joss Skottowe, prop armorer (Die Another Day, Sahara, Quantum of Solace) and Augusto Grassi, prop master (Rome). And we wouldn’t be who we are today without giving proper thanks to our founder Hank Reinhardt, nationally acclaimed expert on edged weapons. He passed away recently and he will be dearly missed.     22 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 9 Clip "Empty In Your Regard" Here's a new Starz clip from Spartacus Season 2 Episode 9 "Empty In Your Regard" - Ilithyia is none too thrilled with the lack of support and love by her husband Glaber (not that it is surprising given that Ilithyia was going to toss him overboard only a few episodes ago)       21 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episodes 1 - 8 Ratings Here's the ratings for Episode 8 of  Spartacus Vengeance. Episode 1 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:02 PM 1.391 0.6 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 2 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:02 PM 1.301 0.6 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 3 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:01 PM 1.401 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 4 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:00 PM 1.471 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 5 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:00 PM 1.564 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 6 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:01 PM 1.186 0.6 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 7 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:01 PM 1.246 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 8 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:03 PM 1,101 0.5 (18-49 Demographic)   The figures are courtesy of TVbytheNumbers     20 March 2012 Spartacus Gods of the Arena and Vengeance 2 Disc Soundtrack Available 3 April 2012 Varese Sarabande Records has announced the details of the soundtrack album for the Starz action series Spartacus: Vengeance. The album includes selections of the original score from the show composed by Joseph LoDuca, as well as from last year’s prequel series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena on a second disc. The soundtrack will be released on April 3, 2012 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Click here to order from Amazon.com Price: $17.76 Here’s the album track list: Spartacus: Vengeance 1. Retreat (2:39) 2. Is Capua Burning? (2:48) 3. Steel Nerve (3:01) 4. Syrian Lesson (3:20) 5. Lifting Curse (4:10) 6. Healing Wounds (1:53) 7. Forever Loved (4:40) 8. By Your Side (1:14) 9. Overjoyed (1:20) 10. Aurelia Dies (1:50) 11. Hymn To Venus (2:12) 12. Ashur’s Gift (1:03) 13. Finding Naevia (1:53) 14. Mine Fight (4:21) 15. He Comes (3:11) 16. Nothing Is Forgiven (1:07) 17. Night Forest Battle (1:52) 18. Ashur’s Last Stand (7:22) 19. As Promised (1:18) 20. Slaves No More (1:06) 21. Fight Party (1:32) 22. Mad Lucretia (1:50) 23. Broken Waters (2:58) 24. Mercato Displays (3:33) 25. Crixus In The Mix (:46) 26. The Greatest Cause Of All (1:40) 27. Found Their End (:55) 28. Experienced Hands (1:14) 29. Purchasing Silence (1:57) 30. He Has Fallen (1:39) 31. What Dawn Brings (2:31) Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena 1. Team Batiatus (1:58) 2. Rules Of Combat (3:20) 3. Diona’s End (2:53) 4. Snuff Montage (3:36) 5. Fill Her Eyes (:57) 6. Free Man (:56) 7. Eyes Firmly Fixed (1:55) 8. Proper Reward (4:14) 9. Gannicus (3:29) 10. An End To Sulking (1:48) 11. Blind Sided (2:25) 12. An Offer Refused (3:39) 13. Long Shadow (2:16) 14. Gaia’s Guile (1:44) 15. Gannicus Vs Crixus (2:09) 16. The Doctore Is Out (:43) 17. Bati In ‘Da House (:57) 18. A Man So Blessed (:58) 19. Primus Lost (:53) 20. Senior Moment (1:31) 21. Auctus Exhibition (1:42) 22. Marked Man (1:58) 23. Brother Crixus (1:57) 24. New Capua Nets (1:15) 25. Sisters (1:14) 26. House Of Delights (1:46) 27. A Deeper Lie (1:10) 28. Masquerade (3:28) 29. Titus Ultimatum (1:49) 30. Down For You (3:03) 31. A Serpent Far Worse (1:44) 32. Poison (3:13) 33. Titus Pyre (2:48)     20 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 9 Video Promo Spartacus Season 2 Episode 9 - second last episode before the season finale! Spartacus tries to convince his people to unite against the Roman assault; Lucretia struggles to be free from the men who threaten her fate.  Airdate: 03-23-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills       19 March 2012 Steven DeKnight Tweets About Spartacus Season 3 Steven has been busy answering questions about Season 3: @stevendeknight: Buy stock in Kleenex. RT @ChristinaCali @stevendeknight how brutal is season 3 going to be? Source @stevendeknight: Yes.  Start shooting next month.  RT @IOFFRECHERREZ @stevendeknight but will it have a third season right? Source @stevendeknight: 10.  No title yet.  RT @ZackNero03  how many episodes will the third season be and what's it called? Source @stevendeknight:  Greetings, Ven!  S3 Jan. 2013 in US. RT @jongear  Greetings from Venezuela!, we are fans of #spartacus When the third season comes out? Source   For more on Spartacus Season 3 News visit the AUSXIP Spartacus Season 3 Page For more on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     19 March 2012 Spartacus Season 3 News: Saxa Into Season 3 Season 3 news is slowly trickling out. We had the recent news that Todd Lasance (Julius Caesar) and Simon Merrels (Marcus Crassus) have been cast for Season 3 and today Stephen Dunlevy (The Egyptian) has revealed that Ellen Hollman (Saxa) will be in Season 3. For more on Spartacus Season 3 News visit the AUSXIP Spartacus Season 3 Page For more on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     19 March 2012 Spartacus Season 3 Simon Merrells Marcus Crassus Joining season three of Starz Original series, Spartacus, is Essex boy Simon Merrells, star of TV’s Family Affairs. Last seen on the big screen alongside Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Anthony Hopkins in the thriller, The Wolfman, Merells will play the role of Marcus Crassus, joining Australian actors Liam McIntyre (TV’s Neighbours) as the title role of Spartacus, and Todd Lasance (TV’s Home and Away) as Julius Caesar. Merrells character description reads, “The richest man in the Roman Republic. Envied and despised by the highborn among the senate, he craves the power and respect that defeating Spartacus and his rebel army would bring.” Executive produced by Rob Tapert (The Grudge), Steven S. DeKnight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Sam Raimi (Spider-Man), and Joshua Donen (The Quick and the Dead), this same team also produced the first three installments of the series: season one – Spartacus: Blood and Sand, the prequel – Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, and season two – Spartacus: Vengeance. Source: Brit-Scene IMDB Profile: Essex boy Simon is the elder of the two acting Merrells brothers, born in 1966, two years before his sibling Jason. Though there was no acting background in the family both boys were keen to tread the boards at an early age, attending Saturday morning drama classes, then a Sylvia Young school, and, in Simon's case, drama college, though on graduation he spent some time travelling abroad, and, on return, working as a mini-cab driver to earn the money to go back to Mexico to join a girlfriend who was in the circus there. He eventually went back to acting however, and turned professional in 1994. He has been particularly prolific on stage with such prestigious organizations as the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, for whom he played Benedick to Sally Anne Triplett's Beatrice in 'Much About Nothing' and acting with Jason for the first time in fourteen years as real-life brothers in 'The Comedy of Errors', both in 2007. On television he became well-known in the British soap opera 'Family Affairs'. For more on Spartacus Season 3 News visit the AUSXIP Spartacus Season 3 Page For more on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     19 March 2012 Manu Bennett Playing The Part With A Vengeance NZ New Idea March 2012 This week's issue of the New Zealand Woman's Weekly has an article on Manu Bennett called "Playing The Part With A Vengeance" Manu Bennett's in top form for Spartacus Season Three. Being a member of the Spartacus Vengeance cast, his face is splashed across our television screens every week, but there's more to New Zealand actor Manu Bennett that meets the eye.   Click on the thumbnail for the larger scan Scanned by Jo     18 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 9 Monsters Episode Stills Starz has released episode stills for Season 2 Episode 9 "Monsters" Spartacus tries to convince his people to unite against the Roman assault; Lucretia struggles to be free from the men who threaten her fate.  Airdate: 03-23-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills |       18 March 2012 Viva Article Scan: The Naked and The Brave Herald On Sunday 18 March 2012 The NZ Herald on Sunday 18 March 2012 issue has an article on Viva's role on Spartacus called The Naked and The Brave. Actress Viva Bianca spills on playing Spartacus Vengeance's manipulative Ilithyia. Click on the thumbnail for the larger scan.     16 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 8 Clip: I Do Not Move To Threaten Spartacus gets a chance for revenge; intrigue surrounds Glaber. Spartacus gets a chance for vengeance when a prominent Roman is captured, but will he satisfy desire at the cost of the greater good? The intrigue amongst Glaber and the women surrounding him heats up. Airdate: 03-16-2012 | Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills Click here to view all the Episode Stills "I Do Not Move To Threaten"         15 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction - Spartacus Related Item List as of 15 March 2012 This is the list of items that will be available on the auction There are some more items to be added to this list leading up to the AUSXIP Charity Auction on 21 March. It will go live just after midnight on 21 March (US, Pacific Standard Time) http://charity.ausxip.com LUCY LAWLESS AUTOGRAPHED Autographed Official Britomart Fun Run Lucy Lawless T-Shirt (W) Autographed Official Breast Cancer Research Lucy Lawless Designed T-Shirt (W) Autographed Official Bare For Christchurch Unique Lucy Lawless T-Shirt (W) Lucy Lawless Shark Tooth Pendant (O) Lucy Lawless Save The Arctic T-Shirt Lucy Lawless Radio Drama 4 Disc CD Set (S) Autographed Lucy Lawless The New Frontier Comic Book (LA) Autographed Lucy Lawless Hercules & The Amazon Women 8 x 10 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #10 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #9 Rizzo (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #8 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #7 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless Photoshoot B/W (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless Hercules Warrior Princess 8 x 10 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless Xena Season 1 8 x 10 #1 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #6 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #5 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #4 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #3 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #2 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless 8 x 10 #1 (W) Autographed Lucy Lawless Bare For Christchurch Card (W) Lucy Lawless Battlestar Galactica Costume (O) Xena Costume - Xena's Swimming Costume (O) Autographed Lucy Lawless Xena Anthrax Photo, Matted + Bonus! (O) Autographed Lucy Lawless Coke Label (O) Autographed Lucy Lawless (Xena) With Bracelet Framed Picture (W)   SPARTACUS: 18 Cast & Production Autographed Spartacus Season 1 DVD (O) Spartacus S1 Ep09 Ilithyia Gold Mask - AUTHENTIC & AUTOGRAPHED (W) Super Rare Six Autographed Spartacus Cast T-Shrit (W) Autographed Spartacus Blood and Sand T-Shirt (Lesley-Ann & Nick) (LA) Skype Chat with Viva Bianca Skype Chat with Lesley-Ann Brandt Skype Chat with Campbell Cooley Skype Chat with Erin Cummings Lunch with Lesley-Ann Brandt! Viva Bianca & Lucy Lawless Autographed EW Magazine Photoshoot Spartacus Season 2 Press Kit Flash Drive, Rudis Dagger & Book (W) Autographed Spartacus Gods of the Arena Dustin Clare Poster (W) Autographed Lesley-Ann Brandt Naevia Trading Card (LA) Autographed Lesley-Ann Brandt #2 8 x 10 (LA) Autographed Lesley-Ann Brandt #1 8 x 10 (LA) Autographed Bitch Slap Soundtrack (O) Autographed Detroit 1-8-7 Poster & Character 8 x 10 (O) Bitch Slap Poster Lobby Card Set (O) Autographed Bitch Slap Poster 27 x 40 (O) Autographed Bitch Slap Poster 11 x 17 (O) Autographed Erin Cummings Spartacus B&S 8 x 10 (LA) Autographed Erin Cummings Detroit 187 8 x 10 (LA) Autographed Erin Cummings Bitch Slap Lobby Card (LA) Viva Bianca Artwork #3b (O) Viva Bianca Artwork #3 (O) Viva Bianca Artwork #2g (O) Viva Bianca Artwork #2f (O) Viva Bianca Artwork #2e (O) Viva Bianca Artwork #2b (O) Viva Bianca Artwork #2 (O) Viva Bianca Artwork #1 (O) Ving Rhames Autographed Basketball (via Lesley-Ann Brandt)   Click here to see complete list     15 March 2012 Press Release: Spartacus Adds Todd Lasance and Simon Merrels For Season 3 STARZ ORIGINAL SERIES "SPARTACUS" ADDS TODD LASANCE AND SIMON MERRELLS TO SEASON THREE OF INTERNATIONAL HIT SHOW Beverly Hills, Calif., March 13, 2012 - Todd Lasance and Simon Merrells have been cast as Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus, respectively, for season three of the hit STARZ Original series, "Spartacus." Gaius Julius Caesar is a handsome young rogue from an esteemed lineage. His deadly intelligence and skill with a sword will be brought to bear against the rebellion. And Caesar will begin his ascent towards the all-powerful ruler he will one day become. Marcus Licinius Crassus is the richest man in the Roman Republic. Envied and despised by the highborn among the senate, he craves the power and respect that defeating Spartacus and his rebel army would bring. Lasance is known for his role as Ben McMahon in the Australian legal drama "Crownies" as well as the role of Quick Lamb in the critically acclaimed TV miniseries "Cloudstreet". He is last seen starring opposite Grant Bowler in the telemovie "The Great Mint Swindle". Merrells played DO Griggs in the UK drama "London's Burning," had a recurring role in the BBC crime drama "Mersey Beat," and was also seen on "Family Affair" and "Doctors." He was last seen on the big screen alongside Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Anthony Hopkins in the Universal Pictures thriller, "The Wolfman." Both actors join Liam McIntyre (Ektopos, Radev, "Neighbours," "The Pacific") who stars as the title role of Spartacus. "Spartacus" is executive produced by Rob Tapert (The Grudge, "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys"), Steven S. DeKnight ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Sam Raimi (Spider-Man and The Evil Dead), and Joshua Donen (The Quick and the Dead). This same conceptual creative team also produced the first three installments of the series: season one, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," the prequel, "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," and season two, "Spartacus: Vengeance." Lassance is repped by Marquee Management and The Gersh Agency; Merrells is repped by Conway van Gelder Grant, Ltd. About Starz Entertainment Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R) brands with approximately 19.6 million and 33.2 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA).     14 March 2012 Spartacus Vengeance Ratings for Episodes 1 - 7 Here's the ratings for Episode 7 of  Spartacus Vengeance. The ratings for Episode 6 saw a decrease in numbers from Episode 5 1.564 to 1.186 for episode 6 and now in episode 7 they see the numbers rise slightly to 1.246 (not to the heights of Episode 5 but it's higher than episode 6 which was the lowest of the season. Episode 1 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:02 PM 1.391 0.6 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 2 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:02 PM 1.301 0.6 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 3 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:01 PM 1.401 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 4 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:00 PM 1.471 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 5 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:00 PM 1.564 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 6 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:01 PM 1.186 0.6 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 7 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:01 PM 1.246 0.7 (18-49 Demographic)   The figures are courtesy of TVbytheNumbers     14 March 2012 Spartacus Season 3 News Casting for Julius Caesar and Crassus Well Season 2 is not done yet but we just got word about Season 3 casting. EW Is reporting that two famous men in Roman history have now been cast: Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus. These coveted roles have gone to Australian Todd Lasance and English actor Simon Merrelis. Interesting casting choices. I've been watching Crownies (a superb Australian drama which has now been benched) and Todd. This is a huge step up for Todd and I'm looking forward to how he handles such a huge role.  Todd was the golden boy of Crownies...he is stepping up to the golden boy of Rome. EW Reports: Todd is cast as a young Caesar, who will begin his ascent toward ruling the empire. He’ll use his intelligence and deadly skill with a sword to try and crush the slave rebellion. I wonder if young Caesar will meet Lucretia...that would be funny. for non Xena fans, Xena (Lucy) and Julius Caesar had a long running animosity starting  with Xena's betrayal and the start of a long bloody era. Long story but it didn't end well for Caesar.  That Caesar was playing by the fantastic Karl Urban. Maybe if Lucretia and the young Caesar meet it would have the opposite effect and Lucretia will become the Mother Teresa of the Roman world! Season 3 is shaping up. Let's see what the last three episodes of Season 2 brings us and who survives Season 2 and goes into Season 3...EW says the producers have said the drama will get even more bloody and shocking toward the finale.     13 March 2012 Craig Parker Convention Appearances in May, August and October 2012 Craig will be attending the Wizard World Comic Con In Phillidelphia, Austin and Chicago in 2012 -  Comic Cons  ::  PHILADELPHIA COMIC CON MAY 31 - JUNE 1-2-3, 2012 THUR-FRI-SAT-SUN Pennsylvania Convention Center  -  Comic Cons  ::  CHICAGO COMIC CON AUGUST 9-10-11-12, 2012 THUR-FRI-SAT-SUN Donald E. Stephens Convention Center -  Comic Cons  ::  AUSTIN COMIC CON OCTOBER 26-27-28, 2012 FRI-SAT-SUN Austin Convention Center   -  Ring Con ::  GERMANY RING CON OCTOBER 5-7, 2012 MARITIM HOTEL, BONN GERMANY Actor - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers; Spartacus: Vengeance; Legend of the Seeker; Underworld: Rise of the Lycans; Xena: Warrior Princess) A New Zealander born in Fiji, Parker was 17 when he started working on New Zealand television in the glitzy series "Gloss". He followed with roles in numerous other local dramas including four years playing the popular Guy Warner on the hit show, "Shortland Street." Throughout this time, he also performed in a number of theatre productions including "Macbeth," "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead", "The Rocky Horror Show" and, his favourite, "The Pillowman." His international work began with "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Young Hercules" but It was playing the doomed elf, Haldir of Lorien, in the Lord of the Rings movies, "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" that really introduced him to the world of fandom. He recently played the very dirty Lycan, Sabas in "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans", was the villain with great hair, Darken Rahl in ABC's, "The Legend of the Seeker." and currently plays Spartacus' chief nemesis, the Roman Praetor, Gaius Claudius Glaber, in the Starz original series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," and "Spartacus: Vengeance."     13 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 8 Episode Stills & Video Promo Added the high resolution Spartacus Episode 8 Episode Stills for the next exciting episode "Balance" Spartacus gets a chance for revenge; intrigue surrounds Glaber.   Spartacus gets a chance for vengeance when a prominent Roman is captured, but will he satisfy desire at the cost of the greater good? The intrigue amongst Glaber and the women surrounding him heats up. Airdate: 03-16-2012 Click here to view Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills   PREVIEW   For more episode stills from Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Spartacus Episode Stills Galleries     13 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Update: Skype Chat with the Stars Crystal Chappell + More Goodies! I've very excited to report this morning that Crystal Chappell has been added to the list of stars who are going to auction off a skype chat with them. In addition actor Ving Rhames has signed a basketball (via Lesley-Ann Brandt who worked with Ving in the movie Zombie Apocalypse). How do the Skype Chats work? Well once you register on AUSXIP Charity Auction site, the auction goes live on 21 March to 27 March and you can bid on a skype chat (lasting 30 minutes) with your fave actor. The actors who have graciously agreed are: 1. Viva Bianca 2. Lesley-Ann Brandt 3. Crystal Chappell 4. Campbell Cooley 5. Erin Cummings 6. Adrienne Wilkinson In addition to that we also have a lunch date to aucton off with Lesley-Ann Brandt! Last year's auction winner had such a blast. Lesley-Ann has agreed to another lunch date. All this and more coming up on 21 March 2012 at the AUSXIP Charity Auction to raise money for the Starship Foundation. It can't be done without the support of the support and contributions of the actors who have volunteered their time and donated good. It couldnt be done without fans who have alos donated items and bid in every auction. Thank you to all! Register if you haven't because the action starts in a week     12 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Olansamuelle Special Artwork Olansamuelle has created this special AUSXIP Charity Auction comic strip especially for the auction featuring the stars of Spartacus and a special appearance by Xena Warrior Princess and her fighting bard of Potadeia, Gabrielle. The AUSXIP Charity Auction beings in 10 days time. Register Frequently Asked Questions  Donate Without Bidding  About AUSXIP & Starship Partnership Register now for your chance to bid on some extraordinary items donated and/or contributed by: Lucy Lawless Rob Tapert Renee O'Connor Viva Bianca Lesley-Ann Brandt Campbell Cooley Erin Cummings Crystal Chappell Adrienne Wilkinson Katrina Law Stacy Haiduk and donated items by fans worldwide Starting 21 March and going through to 27 March. Let's raise some coin for The Starship Foundation     11 March 2012 New Artwork by Alec Grimes - Let Me Hear Your Battle Cry This is the first artwork submitted on Nazir, the new exciting character on Spartacus Vengeance. The artist is Alec Grimes LET ME HEAR YOUR BATTLE CRY Click on the thumbnail for the larger scan. For more Spartacus artwork please go to AUSXIP Spartacus Artwork Galleries     11 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 8 Balance Episode Stills Starz has released new episode stills for Episode 8 - which leads me to a question..how did Mira get so proficient with the bow in such a short time? Hmm... All images are copyrighted to Starz Entertainment Season 2 Episode 8 Balance Spartacus gets a chance for revenge; intrigue surrounds Glaber.   Airdate: 03-16-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills   For more about Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     10 March 2012 Spartacus 2013 Wall Calendar Pre-Order Spartacus 2013 Wall Calendar: Vengeance Due to be released August 1, 2012 Click here to order The tale of Spartacus resumes in epic fashion in the Spartacus 2013 Wall Calendar: Vengeance--the house of Batiatus lies in ruins, the gladiators are free, and the Roman Republic will pay. Familiar characters mix with new heroes and villains as the stunning drama grows ever more bloodthirsty and provocative. Showcasing the phenomenally attractive cast of the new series, Spartacus 2013 Wall Calendar is a perfect gift for every fan. * Liam McIntyre is the new face of Spartacus, the slave who became the champion of Capua. Leading a ragtag army of escaped slaves against their former captors, he's joined by fan favorites Peter Mensah as Oenomaus and Manu Bennett as Crixus. Lucy Lawless also returns as the conniving Lucretia. * Spartacus: Vengeance turns up the volume on the bloody action, exotic sexuality, and scheming intrigue from Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Faced with a heartbreaking decision between revenge and duty, can Spartacus put aside his thirst for blood? Spartacus: Vengeance (c) 2011 Starz Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.     10 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Update: 18 Autographs on Spartacus Blood and Sand DVD This is an EXTREMELY rare autographed Spartacus Blood and Sand DVD. You will not get this anywhere other than the AUSXIP Charity Auction. The auction starts 21 March and runs through to 27 March. The autographs are from the cast and production crew (excluding Andy Whitfield, Jai Courtney and John Hannah). Many thanks to Katrina Law for contributing the DVD and collecting all the autographs for the AUSXIP Charity Auction - going above and beyond. It floored me when I got it and it still floors me when I see it. This is truly one of kind and a collectible for Spartacus and Xena fans alike. The Autographs are: Cast Lucy Lawless (Lucretia) (Lucy has signed it twice, once on the actual DVD and once on the plastic cover) Katrina Law (Mira) Viva Bianca (Ilithyia) Lesley-Ann Brandt (Naevia) Peter Mensah (Doctore) Manu Bennett (Crixus) Craig Parker (Glaber) Nick Tarabay (Ashur) Dan Feuerriegel (Agron) Campbell Cooley (Cook + Voice Over) Brooke Williams (Aurellia) Thesala (Not sure who that is) Ioane King (Rhaskos) Production Crew Rob Tapert (Executive Producer) Chloe Smith (Producer) Michael Hurst (Director) Barbara Darragh (Costume Design) Paul Grinder (Second Unit Director) If it matters, the DVD is Region 1 :)     9 March 2012 Jaime Murray Cast In New SyFy Series Defiance I've been way behind in the loop when it comes to Jaime Murray; didn't know who she was until she got cast in Spartacus Gods of the Arena. Naturally, I paid attention (I'm a little late on the uptake sometimes) and was very impressed. Mesh (super patient assistant editor and oldest serving sidekick) sighed in absolute relief when she realised I was finally paying attention to someone she had been raving on about to me(I think she mentioned Warehouse 13 and Dexter). Better late than never, I say. Mesh is editing this fantastic AUSXIP site about Jaime on AUSXIP Jaime Murray, go look, it's fabulous! I became a Jaime fan and thus watched Warehouse 13 Seasons 1 - 3 (and became a huge fan of the show itself). Goodness she makes a great HG Wells! Not sure about Dexter yet but I'm working up to that. Anyhoo now comes the news that Jaime has been cast in an upcoming Syfy series called Defiance! The following is from TV Line: Former Dexter stars (and real-life pals) Julie Benz and Jaime Murray have both been cast in Syfy’s upcoming series Defiance. Set in a dystopian future, the drama finds humans and aliens coexisting on a war-ravaged Earth that has been transformed by terra-forming machines. Benz joins Defiance as Amanda Rosewater, the idealistic mayor of a burgeoning mining town who is resigned to maintaining peace within her community. Murray will play the “beautiful and proper” wife of Datak (Pillars of the Earth‘s Tony Curran), a member of an elite alien race. British actress Stephanie Leonidas also has been cast, as an extraterrestrial. Read More     9 March 2012 New Lucy Lawless as Lucretia Art by Miss Starbuck Miss Starbuck has sent me three new artworks of Lucy Lawless as Lucretia from Spartacus. Click on the thumnbail for the larger images. The art galleries are at the moment being redesigned so these will be moved into the new galleries when that is complete. For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     9 March 2012 TV Equals Ellen Hollman 08 March 2012 To be the first is never easy. It certainly wasn’t easy for Amelia Earhart who in 1932 became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. It probably wasn’t a cakewalk either when in 1983 Dr. Sally K. Ride became the first American woman to be sent into space. And it apparently wasn’t easy for Ellen Hollman who will portray Saxa, the first female warrior on the Starz’s hit series Spartacus Vengeance TV Equals had a chance to talk to the intensely charming Ellen about her new character, the grueling preparation she had to go through, the “liberties” she took on set and how she wants to do some “dirty jobs”. Check out what she had to say below and don’t miss Ellen in her first appearance as Saxa in the upcoming Spartacus Vengeance episode “Sacramentum” airing tomorrow Friday March 8 2012 at 10 pm. Read Interview For more on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     9 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 7 A Phoenix From The Ashes Starz has released a new clip from Episode 7 called A Phoenix From The Ashes. Glaber, Lucretia and Gannicus   For more on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     8 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 7 High Resolution Images Spartacus Vengeance Season 2 Episode 7 Sacramentum Click here or on the thumbnails for the full size versions   Spartacus and his rebels try to free the fighters enslaved in foreign wars; Lucretia recruits one of her husbands former gladiators. Airdate: 03-09-2012 Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills   EPISODE PROMO     EPISODE CLIP: ONLY BLOOD CAN SET US FREE   For more on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     8 March 2012 Visual Impact Now Event with Spartacus Cast on March 15 Join Ellen Hollman, Peter Mensah,Katrina Law, Cynthia Addai- Robinson, Viva Bianca and Erin Cummings from "Spartacus" in helping provide in-need LA youth with eye care. Also appearing are Adam Rodriguez, Noel Fisher, and Nick Wechsler. Date:March 15 Time: 7pm to 10pm Location: 8929 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 $40 suggest donation(*Each donation will provide an in-need LA child with an eye exam and glasses) RSVP to Kendal@janeowenpr.com 310-855-9600 To learn more about Visual Impact Now, visit their website     8 March 2012 Spartacus Vengeance Video: An Amazing Feat The crew of Spartacus: Vengeance discuss making the impossible possible with technology in this new season.       7 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 10 Spoilers From Starz - Spoilerish well this was a little surprising to find in my inbox but this is from Starz and mainly they wanted to promote their new show Magic City. They included some spoilerish info about Episode 10 (the season finale). It's not huge but it's something. IF YOU ARE KEEPING SPOILER FREE...YOU KNOW THE DRILL - DON'T CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL   For more Spartacus news and multimedia go to AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     7 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 7 Clip - Only Blood Can Set Us Free Oh dear. Here's a clip from Season 2 Episode 7 called "Only Blood Can Set Us Free". Spartacus Vengeance Season 2 Episode 7 Sacramentum Spartacus and his rebels try to free the fighters enslaved in foreign wars; Lucretia recruits one of her husbands former gladiators. Airdate: 03-09-2012 Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills This scene looks intriguing. When I interviewed Lucy back in December, I asked her: AUSXIP: Lucretia...natural brown, orange/redhead or peroxide blond? Which version was the most fun to play and why? LUCY: Oh, the redhead gets in more trouble. When you see the red, look out! Well have a look at what hair colour Lucretia is wearing...someone is going to have some mega big problems to deal with!         For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     7 March 2012 Spartacus Vengeance Ratings for Episodes 1 - 6 Here's the ratings for Episode 6 of  Spartacus Vengeance. The ratings for Episode 6 have been released and they see a decrease in numbers from Episode 5 1.564 to 1.186 for episode 6 Episode 1 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:02 PM 1.391 0.6 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 2 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:02 PM 1301 0.6 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 3 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:01 PM 1.401 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 4 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:00 PM 1.471 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 5 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:00 PM 1.564 0.7 (18-49 Demographic) Episode 6 SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE STZP 10:01 PM 1.186 0.6 (18-49 Demographic)   The figures are courtesy of TVbytheNumbers     6 March 2012 Lawless and Loving It Sunday News 04 March 2012 When not protesting for Greenpeace, Lucy Lawless is also New Zealand’s best export as an actor. She talks to Catherine Forbes about her role’s hidden agenda in TV’S steamy Spartacus. FROM the day she first appeared on our screens as Xena: Warrior Princess, Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless has been kicking some serious butt – both professionally and personally. One of our most successful acting exports, Lawless can often be seen rubbing shoulders with Hollywood's elite, but she remains true to her beliefs, evident last week when, along with other Greenpeace supporters, she scaled a Shell oil drilling ship bound for the Arctic. When she's not making news headlines or raising money for sick kids through her role as an ambassador for the Starship Foundation, Lawless can currently be seen on the box in Spartacus: Vengeance, reprising her role as Lucretia. Here she talks about what fans can expect this season and how the best is yet to come. What do you love about playing Lucretia? I love that Lucretia's got several facets of her being operating at all times and at full speed, because the people close to her are the most dangerous. She has to survive and also she has an end game, she has a plan in mind. There are short-term plans and then she has a very long-term plan. You might try to guess it, but you won't. You won't see this coming. How is Lucretia different in season two? Lucretia is absolutely bereft. She has lost everything; her beloved husband, the only person she ever loved. She's lost her child, the nuclear family. She's lost her status; she's lost her home; she's lost her mind, or has she? What struggles does Lucretia face now she has lost everything? Roman women without a strong male in their lives were lost. It's like a long cold suicide because her only option to make a living – she has no friends to fall back on – is prostitution. I think that would give you three years, five years max, and just a miserable end. These are her options to survive and gain any kind of status. She's going to have to claw her way back. But she's been sharpening those claws for years now, so she'll be all right. What makes Liam McIntyre such a great Spartacus? Liam has got the heart of a lion and I think it's his goodness – he's different to Andy, and we wouldn't want him to try to be the same. That's not interesting, not possible. His goodness is at the heart of his hero. That will carry him through the introduction phase. People went crazy for him this year – he is a wonderful human being. Are boundaries pushed even further this season? The show is so massive I never get to work with half of them (the cast), because the rebels are off rebelling, as they will. And I'm scrambling for survival in the Ludas, what's left of it. There are whole worlds I never get to visit, but I'm mesmerised. My husband is watching dailies at home and it blows my mind what they are managing to put on screen. It's epic this season; way bigger than the first two and they were huge. We're going to blow the show's horizons wide open. Do you still get surprised when reading the scripts? The last two episodes of Vengeance blew my mind. I wish I could tell, I desperately want to tell you about it. I thought that now that my character is bananas that there would be no more sex for me. Wohoo! I thought it was a get-out-of-jail-free card, but sadly, no. But it is nothing like any kind of encounter she's had before. They manage to knock your socks off every single script. For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     6 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Hot Item - Spartacus Cast Autographs Including Andy Whitfield Here is a very special item which will go live on the AUSXIP Charity Auction on 21 March. It's a Spartacus T-Shirt signed by: - Andy Whitfield, - Lucy Lawless, - John Hannah, - Peter Mensah, - Lesley-Ann Brandt, - Manu Bennett   This is a very rare item with all these autographs including Andy who passed away on 11 September 2011. This t-shirt was donated by a fan and 100% of the money will go to Starship Foundation. If you haven't registered yet, please do so at http://charity.ausxip.com Auction goes Live on 21 March. The full list of auction items will be available to view 2-3 days before the auction starts More Auction items: AUSXIP Charity Auction Sneak Peeks - Skype Chats and Lunch with The Stars     6 March 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Sneak Peeks - Skype Chats and Lunch with The Stars This year's AUSXIP Charity Auction is fast approaching and one of the new goodies we have this year is the Skype Chat with the Stars. You can have the opportunity to chat with a celebrity via Skype for 30 minutes or longer. It's a pretty good auction item and we have quite a collection of actors joining in the fun. - Viva Bianca (Ilithyia on Spartacus) - Lesley-Ann Brandt (Naevia on Spartacus Season 1 and Gods of the Arena) (Lesley-Ann has also agreed to auction herself off for a Lunch date!) - Erin Cummings (Sura on Spartacus Season 1) - Campbell Cooley (Xena, Hercules, Legend of the Seeker, Spartacus) - Adrienne Wilkinson (Livia / Eve on Xena, Venice, Star Wars) That's quite a list. There may be more! If you haven't registered yet and would like to, go to AUSXIP Charity Auction page Auction starts on 21 March and goes through to 27 March 2012!     6 March 2012 Manu Bennett in Men's Health Magazine April 2012 The April issue of Men's Health Magazine (US / Canada) has an article on Manu and his training regimen.   Article is on Page 20   Click here to order the issue online     6 March 2012 Spartacus Vengeance Episode 7 Sacramentum Preview Spartacus Vengeance Season 2 Episode 7 Sacramentum Video Preview Spartacus and his rebels try to free the fighters enslaved in foreign wars; Lucretia recruits one of her husbands former gladiators. Airdate: 03-09-2012 Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills         6 March 2012 Gladiator Hits The Beach Manu Bennett Competes in Takapuna Beach Series Gladiator Hits The Beach North Shore Times 6 March 2012 Actor Manu Bennett from the hit series Spartacus takes time out of his busy schedule each week to compete in the Takapuna beach series.  The North Shore resident, who plays the part of Crixus, decided to get into the spirit by entering the 16-week competition.  His whole family is involved including his fouryear-old daughter Huia, who competes in the junior run. ‘‘It’s a great social event. All the kids get together, sometimes they don’t come back and we have to go looking for them,’’ Bennett says. The on-screen fierce gladiator has a softer side and his priorities are centred around his family. ‘‘Being a family man is my focus,’’ he says. Bennett loves challenging some of New Zealand’s top athletes each week. ‘‘Its great, there’s nothing like training and competing against the best – you lift your game.’’ The 42-year-old finds the beach series a great opportunity to train for his television role. ‘‘There’s physical expectations in the industry and paddleboarding complements what I do with training. People think I’m a gym junkie but I’m the opposite – I enjoy the outdoors,’’ Bennett says. The third season of Spartacus will follow on from Blood and Sand and the recent prequel Gods of the Arena.     4 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 1 Episode Stills Updated Updated the episode stills for Season 2 Episode 1 with an additional 9 high resolution stills Spartacus learns that being a leader of freed slaves brings great responsibilities; Spartacus tries to keep his rebellious band intact. Airdate: 01-27-2012 Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills |     4 March 2012 Olansamuelle's Draw Them All Season 2 Episode 4 Olansamuelle's Draw Them All Comic Strip for Season 2 Episode 4 is now available. Spartacus leads survivors through the woods; Crixus returns to a place of past suffering; Lucretia pries into Ilithyias affairs. Airdate: 02-17-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills   For more of Olansalmuelle's Draw Them All Comic Strip go to  the AUSXIP Spartacus - Draw Them All subsite     4 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 7 Spoilers and Episode Stills Starz released new ‘Spartacus Vengeance’ episode 7 spoiler teasers. Earlier tonight,Starz dropped a couple,new,small, spoiler teasers for their upcoming “Spartacus: Vengeance” episode 7,and it sounds like it’ll be another intense one as Spartacus will try and free up more slaved fighters to increase rebel numbers,and more. The episode is entitled, “Sacramentum.” In the new episode 7, Spartacus and his rebels will try to increase their numbers by freeing fighters that are enslaved in foreign wars. Lucretia will seek to recruit one of her husband’s former gladiators to outmaneuver the powerful Romans. High resolution images will be uploaded as soon as Starz releases those images. They will be added to the AUSXIP Spartacus Episode Stills for Episode 7     4 March 2012 Interview with Lucy Lawless: Spartacus heats up for Lucy Stuff.co.nz 04 March 2012 Spartacus heats up for Lucy 04 March 2012 CATHERINE FORBES From the day she first appeared on our screens as Xena: Warrior Princess, Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless has been kicking some serious butt – both professionally and personally. One of our most successful acting exports, Lawless can often be seen rubbing shoulders with Hollywood's elite, but she remains true to her beliefs, evident last week when, along with other Greenpeace supporters, she scaled a Shell oil drilling ship bound for the Arctic. When she's not making news headlines or raising money for sick kids through her role as an ambassador for the Starship Foundation, Lawless can currently be seen on the box in Spartacus: Vengeance, reprising her role as Lucretia. Here she talks about what fans can expect this season and how the best is yet to come. What do you love about playing Lucretia? How is Lucretia different in season two? What struggles does Lucretia face now she has lost everything? What makes Liam McIntyre such a great Spartacus? Are boundaries pushed even further this season? Do you still get surprised when reading the scripts? Read the full interview For more about Lucy's role as Lucretia on Spartacus visit the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Spartacus subsite or the AUSXIP Spartacus News and Multimedia Site     3 March 2012 Spartacus Vengeance in Brazil 10 March Just got the following news from Mariana in Brazil. 'Spartacus Vengeance’’ will start for the Brazilians fans on March 10,at 10 P.M on Globosat HD. Spartacus Season 2 Episode 1 Fujitivus Spartacus learns that being a leader of freed slaves brings great responsibilities; Spartacus tries to keep his rebellious band intact. Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills     3 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 5 Scene Clip "The Arena" Starz has released a clip from Season 2 Episode 5 scene clip The Arena Spartacus tries to free Crixus from Roman captivity, but a gladiator from the House of Batiatus complicates it. Airdate: 02-24-2012 Credits | Official Site | Episode Stills | Video Promo       2 March 2012 Craig Parker NOT on Twitter - CONFIRMED and List of REAL Accounts Well I woke up to a storm and it was on twitter (where else?). Yesterday Craig Parker announced himself to the twitter world that he had arrived. Yes @RealCraigParker was legit. Was he? You know we are all now so used to drongos passing themselves off as the real thing; just look at how many didn't believe Lucy had a twitter account. Now we wait for confirmation from those in the know and those in the know came on and confirmed. One person had doubts...and that was Lesley-Ann Brandt. She got a message from Craig and confirmed with him that it was indeed a fake. So who is real and who is fake? Lesley-Ann tweeted the following: @realcraigparker Is definitely not Craig guys. Received a message frm him last night. Lucy just tweeted the following: @VivaBianca @realgraigparker NOT Craig Parker! Craig, Viva and I are great pals. Re Craig Parker Twitter - For the record, this is NOT Craig Parker. We know who it is and he's very silly. REAL Accounts: Lucy Lawless - @RealLucyLawless Steven DeKnight - @stevendeknight Liam McIntyre - @Liam_J_McIntyre Viva Bianca - @VivaBianca Lesley-Ann Brandt - @LesleyAnnBrandt Manu Bennett - @truemanubennett Erin Cummings - @ErinLCummings Katrina Law - @Misskatrinalaw Nick E Tarabay - @nicktarabay CynthiaAddaiRobinson - @CynthiaAddaiRob Ellen Hollman - @EllenHollman Jessica Grace Smith - @JessGrace_Smith Jaime Murray - @MsJaimeMurray Campbell Cooley - @CampbellCooley Stephen Dunlevy - @StephenDunlevy Vanessa Cater - @VanessaCater Dan Feuerriegel-  @DgFeuerriegel     1 March 2012 Spartacus Vengeance Season 2 DVD & Blu-Ray Pre-Order September Release You can now pre-order the Spartacus Vengeance DVD & Blu-Ray sets. Both sets are due for release in September 2012 (according to Steven DeKnight) DVD - Pre-Order Now $44.99 Blu-Ray - Pre-Order Now $44.99 Special Features Includes never-before-seen bonus features including featurettes, extended scenes and content too risqué for cable television. No other information about extras on the Blu-Ray edition yet.     1 March 2012 Official Craig Parker Facebook Fan Page Now Online No only is Craig on Twitter - @RealCraigParker  but he now has his own Official Craig Parker Facebook Fan Page   Go and LIKE!     1 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 6 Chosen Path Video Promo Spartacus Season 2 Episode 6: Chosen Path Spartacus urges his rebels to train for the defense of their new sanctuary; Lucretia and Ilithyia become close; Glaber's forces swell with some deadly new recruits. Airdate: 03-02-2012 Credits | Official Site |  Episode Stills VIDEO PREVIEW   Ep. 6 Scene Clip "The Greatest Cause Of All"       1 March 2012 Spartacus Gods of the Arena DVD Nominated For 38th Saturn Award Best DVD TV Series Release The 38th Saturn Award Nominations have been released and Gods of the Arena has been nominated. SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA (Starz) for Best DVD TV Series Release Lucy Lawless and John Hannah take center stage in this story of the rise of the House of Batiatus and its champions before Spartacus arrives as a captured Thracian slave. John Hannah returns as Batiatus, owner of the Ludus, along with his wife Lucretia, played by Lucy Lawless. Other returning actors include Peter Mensah (Doctore), Manu Bennett (Crixus), Antonio Te Maioha (Barca), Nick E. Tarabay (Ashur), Lesley-Ann Brandt (Naevia) - and others. New characters will also be added - most notably the gladiator who was champion of the House of Batiatus before Spartacus or even Crixus - who will help fill in the story about the people and politics in the House of Batiatus and ancient Capua as a whole. Click here to order DVD Product Details Actors: John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Dustin Clare, Peter Mensah, Jaime Murray Producers: Robert Tapert, Sam Raimi, Steven S. DeKnight, Joshua Donen Format: Color, Widescreen, NTSC Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.) Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number of discs: 2 Rated: Unrated Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD Release Date: September 13, 2011 Run Time: 335 minutes ASIN: B004HW7JMO Special Features Starz Studios: Gods of the Arena Extended Scenes Alternate Endings Content Too Risqué for Cable TV Convention Panel Arena Bloopers On Set With Lucy Lawless Post Production: The Final Execution Weapons of Mass Disruption Battle Royale: Anatomy of a Scene 10 Easy Steps to Dismemberment Dressed to Kill Enter the Arena: Production Design     1 March 2012 Spartacus Cast join Twitter: Manu and Stephen Dunlevy It was a Sparty Twitter party happening today on today. We had three Spartacus cast join Twitter These are the real deal and not fakes and were confirmed by Steven DeKnight, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Katrina Law, Liam McIntyre, Campbell Cooley.  It has taken Manu a long time to come on board. Back in July 2011, Katrina and Liam tried to convince Manu to join Twitter in the hilarious AUSXIP video "interview" from Comic Con (wasn't much of an interview but a free for all with AUSXIP Reporter Lori losing all control of it right from the beginning).   -  Manu Bennett @TrueManuBennett -  Stephen Dunlevy (soon to be seen in Episode 6 - check out the Season 2 Episode 6 Episode Stills) @StephenDunlevy and of course Lucy Lawless who you all know already has joined twitter  a couple of weeks ago. Her twitter account is @RealLucyLawless     1 March 2012 Spartacus Season 2 Episode 6 Chosen Path Episode Stills Added high resolution episode stills for Spartacus Season 2 Episode 6 Chosen Path Click here to view Spartacus urges his rebels to train for the defense of their new sanctuary; Lucretia and Ilithyia become close; Glaber's forces swell with some deadly new recruits. Airdate: 03-02-2012 For more Spartacus Season 2 Images go to the AUSXIP Spartacus Image Galleries     Read More Archives