AUSTRALIAN SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND
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30 June 2009 Starz Spartacus Comic Con Press Release Starz Announces Spartacus: Blood and Sand Panel at Comic Con '09 The world of gladiators comes to life as the Roman Republic's most brutal fighters clash in the ultimate arena. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is an entirely new vision of the ancient legend and will utilize virtual environments giving it a unique graphic novel look and style, along with a fresh narrative approach. Debuting exclusively on Starz, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" in January 2010 is produced by Starz Media with Executive Producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Joshua Donen. Starz's new "Spartacus" series was inspired by the actual slave of the Roman Republic who in 73 BC led a slave revolt that grew to more than 120,000 fighters. Defying the Roman Republic's legions of soldiers, they campaigned for two years through much of what is now Italy before succumbing to a much larger army. The new series will tell a new set of stories rich in character, action, sex and combat. This series, including 13 one-hour episodes, is executive produced by heavy-hitters Sam Raimi (Spider-Man and Evil Dead), Rob Tapert (The Grudge, "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys") and Steven DeKnight ("Smallville," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). Production, based in New Zealand, runs through the end of October. Comic-Con '09 takes place on July 23rd to July 26th in San Diego, California. News submitted by Barbara Davies Related News: Starz Sends Stars And Producers to Comic Con Panel - 29 June 2009 Lucy Confirmed for Spartacus Panel at Comic Con - 15 June 2009 Spartacus at Comic-Con Panel Update - 2 June 2009 Lucy To Be Spartacus Panel at Comic Con - Unconfirmed - 23 May 2009     11 June 2009 Spartacus Comic Series Interview with RH Stavis Play Magazine has interviewed RH Stavis who is cross media writer. She writes DF/F/H/SciFi movies, TV, videogames, comics, and novels and is currently working on Spartacus: Blood and Sand Comic Series for Devil's Due. Your latest project has you working with some pretty heavy hitters in Hollywood too, including Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert. So what can you tell us about Spartacus: Blood and Sand? Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a new Ghost House [Raimi and Tapert's film studio] television series that will air on Starz. Of course, as the title suggests, it follows the rise of Spartacus, but in a VERY new and exciting way. The show is extremely visceral and graphic, concentrating on the real elements of life as a gladiator, but in a cool comic book style, sort of like 300. It's edgy, dark, and sexy ... I think that's a great combination! How did you first get attached to the comic from Devil's Due, and what's it been like working on the series? I actually spent time talking to Executive Producer, Steven S. DeKnight when he began working on Spartacus. He really wanted to create a comic series that was based in the same world, but stood on its own, told new stories, focused on different characters, but had the same cool elements as the show. He wanted me involved and the first thing I did was contact Josh Blaylock over at Devil's Due, because I know Josh is not adverse to serious violence and nudity ... a MUST for the comic series. It's been a great experience. We've been pouring over artists and writers, working hard to create a book readers will enjoy. Steven wrote the first one himself ... fans will recognize him from the Buffy Season 8 [comic] series. We've also got the great Jimmy Palmiotti lined up, so our stories are simply amazing. I can't wait until its debut at San Diego Comic-Con. What can fans expect to see in the comic that they might miss in the series? It's different. People will see other facets of the world [and] emphasis on other characters. But I do think if people read the series and watch the show, they'll probably have a deeper understanding of both. <Snipped> Just make sure you stop by and say hi at [San Diego] Comic-Con. Our Spartacus panel is on Friday [July 25th], and there will be a signing after, so I'd love to see you all! Also, for up to the minute info on cool stuff, please follow me on Twitter at "RHStavis". You know, for when I can actually confirm said rumors. <Snipped>   Read the full interview News submitted by Barbara Davies     25 May 2009 Cast News - Lesley-Ann Brandt The following was posted throng.co.nz site Sunday interviews Lesley-Ann Brandt who plays Leilani in Diplomatic Immunity.  The article covers the mixed reviews of the show and outrage that a South African (Brandt) plays the role of a Pacific Islander. Brandt started her career in modelling before moving into IT recruitment and doing TV work on the side.  Her next role is playing Naevia in Spartacus: Blood and Sand - a handmaiden to Lucy Lawless' character. Source News submitted by Barbara Davies     24 May 2009 Lucy Lawless to imprison "Spartacus" The following was posted on the PrideSource website Deep Inside Hollywood Originally printed 5/14/2009 (Issue 1720 - Between The Lines News) A perfect storm of gay TV is on the horizon, thanks to ancient Rome and Xena. The upcoming Starz series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" was already set to feature a "300"-style interpretation of the Spartacus legend, meaning that lots of muscular, barely-dressed men would be training or battling non-stop on your basic-cable system. We've also been promised queer characters. But now that the cast is fixed, lesbian audiences have a reason to tune in: Lucy Lawless. Yes, yes, it's a cliche, but it would appear that all lesbians everywhere on earth still love Lucy. Recently seen online interrogating former "L Word" cast members about the murder of Jenny, Lawless will star on "Spartacus" as the owner of the gladiator prison holding the rebel slave. That means she'll probably be somewhat wicked. And who doesn't like that? So while the warriors may be men, the princess returns to weekly TV in January of 2010. That gives you about eight months to plan the viewing party.     8 May 2009 NZ Casting Call - Bodybuilders Needed The following was posted on a New Zealand Bodybuilding forum: SPARTACUS' TV SHOW EXTRAS Kia Ora We are currently searching for people to be involved as extras and featured extras for a show called SPARTACUS. It will be a stylistic show set in Rome around 300BC and similar to '300' the movie  in look, made by the same company who created Hercules & Zena. The show will air on US cable and will have a rating equivalent to our own R18 and will contain graphic violence and appropriate nudity. Click here to read more News contributed by Barbara Davies     8 May 2009 Michael Hurst To Direct Spartacus The following is from Michael's official site:   Spartacus: Blood and Sand Michael will be directing episodes of new American tv show Spartacus: Blood and Sand for Renaissance Pictures.  It will be shown on the Starz Network and is expected to premiere in January 2010.      29 April 2009 Variety Reports John Hannah's Casting John Hannah ("The Mummy" franchise) and Erin Cummings ("Dollhouse") have booked roles in the Starz series "Spartacus." Hannah will play the owner of a gladiator school; Cummings will play Spartacus' wife. Source News contributed by Barbara Davies       24 April 2009 New Rob Interview - Gay Characters on Spartacus Brent from the TorchOnline.com has another interview with Rob and this time it centers on Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Sex and Violence on "Spartacus" Will Be Unlike Anything on TV by Brent Hartinger The first episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a new series starring Lucy Lawless that tells the story of the legendary rebel Roman slave, finished shooting this week in New Zealand, and those involved say it includes graphic sex and violence unlike anything ever seen on television. "[The network] has given us quite a bit of rope with which to hang ourselves," says Rob Tapert, the co-creator of Xena: Warrior Princess who is executive producing along with Joshua Donen and Spiderman's Sam Raimi. "It's unlike anything we've done before, because it is very hard and very explicit. It's harder than 300," he says, referring to Zack Synder's explicit 2006 movie adaptation of the graphic novel. Rob also says that the show will have gay characters (male and female). Click here to read the full interview     6 April 2009 Gladiator's attack on Hollywood - Taranaki Daily News From Taranaki Daily News - 6 April 2009 His character is a doomed gladiator called Kerza and Hawera-born actor Karl Drinkwater is using him to make it in Hollywood. Spartacus is the latest mythical action TV show to be filmed in New Zealand, following in the footsteps of the hugely popular Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess productions of the 1990s. It is loosely based on the story of Spartacus, the Thracian man who supposedly led a slave revolt against the toga-wearing Romans about 100BC. The production will bring New Zealand's favourite action woman Lucy Lawless back to the screen and this time Drinkwater too, a Taranaki lad now based in Auckland. For Drinkwater the involvement in the big budget American production is a chance to take his career to the international stage.     5 April 2009 Lucy Going Back to Old Times - Chicago Tribune Xena's Newest Mission - Chicago Tribune 5 April 2009 Lucy Lawless Going Back to Old Times in "Spartacus" - Article about Lucy's involvement in the show and the role she has been cast in. Added scan of the article. Click here to view     Read More Archives