Could we have a Spartacus
Mini-Series in the works while we are waiting for Season 2? It seems
there is a rumour floating about that this is true. Interesting. Barbara
Davies sent in the following information from the NY Magazine site that has the following rumour:
PostVulture Exclusive: Starz Developing a Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Prequel
Vulture has learned that Starz is developing a six-episode miniseries
prequel to its freshman hit, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, in order to keep
the series' momentum after its star, Andy Whitfield, was diagnosed with
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma a month ago and production on a second season
was indefinitely postponed. The series (the finale of which airs next
week) has been Starz's first original-series hit, averaging a million
episodes each week; the network green-lighted season 2 a month before it
even premiered, but now, with Whitfield in treatment, Starz finds
itself with empty sets, actors, producers, and writers very expensively
standing by.
A prequel (Gladiator Babies, perhaps?) would keep the sets and creative staff productive, while holding on to the original show's fans. Network execs are now in Cannes at the annual MIP TV international programming marketplace, looking at other options, but this spin-off is looking like a tempting bet to fill their January hole. More as this story develops.