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Starz's upcoming Spartacus: House of Ashur series will bring back some familiar faces, but there's one new actor who will actually portray a returning character.

Spartacus has consistently maintained a loyal cult following over the past 15 years. The series began in 2010 and ran three seasons with a six-episode prequel series, Gods of the Arena. It was based on the historical character of the slave-turned-gladiator who breaks free and organizes a rebellion against Rome.

Among the various characters was Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay), a former slave who, following an injury, earned his freedom. A rather slimy conniver always ready to sell out anyone to save his own skin, Ashur seemingly met his end in season 2. This new series imagines that Ashur survived, aided the Romans in putting down Spartacus' rebellion, and was rewarded with his own gladiator house. 

Julius Caesar is recast in Spartacus: House of Ashur

The show comes from Steven DeKnight,...

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 15 (Photo Credit: Starz)

Sam Heughan is returning to the San Diego Comic-Con for an Outlander panel on Friday, July 25, 2025. Starz is bringing Heughan, Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, and executive producers Matthew B. Roberts and Maril Davis to Sdcc to discuss all things Outlander and to preview the series’ final season.

Outlander: Blood of my Blood will hold a Hall H panel immediately following Outlander‘s, with series stars Jamie Roy (“Brian Fraser”), Harriet Slater (“Ellen MacKenzie”), Jeremy Irvine (“Henry Beauchamp”), Hermoine Corfield (“Julia Moriston”), Sam Retford (“Dougal MacKenzie”), Seamus McLean Ross (“Colum MacKenzie”) and Rory Alexander (“Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser”) making the trek to San Diego to promote the prequel’s August 8, 2025 premiere.

Starz is also hosting a Spartacus: House of Ashur panel with Spartacus star Liam McIntyre moderating. And special Spartacus: House of Ashur-themed pedicabs that look like Roman chariots...

Adult Swim is celebrating Comic-Con this year with not one, but two live table reads. Starting at 7:15 p.m. Pt on July 25, the voice casts from “Rick and Morty” and “Smiling Friends” will perform a live episode.

“Rick and Morty” is also returning with a Comic-Con panel for the first time in two years on July 25 at 1 p.m. Pt. Cast members Harry Belden and Ian Cardoni will appear at a Sdcc panel for the first time ever alongside Sarah Chalke, Spencer Grammer and Chris Parnell, as well as EPs Dan Harmon and Scott Marder. As for “Smiling Friends,” co-creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel will give fans a preview of Season 3 at 2 p.m. Pt.

The network will also offer fans a preview of its upcoming series “Haha, You Clowns.” Series creator Joe Cappa will join EP Carl Faruolo and Adult Swim’s vice president of Development Cameron Tang...

The new Spartacus series, House of Ashur, is coming to Starz this fall, and creator Steven S. DeKnight is ready to tell a different story. DeKnight told Entertainment Weekly that the original Spartacus show was a big challenge for him.

He said, “I think I needed a decade to recuperate from the original experience, which was wonderful, but just grueling and emotionally gut wrenching.” The death of Andy Whitfield, the first actor to play Spartacus, made it even harder.

For years, Starz asked DeKnight to come back and make more Spartacus, but he wasn’t ready. When he finally felt up to it, he thought about new ideas. He considered famous Roman stories like Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra but found them expensive and overdone. Instead, he chose to focus on a less-known character from the original show — Ashur.

Nick Tarabay played Ashur, a smart but sneaky ex-gladiator. In the original series,...

The new Spartacus series, House of Ashur, is finally coming to Starz this fall, and creator Steven S. DeKnight is ready to tell a fresh story. DeKnight shared with Entertainment Weekly that the original Spartacus show left a big mark on him.

After the tough experience of making the first series, and the heartbreaking loss of Andy Whitfield, who played Spartacus and died from cancer, DeKnight needed time to recover. He explained, “I think I needed a decade to recuperate from the original experience, which was wonderful, but just grueling and emotionally gut wrenching.”

For years, Starz kept asking DeKnight if he wanted to return to the Spartacus world, but he kept saying no because it was too hard. Then, finally, he felt ready. He began thinking about new ideas but realized many famous Roman stories had been told many times and were very expensive to make.

Related: All 3 Spartacus Series Seasons in Order

So,...

The cast for Spartacus: House of Ashur has been filled out. Starz has announced several guest-starring roles for the upcoming spin-off series, which is currently being filmed in New Zealand.

Dan Hamill, Andrew McFarlane, Jackson Gallagher, Jaime Slater, Simon Arblaster, Arlo Gibson, Cameron Rhodes, Evander Brown, Graham Vincent, Louis Hunter, and Donald Ross are joining the previously announced Graham McTavish, Tenika Davis, Jamaica Vaughan, Ivana Baquero, Jordi Webber, Claudia Black, India Shaw-Smith, Leigh Gill, and returning Nick Tarabay. The Starz series is an alternative take on history seen in the original series. In this version, the villainous Ashur (Tarabay) does not die.

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Starz has revealed additional cast members for its new series Spartacus: House of Ashur, a follow-up to the popular Spartacus saga. Dan Hamill, Andrew McFarlane, and Jackson Gallagher are among the latest actors joining the production, alongside Jaime Slater and Simon Arblaster. The series, currently filming in New Zealand, will bring these characters to life […]

Starz Expands Cast for Spartacus: House of Ashur Series...

Dan Hamill joins ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ (Photo Courtesy of Starz)

Starz’s Spartacus: House of Ashur starring Nick Tarabay has added 12 guest stars to its cast. The much-anticipated new addition to the Spartacus franchise is in production in New Zealand, with Spartacus creator, writer, and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight guiding the series as showrunner.

“Spartacus: House of Ashur will be a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit,” reads Starz’s synopsis. “The series poses the question: what if Ashur, played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance? And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and putting an end to the slave rebellion?”

In addition to Tarabay, the previously announced cast includes Lucy Lawless as Lucretia,...

"Jupiter's Legacy", the live-action adaptation of the Image Comics superhero comic book title by Mark Millar, starring Jess Salgueiro, Jaime Slater and Leslie Bibb, has been killed by Netflix after one season:

'Sheldon Sampson' (Josh Duhamel), aka 'The Utopian' is the leader of superhero team 'The Union'.

"But times have changed, and he doesn't understand the polarized world we live in. Or understand his own family.

'Walter Sampson (Ben Daniels), aka 'Brain-Wave' is Sheldon’s older brother. A man of vast intellect and cunning who, unlike Sheldon, isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

'Grace Sampson' (Leslie Bibb) aka 'Lady Liberty' is Sheldon's wife and one of the most powerful heroes on the planet. She doesn't always agree with Sheldon, but strives to balance his ideals with the reality of the modern, often violent, world they live in.

'Chloe Sampson' (Elena Kampouris) is Grace and Sheldon's daughter. Rejecting everything her parents stand for,...

The upcoming live-action superhero TV series "Jupiter's Legacy" adapts the Image Comics title, starring Jess Salgueiro, Jaime Slater and Leslie Bibb, streaming May 7, 2021 on Netflix:

'Sheldon Sampson' (Josh Duhamel), aka 'The Utopian' is the leader of superhero team 'The Union'.

"But times have changed, and he doesn't understand the polarized world we live in. Or understand his own family.

'Walter Sampson (Ben Daniels), aka 'Brain-Wave' is Sheldon’s older brother. A man of vast intellect and cunning who, unlike Sheldon, isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

'Grace Sampson' (Leslie Bibb) aka 'Lady Liberty' is Sheldon's wife and one of the most powerful heroes on the planet. She doesn't always agree with Sheldon, but strives to balance his ideals with the reality of the modern, often violent, world they live in.

'Chloe Sampson' (Elena Kampouris) is Grace and Sheldon's daughter. Rejecting everything her parents stand for,...

The new live-action superhero TV series "Jupiter's Legacy" adapts the Image Comics title, starring Jess Salgueiro, Jaime Slater and Leslie Bibb, streaming May 7, 2021 on Netflix:

'Sheldon Sampson' (Josh Duhamel), aka 'The Utopian' is the leader of superhero team 'The Union'.

"But times have changed, and he doesn't understand the polarized world we live in. Or understand his own family.

'Walter Sampson (Ben Daniels), aka 'Brain-Wave' is Sheldon’s older brother. A man of vast intellect and cunning who, unlike Sheldon, isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

'Grace Sampson' (Leslie Bibb) aka 'Lady Liberty' is Sheldon's wife and one of the most powerful heroes on the planet.

"She doesn't always agree with Sheldon, but strives to balance his ideals with the reality of the modern, often violent, world they live in.

'Chloe Sampson' (Elena Kampouris) is Grace and Sheldon's daughter. Rejecting everything her parents stand for,...

From TorontoFilm.Net, take a look at more new images, plus footage from the live-action superhero TV series "Jupiter's Legacy" (aka "Zeus") adapting the Image Comics title, bt weiter Mark Millar ("Kick-Ass") starring Jess Salgueiro, Jaime Slater and Leslie Bibb, streaming May 7, 2021 on Netflix:

'Sheldon Sampson' (Josh Duhamel), aka 'The Utopian' is the leader of superhero team 'The Union'.

"But times have changed, and he doesn't understand the polarized world we live in. Or understand his own family.

'Walter Sampson (Ben Daniels), aka 'Brain-Wave' is Sheldon’s older brother. A man of vast intellect and cunning who, unlike Sheldon, isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

'Grace Sampson' (Leslie Bibb) aka 'Lady Liberty' is Sheldon's wife and one of the most powerful heroes on the planet.

"She doesn't always agree with Sheldon, but strives to balance his ideals with the reality of the modern, often violent,...

Take a look at new official teaser footage, plus leaked set footage, plus images from"Daredevil" producer Steven S. DeKnight's live-action superhero TV series "Jupiter's Legacy" (aka "Zeus") adapting the Image Comics title, starring Jess Salgueiro, Jaime Slater and Leslie Bibb, streaming May 7, 2021 on Netflix:

'Sheldon Sampson' (Josh Duhamel), aka 'The Utopian' is the leader of superhero team 'The Union'.

"But times have changed, and he doesn't understand the polarized world we live in. Or understand his own family.

'Walter Sampson (Ben Daniels), aka 'Brain-Wave' is Sheldon’s older brother. A man of vast intellect and cunning who, unlike Sheldon, isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

'Grace Sampson' (Leslie Bibb) aka 'Lady Liberty' is Sheldon's wife and one of the most powerful heroes on the planet.

"She doesn't always agree with Sheldon, but strives to balance his ideals with the reality of the modern,...

From TorontoFilm.Net, take a look at leaked set footage, plus new images from"Daredevil" producer Steven S. DeKnight's live-action superhero TV series "Jupiter's Legacy" (aka "Zeus") adapting the Image comics series, starring Jess Salgueiro, Jaime Slater and Leslie Bibb, streaming on Netflix in 2020:

'Sheldon Sampson' (Josh Duhamel), aka 'The Utopian' is the leader of superhero team 'The Union'.

"But times have changed, and he doesn't understand the polarized world we live in. Or understand his own family.

'Walter Sampson (Ben Daniels), aka 'Brain-Wave' is Sheldon’s older brother. A man of vast intellect and cunning who, unlike Sheldon, isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

'Grace Sampson' (Leslie Bibb) aka 'Lady Liberty' is Sheldon's wife and one of the most powerful heroes on the planet.

"She doesn't always agree with Sheldon, but strives to balance his ideals with the reality of the modern, often violent, world they live in.

According to TorontoCatWoman.Com, shooting continues on "Daredevil" producer Steven S. DeKnight's live-action superhero TV series "Jupiter's Legacy" (aka "Zeus") adapting the Image comics series by writer Mark Millar and illustrator Frank Quitely, starring Jess Salgueiro, Jaime Slater and Leslie Bibb, streaming on Netflix in 2020:

'Sheldon Sampson' (Josh Duhamel), aka 'The Utopian' is the leader of superhero team 'The Union'.

"But times have changed, and he doesn't understand the polarized world we live in. Or understand his own family.

'Walter Sampson (Ben Daniels), aka 'Brain-Wave' is Sheldon’s older brother. A man of vast intellect and cunning who, unlike Sheldon, isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

'Grace Sampson' (Leslie Bibb) aka 'Lady Liberty' is Sheldon's wife and one of the most powerful heroes on the planet. She doesn't always agree with Sheldon, but strives to balance his ideals with the reality of the modern, often violent, world they live in.

The latest comedy wearing its girl-power streak on its sleeve is the appropriately-titled Travel Boobs. The new web series from creator Jaime Slater follows three female friends as they look to run away from their problems with a road trip.

The main characters of Travel Boobs are all facing their own problems. Lily (Slater) is mourning a dead husband, Mel (Louise Bond) is in danger of being deported back to Britain, and Kai (Megan Heyn) harbors a dark secret. While they attempt to use their road trip as a form of escape, their respective issues cause their personalities to clash in hilarious ways.

Travel Boobs, like so many other shows featured in this space, succeeds by taking a simple premise and executing it skillfully. Its script, which, according to the series website, was "written by a chick, a fat guy and a black guy," is fantastic, and the characters are well-rounded.