When Spartacus: Gods of the Arena premieres tonight on Starz, the House of Batiatus will be without star Andy Whitfield who helped launch the brutal and successful Spartacus: Blood and Sand but had to withdraw due to health complications from his battle with Cancer.
Gods of the Arena will instead turn back the clock to a time before Spartacus was captured and thrown into the gladiator arena against his will. Another grizzled warrior, Gannicus, will prove champion with his sword and with women. Watching closely is a younger Batiatus who desires to remove his father from power and rule Capua with his loyal and calculating wife Lucretia at his side.
Starring in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena as warriors are Dustin Clare as the champion Gannicus; Peter Mensah as the slave and powerful fighter Oenonaus; Manu Bennett as new gladiator recruit Crixus; Antonio Te Maioha as Barca; and Nick E. Tarabay as new gladiator recruit Ashur.
Also starring are familiar and new faces including John Hannah as Batiatus; Jaime Murray as Gaia; Marisa Ramirez as Melitta; Lucy Lawless as Lucretia; Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia; Craig Walsh-Wrightson as Solonius; Temuera Morrison as Old Doctore; and Stephen Lovatt as Tullius;
The Spartacus: Gods of the Arena premiere will bring all the graphic blood, violence and sex that proved a staple in Blood and Sand tonight at 10pm EST/PST only on Starz. Watch the extended trailer below and then scroll down for 26 production stills from the premiere episode.
