About Spartacus (2010)

Spartacus is an American television series that premiered on Starz in 2010. It was produced by Steven S. DeKnight and follows the life of Spartacus, the legendary gladiator who led a slave uprising against the Roman Republic. The series consists of three seasons - "Blood and Sand", "Vengeance", and "War of the Damned", along with a prequel season titled “Gods of the Arena”.

Making / Production

The series was shot in New Zealand which has been a stand-in for many ancient and fantastical lands. The production studio was Tapert and Raimi's Renaissance Pictures. Visual effects were heavily used to create an immersive and unique aesthetic for depicting the ancient world. Unfortunately, the principal actor, Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma leading to Liam McIntyre replacing him in the later seasons.

Actors

• Andy Whitfield as Spartacus - Whitfield played the legendary Spartacus superbly in the first season, capturing both the fighter's fierceness and vulnerability.
• Liam McIntyre as Spartacus (Seasons 2&3) - Despite having big shoes to fill, McIntyre was able to wonderfully carry on the legacy of Spartacus.
• Lucy Lawless as Lucretia - Lawless shone in her role as a cunning and manipulative Roman noblewoman.
• John Hanna as Batiatus - Hanna played the scheming lanista of the gladiatorial school at which Spartacus trained, he performed his role with great charisma.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series took inspiration from the 1960 film Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick.
• The weather was a significant challenge during filming, with rain often pouring down on the open set.
• Andy Whitfield's sudden illness and subsequent replacement by Liam McIntyre in the series was worked seamlessly into the story.

Awards

The series has been nominated for several awards, including the Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music and Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. Lucy Lawless was also awarded the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television in 2011.

Quotes

• "I am Spartacus!" - Spartacus
• "Spartacus made a choice, a choice to be free. In the end, he is no different from the rest of us." - Crixus

Music, Soundtrack

• The original score was composed by Joseph LoDuca.
• The music is an integral part of the series providing a rich orchestral accompaniment to the epic series.
• The 'Spartacus: Blood And Sand (Original Television Soundtrack)' was released in 2010 and features 21 songs from the season.