![Photo of Steven S. DeKnight and Nick Tarabay](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Steven-S.-DeKnight-Nick-Tarabay.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1)
The gods have granted Spartacus fans a miracle.
Starz has greenlighted the new 10-episode drama series Spartacus: House of Ashur with the return of Steven S. DeKnight to the franchise serving as showrunner and executive producer.
Nick Tarabay will reunite with DeKnight to reprise the role of the titular Ashur, the baddy from the mothership series you can’t help but cheer for while equally despising him.
Starz describes the series as “a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience” that builds on the original series, Spartacus. It will ask, “What if Ashur 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 [John Hannah] in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and ending the slave rebellion?”
A question that has yet to be answered is: With the retcon of Ashur’s death, what could it mean for other original characters who perished if anything at all?
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“To be afforded the opportunity to return a decade later to a series you loved is such a rare, wonderful opportunity,” said DeKnight in a statement. “I could not be more excited to craft this next chapter in the Spartacus saga with STARZ, Lionsgate, and the incomparable Nick Tarabay.”
Spartacus: Blood and Sand debuted on Starz in 2010 and was followed by a prequel miniseries chapter Spartacus: Gods of the Arena the following year and two additional series Spartacus: Vengeance in 2012 and Spartacus: War of the Damned in 2013.
Spartacus: House of Ashur will be produced by Lionsgate Television for Starz. Karen Bailey will oversee the series on behalf of the network. Jocelyn Sabo will oversee for Lionsgate Television.