During a San Diego Comic-Con Q& A, the cast of the upcoming “Spartacus: House of Ashur” series revealed why fans of the original series should rush to Starz to subscribe, immediately. This continuation promises to stand out for its bolder approach, intensified action, and continuing unapologetic queer representation.
The panel featured the series executive producer and showrunner Steven S. DeKnight, along with series stars Nick E. Tarabay (Ashur), Graham McTavish (Korris, Ashur’s Doctore), Tenika Davis (Achillia, a fierce gladiatrix), Jordi Webber (Tarchon, a brash and headstrong gladiator), Jamaica Vaughan (Hilara, a young, elevated house slave, deeply in love with Ashur), and Jaime Slater (Cornelia, the ruthless wife of Julius Caesar).
The series revives beloved themes from the original series, inviting fans to renew their Starz subscription for fresh storylines, innovative combat, and dynamic new characters.
Nick Tarabay Returns with a New Generation
Tarabay leads as the cunning Asher, joined by a new generation of warriors, politicians, and power players. The cast described their experience as surreal, emotional, and transformative—reflecting the series’ ambitious scope.
This reimagining explores a world where Ashur did not lose his head in “Wrath of the Gods,” the final episode of “Spartacus: Vengeance.” In “Spartacus: House of Ashur,” we follow him in his elevated role as owner of the ludus, a gladiator school, where he once was enslaved. Now, he must learn to navigate the savage world of Roman politics.
Queer Storylines
DeKnight opened the panel, assuring fans that “Spartacus: House of Ashur” honors the legacy of the original series while pushing the story into uncharted territory. As an Agron and Nasir fan, I was eager to see queer storylines in this series. The original was not afraid of queer representation, and showrunner DeKnight said this series would be just as honest about sexuality.
“In Spartacus, there’s no coming out because it doesn’t matter,” DeKnight emphasized, “we always say the sexuality in this world is very fluid.”
Stunt Choreography and Modern VFX
DeKnight and the cast praised stunt coordinator Allan Poppleton and his team, calling this season’s combat “visceral” and beyond anything seen in the original series.” Poppleton and his team coordinated stunts for both “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” and “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.” They came back and ramped up the action.
Thanks to expertly choreographed stunts and modernized VFX, “Spartacus: House of Ashur” promises intense action sequences that are integral to the story. McTavish and Davis went on to say there is violence in this show that will live with you forever, or at least keep you up at night.
“It’s important to remember that brutality and violence were daily occurrences,” McTavish said. “Death was something that was stalking you all the time. This show reflects that.”
As the Q&A wrapped, DeKnight promised that every fight, every romance, and every betrayal has meaning. Nothing in this series is gratuitous. The blood, sex, and spectacle are all storytelling tools sharpened for battle. One critique I hear often is “don’t tell, show.” And, this show will bare all.
The Q&A with the cast left me wanting more. Their chemistry was palpable—finishing each other’s sentences and laughing at inside jokes born from long days of filming while covered in stage blood. The intergenerational synergy amongst the cast and their general excitement for this project will bring fresh energy to this familiar world.
“Spartacus: House of Ashur” premieres on Starz Friday, December 5, 2025. Who’s ready to follow this cast back into the arena?