After a twelve-year absence from our screens, the brutal and captivating world of Spartacus is poised for a triumphant return. The highly anticipated spin-off, Spartacus: House of Ashur, is set to premiere this December, plunging viewers back into the blood-soaked sands of the arena with a thrilling new narrative twist.
UK Premiere and Release Schedule
British fans won't have long to wait for the new series. Spartacus: House of Ashur will debut in the UK on Saturday, December 6, exclusively on the MGM+ channel. For viewers in the United States, the premiere is set for the day before, on Friday, December 5, on Starz.
UK audiences can access MGM+ through an add-on subscription via Prime Video, which also offers popular shows like the Power franchise and Outlander.
The new season will consist of 10 epic episodes. The release strategy will see the first two episodes drop together on the premiere dates. Following this, a single new episode will be released weekly on the same days. Barring any unforeseen delays, this schedule means the dramatic season finale will air on Friday, January 30, in the US and Saturday, January 31, in the UK.
A Familiar Face and New Characters
The series is built around the surprising resurrection of one of the original show's most cunning characters. Actor Nick Tarabay reprises his role as the devious Ashur, who somehow survives his apparent death in the original series' third season.
He is joined by a host of new faces, including Graham McTavish (Outlander) as Korris, Tenika Davis as Achillia, and Jordi Webber as Tarchon. The cast also features Jamaica Vaughn as Hilara and Ivana Baquero as Messia.
In a welcome return for fans, Lucy Lawless will briefly reprise her iconic role as Lucretia, with an early clip teasing a confrontation with Ashur in the underworld. Notably, the role of Julius Caesar will be played by Jackson Gallagher, as the originally intended actor, Todd Lascance, was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts with NCIS: Sydney.
An Alternate Reality Plot
Spartacus: House of Ashur explores an alternate timeline, asking what might have happened if Ashur had not met his end on Mount Vesuvius over a decade ago. In this new reality, Ashur's loyalty to Rome is rewarded.
As a prize for his help in defeating Spartacus and quelling the slave rebellion, he is granted ownership of the gladiator school once run by Batiatus (John Hannah). The central question of the series becomes whether this power and wealth, everything Ashur ever claimed to desire, will truly bring him contentment or prove to be a different kind of prison.
The wait for more brutal action and intricate betrayal is nearly over. Spartacus: House of Ashur arrives on MGM+ in the UK this December.
