‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ Reveals Main Cast Including First Female Gladiator in First Images

The new Spartacus series, House of Ashur, is coming to Starz this fall, and creator Steven S. DeKnight is ready to tell a different story. DeKnight told Entertainment Weekly that the original Spartacus show was a big challenge for him.

He said, “I think I needed a decade to recuperate from the original experience, which was wonderful, but just grueling and emotionally gut wrenching.” The death of Andy Whitfield, the first actor to play Spartacus, made it even harder.

For years, Starz asked DeKnight to come back and make more Spartacus, but he wasn’t ready. When he finally felt up to it, he thought about new ideas. He considered famous Roman stories like Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra but found them expensive and overdone. Instead, he chose to focus on a less-known character from the original show — Ashur.

Nick Tarabay played Ashur, a smart but sneaky ex-gladiator. In the original series, Ashur was thought to have died on Mount Vesuvius, but DeKnight imagined a new path where Ashur survives and takes control of the gladiator school, called the Ludus. DeKnight credited his wife, actress Jaime Slater, for encouraging him, saying, “The project would’ve died if she had said, ‘You’re an idiot, don’t do that.’”

House of Ashur takes place about six months after Spartacus’ rebellion ended. DeKnight made it clear that the new show doesn’t change much from the original story, except Ashur is still alive. “Everybody else who died, I hate to tell the fans, they’re still dead. Yes, that includes Spartacus himself,” he said. That means Liam McIntyre won’t be coming back as Spartacus.

The rebellion’s defeat still influences the new series. Ashur is in a tricky spot, he’s seen as a hero for stopping the rebellion but is also an ex-slave and former gladiator, which makes others suspicious of him. DeKnight explained, “He has everything he ever dreamed of and is discovering it’s really difficult to hang onto it.”

Graham McTavish, known from Outlander, plays Korris, Ashur’s gladiator trainer. DeKnight wrote this role especially for him. There were some last-minute problems because of McTavish’s busy schedule, but thanks to a Starz executive, he joined the cast just in time.

One exciting new character is Achillia, played by Tenika Davis. She is the first female gladiator in the Spartacus world. Davis’s character is strong and determined to prove she can fight just as well as the men.

DeKnight said, “Historically, female gladiators didn’t appear until about 100 years later, but Ashur upsets history and introduces the female gladiator 100 years early.” He also hinted that Achillia will change the game for everyone.

The show includes other characters like Hilara, a house slave in love with Ashur, played by Jamaica Vaughan, and Messia, another house slave who loves Hilara, played by Ivana Baquero. Jordi Webber plays Tarchon, a bold gladiator, Claudia Black is Cossutia, a politician trying to bring down Ashur, India Shaw-Smith plays Cossutia’s daughter Viridia, and Leigh Gill acts as Satyrus, leader of a rival gladiator group.

DeKnight says the shifting loyalties and complicated relationships make the show fun and exciting. But some might wonder how they can support Ashur since he betrayed his gladiator brothers.

DeKnight is honest: “Is he a good guy now? No, he’s Ashur. He’s scheming, murderous Ashur, but the best way to get an audience behind a character like that is roll out the people who are worse. The Romans, the elites are much worse than he is.” Ashur is trying to survive and climb the social ladder in a harsh world, using any means necessary.

Spartacus: House of Ashur will bring back the sex, violence, and drama fans enjoyed, while adding new elements like the female gladiator. DeKnight returns as showrunner and executive producer, ready to take viewers on a new adventure in ancient Rome.

This update comes from an interview with Steven S. DeKnight shared with Entertainment Weekly.

If you have thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments!