Starz’ Spartacus was released in 2010, predating the Game of Thrones era and the widespread popularity of epic, historical-themed television. The series ran for three seasons and 39 episodes, concluding in 2013.
For many fans, Spartacus’s cancellation was highly disappointing. The series had been nominated for various awards and arguably deserved a longer run. Over a decade later, though, a sequel series is finally on the way. Spartacus: House of Ashur is reportedly set for release this autumn.
New Series Will Explore Alternate Timeline
Rather than rebooting the original show, House of Ashur is going to explore an alternative timeline. Nick E. Tarabay’s character met a gruesome end in the first series, after he had betrayed his fellow gladiators. The new chapter, however, will explore the idea of a different scenario, one in which Ashur is rewarded by the Romans and granted control of the ludus that once belonged to Batiatus.
Despite branching off in a completely new direction, the new offering is set to retain a lot of the aspects that made the original so well-loved among its loyal fanbase. Steven S. DeKnight is returning as the showrunner, meaning that it’s still going to be a gritty and blood-soaked epic with plenty of intrigue and betrayal. The main twist this time is that viewers are going to be following the story from the villain’s perspective, which should provide some excellent opportunities for unique storytelling.
Potential to Be Hugely Successful
There are countless factors working in House of Ashur’s favour that suggest it could be a hugely successful offering for Starz. The fact that it’s already got three seasons of its predecessor to use as a springboard means that it will be able to immediately attract fans of that show. Along with that, there are numerous reasons why the spinoff will be able to bring in a new, larger audience.
One of the greatest factors to suggest that House of Ashur will be a hit is the sheer popularity of Roman themes in the mainstream. It can take advantage of the recent release of Gladiator 2, along with all the Spartacus-themed content in the iGaming market. For instance, Eye of Spartacus is currently listed as one of the top jackpot casino slots on the market. There’s even the potential for spin-off games related to the new show, which could appear as branded slots at online casinos.
House of Ashur is also dropping at a time when there’s a hunger for more content like this in the entertainment industry. Game of Thrones had a massive effect on television and ushered in a new age of epic historical content. Shows like Vikings and The Last Kingdom have been hugely popular, and the new Spartacus sequel could tap into their audiences and follow in their footsteps.
After an agonisingly long wait, Spartacus is finally returning to television screens. House of Ashur promises to retain a lot of what made the original so great, but will also offer plenty of new ideas to attract new viewers.
