At long last Spartacus Blood and Sand will hit Aussie shores in August!

Channel 9 has announced that they will be showing Spartacus on their digital channel GO! in August!

Some time ago there were rumours that channel 7 had bought the show and were going to show it on their 7Two digital channel. They didn't and channel 9 did! Wahoo!

Here's the press release!

OnFilm Magazine has an article about Spartacus being shown on New Zealand TV. There are a couple of Rob quotes:

"Earlier this year, Tapert told Onfilm he was surprised none of the NZ free-to-air networks had picked up the series, and not just because it was shot in their backyard.

While the show’s graphic sexual content and violence are “challenging” by US TV standards, “I didn’t think anything we did wouldn’t make it on air after 9.30 in New Zealand …

“I saw Sex and the City and The Sopranos down here relatively uncut in a 9.30 slot. I thought it would be a no-brainer for one of the free-to-air broadcasters down here to have bought it. It caught me a little bit off guard. In Canada it’s been a huge success.

“I think people are waiting to see the pared-down edited version, and once they see that hopefully they’ll vote with their wallets.”

Read More

I interviewed Craig Parker for AUSXIP Interviews (just posted the interview here). Craig has been involved in four Rob Tapert productions and I asked what it was like working for Rob.

This is the 4th project you've worked on with Rob Tapert? What do you like about working on his projects?

Rob has enormous passion, knowledge and appreciation for all aspects of putting together a show and one feels this filter through all his projects. Together with a remarkable production team he assembles a fantastically skilled and talented crew who, even with the tiredness, difficulties and madness that come with a long shoot, continue to do beautiful work and treat each other with kindness and respect. He expects everyone to work at the top of their game, does all he can to encourage that and readily acknowledges it when they do.

Read Full Interview

The New Zealand screen industry appears to have lost one of its production mainstays of the past two years, with unconfirmed reports from the US that The Legend of the Seeker has been axed.

The Rob Tapert-Sam Raimi production, which screens Thursday nights on Prime, seems to have been the casualty of declining ratings in the States, prompting one chain of US stations not to continue with the syndicated series.

Seeker’s second season wrapped at the end of last month in Auckland and there was no indication at the wrap party that the crew would be back for a third season. However, it’s been pointed out to Onfilm that this wasn’t necessarily significant, given commissioning of the second season went down to the wire.

If it is the case Seeker hasn’t been picked-up for another season, it’ll be a blow to the local industry. Season two of the television series engaged 360 full-time and casual crew, and about 180 support actors/actresses were cast over the 22 episodes.

Read More

News Release Issued: May 11, 2010 4:36 PM EDT

Production on Starz' 'Spartacus' Six-Part Prequel to Begin This Summer

Andy Whitfield to Appear In Two Episodes Along With Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, Peter Mensah Plus Other Returning and New Characters

LOS ANGELES, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- NCTA Cable Show 2010 -- Pre-production is underway on a six-part prequel to Starz' hit original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand."

Andy Whitfield, who played the title character in the series, will appear in the prequel briefly, but Lucy Lawless and John Hannah take center stage in this story of the rise of the House of Batiatus and its champions before Spartacus arrives as a captured Thracian slave. With the title still to be determined, the prequel will begin production this summer in New Zealand, and is slated to air on Starz in January 2011.

John Hannah returns as Batiatus, owner of the Ludus, along with his wife Lucretia, played by Lucy Lawless. Other returning actors include Peter Mensah (Doctore), Manu Bennett (Crixus), Antonio Te Maioha (Barca), Nick E. Tarabay (Ashur), Lesley-Ann Brandt (Naevia) - and others. New characters will also be added - most notably the gladiator who was champion of the House of Batiatus before Spartacus or even Crixus - who will help fill in the story about the people and politics in the House of Batiatus and ancient Capua as a whole.

Production on the second season of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" was postponed this spring to allow Andy Whitfield to be treated for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in New Zealand. His doctors indicate that the actor is responding well.

"The prequel story maintains the excitement and entertainment value of the first season of 'Spartacus,' giving audiences the engaging experience they've come to expect," said Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht. "We look forward to continuing the Spartacus story."

Produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" was the highest rated show for the 18-49 demographic among all cable networks for 12 of the 13 Fridays on which it aired based on coverage rating.* The production team remains intact for the six-part prequel.

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 17.1 million and 31.1 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Encore HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex On Demand, Starz HD On Demand, Encore HD On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand, and Starz Play. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Starz (NASDAQ: LSTZA), a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.

*Source: Nielsen Live + SD Coverage Ratings for A18-49 each Friday between 1/29/10 - 4/16/10 among all basic and premium cable channels.

SOURCE Starz

The Times Online has a very lengthy article about Spartacus and a review about the show.

The historical mini-series just got sexier

The article reads in part...

So, when Starz decided to dip its toe into the original-programming pool of gore, it turned to the producing team of Steven S DeKnight (Smallville, Buffy), Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spider-Man) and Robert Tapert (Raimi’s long-term producing partner and Lawless’s long-term husband). With those credentials, what could possibly go wrong? The answer: not much. Spartacus’s second series was commissioned before its first episode had aired — unheard of in American television — and broke Starz’s ratings record for Friday nights.

“The idea came up when Rob and Sam were meeting with NBC to work out how to adapt their huge film and TV library,” DeKnight explains. “They suggested reworking Kubrick’s Spartacus with 300-style technology, but it became clear the show they had in mind was too strong for terrestrial television. When Starz ended up buying the idea, they called me, and I was kind of mixed up. I loved gladiator movies when I was a kid, but I revere Stanley Kubrick, so I couldn’t see how you’d get close to the original. It’s too big a classic to take on.was saved from doubt by the immensely adaptable qualities of the rebel slave’s symbolism. Kubrick’s film was by Dalton Trumbo, a blacklisted scriptwriter hired by Kirk Douglas in the face of Senator McCarthy’s wrath. Trumbo penned the fabled “I am Spartacus” scene as a comment on the Senate forcing suspects to name names. In DeKnight’s version, however, Spartacus is a Thracian soldier who rebels against his Roman boss to save his wife. He is thrown into the arena, where he butchers a succession of professionals before being snapped up by the gladiator owner Quintus Batiatus — played by Hannah with the same resigned frustration he brings to most of his roles.

Clearly, there’s more than a whiff of Russell Crowe about that pitch. Unlike Gladiator’s nihilistic romance, however, where we merely chart the fatalistic slide of an all but suicidal widower, here Spartacus’s wife survives, and their slave status means the buying and selling of people in ancient Rome stands out as a subtheme — in as much as anything can stand out from the heaving breasts and savage deaths. This is DeKnight’s solution to his Kubrick problem.

Read Full Article

Rob's Ghost House Pictures will be producing a sequel to the horror hit "The Strangers" called "The Man" - The following is a press release from Ghost House Pictures

Los Angeles (May 5, 2010) – Ghost House Pictures announced today that Bryan Bertino (THE STRANGERS) will direct THIS MAN, an original screenplay that he will also pen. Bertino and Adrienne Biddle are partnering with Ghost House principals Sam Raimiand Rob Tapert to produce the film. Ghost House principal Nathan Kahane will executive produce. J.R. Young and Mary Lee will oversee the project for the company.

“We look forward to partnering with Bryan and Adrienne to develop this unique, hair-raising horror story that will be sure to delight horror fans,” shares Sam Raimi.

Based on real life accounts, THIS MAN follows an ordinary guy who discovers that people he has never met are seeing him in their dreams. Now he must find out why he is the source of nightmares for strangers all over the world.

Ghost House had acquired the rights to a website created by Italian sociologist Andrea Natella. The website was created to help connect those who had seen this man in their dreams and to foster communication among them.

Bertino wrote and made his directing debut on THE STRANGERS, which was produced by Roy Lee, Doug Davison and Nathan Kahane. He also wrote the screenplay for THE STRANGERS 2 which is in pre-production for Rogue Pictures. In September, he partnered with Biddle to form Unbroken Pictures, designed to produce high quality genre movies.

Bertino and Biddle are represented by CAA and attorney Jason Sloane of Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern. Attorney Adam Sinjin Park negotiated the deal on behalf of Andrea Natella. Dan Freedman and Craig A. Kessler negotiated the deals for the company.

ABOUT GHOST HOUSE PICTURES
Ghost House Pictures was formed as a joint venture between filmmakers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake creating a production label dedicated to the financing, development and release of films in the horror thriller genre. The company achieved success with five consecutive #1 releases, starting with the 2004 remake of The Grudge, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, which has grossed $188 million worldwide; The Grudge 2, which opened at number one in October 2006; Stephen T. Kay’s Boogeyman, starring Barry Watson, The Messengers, from acclaimed filmmakers Oxide and Danny Pang (The Eye), which was released in February 2007; and David Slade’s 30 Days of Night, an adaptation of the popular comic about vampires descending on an Alaskan town. Most recently, Universal Pictures released Drag Me To Hell in May 2009. The film, which was written and directed by Sam Raimi, stars Alison Lohman and Justin Long.

News of the cancellation of LotS has been a shock to many fans. No OFFICIAL (ABC Studios) word yet or from Rob Tapert but Mike Sussman and Bridget Regan have posted about this.

Mike Sussman, writer and Co-Executive Producer on Legend of the Seeker has posted the following tweet tonight:

WrittenByMikeS
The quest is complete. Thank you so much to our amazing cast, crew & all our fans, it's been an awesome two years. Will miss you all. about 1 hour ago via web

and Bridget Regan has also sent the following tweet:

BridgetRegan
@Dear_B or should I say Dear Diary? Got some news that Seeker is no more. So sad to say goodbye to my NZ family but excited for what's next. about 5 hours ago via web in reply to Dear_B

Legend of the Seeker will end after 2 seasons.

Peter Mensah (Doctore in Spartacus Blood and Sand) was interviewed for iF Magazine on his role on the show and the season finale (which happened yesterday - click here to read the AUSXIP Spartacus review). He was asked about Rob and this was his answer:

iF: A lot of people in the Sam Raimi/Robert Tapert television production team have been working together since HERCULES and XENA. What’s it like for you coming in and working with such a tight group?

MENSAH: Actually fantastic. One of the good aspects is, when you get included in a family, Rob Tapert especially has gone out of his way to make me really comfortable, it’s a nice thing to recognize that you’ve been recognized, they trust your work, because they hired me without auditioning, they just put in a call and it was a choice between this and a certain cop show, and this won hands down [laughs].

Read Full Interview

Spartacus Blood and Sand Episode 13 Recap / Review by MaryD

Credits for this episode:
Directed by Steven S. DeKnight and Jesse Warn

Writing credits (in alphabetical order) Steven S. DeKnight (written by) Brent Fletcher (story editor), Aaron Helbing (staff writer), Todd Helbing (staff writer). Miranda Kwok (staff writer)

Log Line
Spartacus’ fury culminates in the stunning season finale

Read The Review (SPOILERS)

Mega Mega Spoilers in the Boston Herald newspaper for their review of "Kill Them All".

Why can't reviewers just not give the game away? Since monstersandcritics just about ripped apart the episode for me and revealed mega spoilers (which I was silly enough to
read even as I was trying to stay spoiler free), it's not a surprise any more. Memo to reviewers, can you at least put a SPOILER WARNING in your articles? I know it's a bit late now but just had to say it.

Anyway if you want to read spoilers...this is a good article and a great write up about Lucy and the rest of the cast.

Click here to read

The Chicago Tribune has a great article on the evolution of Spartacus Blood and Sand into a terrific show. CONTAINS NO SPOILERS for the season finale

Chicago Tribune - 14 April 2010
As Season 1 ends, 'Spartacus' emerges as a gripping gladiator romp

It's hard to say what's more impressive about the Season 1 finale of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" (9 p.m. Central Friday, Starz) -- the hour itself, which is an enormously enjoyable roller-coaster ride, or the way it artfully combines everything "Spartacus" does well.

To give away even a scrap of what happens to the gladiator Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) and his wealthy owners, Batiatus (John Hannah) and Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) would be to ruin the finale's well-designed twists and turns. Suffice to say it left a lasting impression and will no doubt remain one of my favorite TV episodes of the year.

For those who dismissed the show as a sex-obsessed "300" ripoff, think again. "Spartacus" turned out to be so much more than that, especially when it kicked into high gear midway through Season 1. Over the course of 13 hours, and especially in several well-paced recent episodes, this swords-and-togas saga became downright addictive, in part due to its distinctive dialogue, which mixes Shakespearean flourishes with "Sopranos"-esque profanity.

Read Full Article

USA Today has an article about John Hannah (Batiatus on Spartacus Blood and Sand). It features a quote from Rob about casting the role:

Yet Starz and series execs initially sought "the TV equivalent of Tom Cruise" to portray Batiatus, says Robert Tapert, Lawless' husband and Sparatcus' co-producer. "Oddly enough, this was the hardest character to cast," he says. "We had other actors, including big names. But they either couldn't get around the sex scenes or the volume of dialogue. We kept coming back to John."

Read full article

Brad Carpenter was Rob's assitant during the filming of Xena and Hercules. On the dot429 site he writes how Rob Tapert was his mentor:

In part he writes:

We all need mentors, whether personal or professional. My first true Producing mentor was Rob Tapert at Renaissance Pictures. Rob never hesitated to answer my questions about how the TV business worked. As Rob’s assistant, I would get to stay on the line during many of his calls so I could take note of things I’d need to follow up on. Sometimes Rob would be getting notes from the Studio about scripts or edits of episodes. It was my first exposure to an essential part of the collaborative process, the give and take between the Studio (the buyer) and the Producer (the supplier). When Rob traveled down to New Zealand to be on set for “Hercules” and “Xena,” he took me with him, and I quickly learned how television production functioned. I was amazed at how many talents were involved in turning out the final product. Happily, those years with Rob yielded many great experiences, including some lasting friendships, a bit of writing, and even an acting role. (Amphion, the peaceful warrior. Cool!)

Thank you Rob Tapert for starting me on my way, and for your blessed friendship all these years.

Read More

The Monstersandcritics site has a review of the season finale and if you SERIOUSLY don't want to be spoilt about who dies and who lives...don't go there.

They have spoilt it and named names.

You can also win a Spartacus t-shirt. So if you want to be spoilt for the finale..go and find out who lives and who dies.

Read article

Release Issued: April 12, 2010 1:30 PM EDT
'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' Takes Battle Worldwide in Time for MIP-TV

A Success in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands, Starz' Series to Premiere in UK, Asia, Latin America and More

BURBANK, Calif., April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Proclaimed the "Champion of Capua," Spartacus is now taking on the rest of the world, with Starz Entertainment's original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" set to debut in high-profile markets around the world. Starz Worldwide Distribution, the sales unit of the premium entertainment company, is finalizing additional markets at the 2010 MIP-TV market (Starz is based at stand RSV-25 at MIP-TV).

"Spartacus: Blood and Sand," a ratings over-achiever on Starz in the U.S., the Movie Network and Movie Central in Canada and RTL5 in the Netherlands since it premiered earlier this year, the 13-episode program has just launched or is launching soon on:

* Bravo TV in the UK, premiering May 25;
* LAPTV's MovieCity Pack in Latin America;
* OCN in South Korea, where it premiered April 9;
* HBO Central Europe in 14 territories across the region;
* And on Star Channel in Japan.

Read More

The Los Angeles Times had an article on the how superheroes portrayed in the media today have been influenced by the 19th Century composer Richard Wagner and his four-opera cycle "The Ring Of The Nibelung".

Xena - In the sixth season of the TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess," viewers learn that Xena was once an evil Valkyrie who presided over a reign of terror in the show's mythological universe. And in the series, Xena even takes a dip with the Rhine Maidens in a nod to Wagner's "Das Rheingold."

Comic-book experts say that Brünnhilde and her fellow Valkyries have influenced the recent flourishing of on-screen female action heroes whose soft-butch exteriors hide an emotionally vulnerable core.

On TV, the most recognizable offspring of Wagner's Valkyries was the title character in the cult series "Xena: Warrior Princess." In the sixth and final season, which aired in 2000-2001, viewers learned that Xena ( Lucy Lawless) was once an evil Valkyrie who presided over a reign of terror in the show's pan-mythological universe.

The season featured three episodes inspired by the "Ring." In one, Xena takes a Sapphic swim with the Rhine Maidens -- a nod to the opening of "Das Rheingold," the first opera in Wagner's cycle.

Rob Tapert, a co-creator of "Xena" who is now working on the series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," said the entertainment industry's attraction to ancient heroes such as Wagner's is cyclical in nature due to advances in screen wizardry.

"The technology has changed and that means you can tell these stories all over again," he said from the "Spartacus" set in New Zealand. "These stories have withstood the test of time. It's really a matter of how we can do it all new for a new audience."

Read The Full Article

LOS ANGELES, CA October 2, 2009 – Ghost House Pictures has announced today the establishment of SPOOKY PICTURES, a production label dedicated to the financing, development, production and distribution of scary movies made for the family audience.

The first project under the new label, in collaboration with friends and partners Sony Pictures and Stars Road Entertainment’s Joshua Donen, will be THE SUBSTITUTE. Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) will scribe the remake of acclaimed writer/ director Ole Bornedal’s 2007 Danish language thriller of the same name, with Derrickson directing. The project is being developed in cooperation with Columbia Pictures, which has an option to co-finance and distribute the picture domestically. Columbia has a first-look to distribute this and future films from Spooky Pictures.

The film will be produced by filmmakers Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, the Spider-Man franchise) and Rob Tapert (30 Days of Night, The Grudge films) through their new Spooky Pictures shingle in association with Thura Films. Russell Hollander and Nathan Kahane will executive produce alongside the makers of the Danish film Ole Bornedal and Michael Obel. Tendo Nagenda and J.R. Young will shepherd for Spooky Pictures.

THE SUBSTITUTE follows a terrified 6th grade class as they race to reveal to their parents that their new substitute teacher is an evil alien being.

Boardman and Derrickson previous collaborations include Exorcism of Emily Rose and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. They are repped by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and attorney Karl Austen of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein. Sam Raimi is represented by CAA and attorney Craig Jacobson. Ole Bornedal is repped by WME, Danny Sherman at Principal Entertainment and attorney Andrew Hurwitz at Schreck Rose Dapello Adams & Hurwitz. Michael Obel is repped by WME. For Spooky Pictures, Rob McEntegart negotiated the remake rights and Columbia deals, and Dan Freedman negotiated the Boardman/Derrickson deal. Principal Entertainment, WME and Andrew Hurwitz brokered the deal between Thura Films and Spooky Pictures.

The following movies are being produced by Rob (Ghost House Pictures):

Warcraft
Warcraft is still in the scripting process bu it will take place about a year before the events of World of Warcraft. The storyline is "principally told from the Alliance perspective." After revealing that detail, and waiting for the Horde aligned players to finish their booing, Metzen explained "While my heart lies with the Horde and Thrall's an interesting character, from a movie making standpoint, a blockbuster movie its a little rough to try and tell it from the perspective of this green looking dude." Read More

Director - Sam Raimi
Executive Producer - Robert Tapert
Producer - Joshua Donen
Writer - Robert Rodat

GHOST HOUSE PICTURES

Burst 3D
An isolated town endures an alien invasion that causes victims to spontaneously combust during a severe snowstorm. A young woman running from her troubles finds herself stranded at a lodge with a group of strangers. One after another, they inexplicably begin to burst into pieces. Shock quickly descends into paranoia as nobody knows who to trust. And as the mystery unravels, the survivors realize that what's causing this unstoppable phenomenon is bigger and more disturbing than anyone could have ever imagined.

Release Date: No Release Date Available
Director: Neil Marshall
Writer: Gary Dauberman
Studio: Ghost House Pictures

Anguish
Anguish, which centers on two girls who discover their lives begin to mirror the plot of a scary film they recently watched, will be penned by Jack Wade Wall (When a Stranger Calls, Hitcher). There's no director for the remake of the 1987 original yet, but we do know Anguish's production team will also include members from Vertigo Entertainment, the same guys previously involved with The Strangers.

Release Date: No Release Date Available
Director:
Writer: Jack Wade Wall
Studio: Ghost House Pictures

 

The Dorm (aka Room 205)
Wanting a fresh start, Katrine moves into a university dormitory but quickly learns the myth about a ghost of a former resident who was killed. The myth soon becomes a terrifying reality.

Release Date: No Release Date Available
Director: Martin Barnewitz
Writer: Stephen Susco
Studio: Ghost House Pictures

 

Monkey's Paw
"Paw" concerns a father who brings home an artifact rumored to make any wish come true, but misfortune begins to befall the family with every desire granted.

Release Date: No Release Date Available
Director:
Writer: Dave Kajganich and Tom McAlister
Studio: Ghost House Pictures

 

Incident at Sans Asylum
The film follows aspiring musicians working as cooks for the criminally insane who find themselves locked in the asylum when a major thunderstorm hits.

Release Date: No Release Date Available
Director: Daniel Calparsoro
Writer: S. Craig Zahler
Studio: Ghost House Pictures and Vertigo Entertainment


Untitled Fede Alvarez project
Ghost House Pictures has made a deal with Uruguayan commercials director Fede Alvarez to direct his pitch for an alien invasion film.

Release Date: No Release Date Available
Director: Fede Alvarez
Writer: Fede Alvarez
Studio: Ghost House Pictures

Spartacus Blood and Sand Episode Recap / Review
Season 1 Episode 12 Revelations
by MaryD

Lucretia and Batiatus await the arrival of Glaber with the intentions to receive his patronage, while Spartacus focuses his attention on his plan for revenge. Friday, 4/9 at 10pm et/pt on Starz.

Read Full Recap / Review

Lionsgate has acquired North American rights to Dibbuk Box, a horror film to be penned by Knowing writers Juliet Snowden and Stiles White. Ghost House Pictures partners Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert will produce.

Dibbuk Box is a fictional retelling of Los Angeles Times writer Leslie Gornstein's article "Jinx in a Box" about an antique wooden box purchased on eBay which reportedly had been brought to America by a Holocaust survivor after World War II. The box, supposedly containing an evil spirit, brought devastating effects to a series of buyers.

Inspired by these real events, the movie centers around a cursed relic containing mysterious familial tokens that is mistakenly purchased and its new owner must solve its mystery to save her own family.

Lionsgate and Ghost House are also developing Burst 3D.

Source

Sex and Gore? That's Ancient History
By CHARLES McGRATH

WHEN the Victorians were feeling gloomy about their prospects they used to compare themselves to the ancient Romans. They read Gibbon, Plutarch and Tacitus and looked for parallels: a society burdened by empire, corrupted by wealth, deficient in manly virtue. Lately we have been doing much the same, only instead of consulting the Latin texts we turn to screen epics like "Gladiator," the HBO series "Rome," and the 2007 Zack Snyder film "300," which, strictly speaking, was about Spartans, not Romans, but let's not be fussy. The cable channel Starz, as part of an effort to expand its slate of original programming, is extending this classical tradition with "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," a 13-part series that starts Friday, and has already taken the unusual step of commissioning a second season before the first one even runs. [...]

The early episodes include a number of well-drawn personalities, many of them plucked (or embellished) right from Plutarch, our main source for what little we know about Spartacus, a man, the text says, "not only of high spirit and valiant, but in understanding and in gentleness superior to his condition." (Plutarch does not mention abs or lats, which Andy Whitfield, an Australian actor who plays the character, has in abundance, but they probably go without saying.)

Read the full article

Metro News has an interview with Rob Tapert - 15 January 2010:

When the promotional trailer for the new series Spartacus: Blood and Sand was released during San Diego Comic Con, many viewers were surprised by the amount of, well, blood -- and naked flesh.

Along with plenty of slow-motion spurting arteries, there are some quick -- and some not-so-quick -- flashes of nearly ever inch of the cast, including Andy Witfield (as the titular gladiator) and Xena: Warrior Princess and Battlestar Galactica vet Lucy Lawless.

"(The network) wanted to do something that's groundbreaking and boundary-pushing," explains series executive producer Rob Tapert, who put the show together along with fellow executive producer Sam Raimi (himself no stranger to buckets of blood) and writer Stephen S. DeKnight, who cut his teeth writing for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

Read More

Fanbolt interviews Steven and Rob about the show:
We had the pleasure of chatting with 'Spartacus' executive producers Steven S. DeKnight and Robert Tapert about their new project which premieres this month on Starz.

Check it out below!

Is there a connection to Stanley Kubrick's "Spartacus" movie in terms of story?


Steven S. DeKnight: We have a prosthetic penis called the Kirk Douglas. Yes we do. It's Spartacus, so it's been told several different times. Rob and I both love the movie. I know Kubrick was a little cool on it himself. I remember when I saw it as a kid and just loved it, loved that world. Once we started digging into it, the big surprise for me was how little is known about Spartacus. Especially his history before he broke out and started making trouble for the Romans. There's literally a page and a half of stuff you can read, and it's just scraps. It's fragments from different historians. Most of them a 100 years later to 200 years later. His true history is just a complete mystery to everybody. It really gave a chance to dig into that storyline.
Once we get to the point that everyone knows from the Kubrick movie, there is still a ton of material and anecdotes about this ongoing war for like a year and half and how it built up. When they first escaped, they didn't escape to make a statement about slavery or bring down the Roman Republic. They just wanted to get the hell out of there. Then it just snowballed to the point of almost getting to the gates of Rome. It's going to be as Lucy said, something that we all believe greatly in. As a piece of entertainment and it rises above most of what's out there.Speaking of Lucy, Rob called me up at the office the other day, and said Steven what you think about my wife as Lacretia? I said I was thinking exactly the same thing, I just didn't know quite how to approach it. From the start when I created that character, I thought she would be perfect for the role. She was perfect for the role, and she just knocks it out.

Read Full Interview

Film Review Online has a great interview with Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi about Spartacus Blood and Sand

Spartacus: Blood and Sand - Sam Raimi & Rob Tapert
Film Review Online - 01 January 2010

Partners for many years, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert were the Executive Producers of the landmark syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: Legendary Journeys, which both ran for six seasons. In 2002, Raimi and Tapert formed Ghost House Pictures which was dedicated to the development of high-concept genre films; their impressive roster of releases include, The Grudge, 30 Days of Night, Boogeyman and Drag Me to Hell.

This season they return to television with a new take on ancient Rome with the story of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Betrayed by the Romans and forced into slavery, Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) is reborn as a Gladiator. Airing on the cable network Starz, the series holds nothing back in terms of violence, sexuality or language.

Read Full Interview

“Betrayed by his country. Beaten into slavery. Reborn as a warrior.” That’s the tag-line for the upcoming STARZ series, SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND. At the recent press event for the series, producer ROB TAPERT was on hand to preview scenes and assure us that this series would be unlike anything we’ve seen on television.

Influenced greatly by “300,” in the style of popular graphic novels and heavily infused with sex, SPARTACUS promises to be a far cry from the 1960 KIRK DOUGLAS version we grew up with. According to TAPERT, who was also behind TV’s HERCULES and XENA:WARRIOR PRINCESS, this show will have a special flavor all its own. Listen in below:

Click here to listen to the audio