AUSXIP Rob Tapert Online

New Rob Interview with Fanbolt 05-01-10

2010-01-05T11:40:00.000-08:00

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

New AUSXIP Video Rob Tapert Channel

2010-01-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

I have created a new AUSXIP Video channel for Rob Tapert on the new AUSXIP Video site - Whilst I was searching for Rob related videos, I came across this absolute gem of an interview which also happens to be Rob's first TV Interview. More Rob interviews have been posted to the AUSXIP Video Rob Tapert Channel and more will be added so check them out

In 1982, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert were both interviewed for the NY cable show The Directors Series by John Gallagher. It was their first TV interview. This is Rob’s interview, previously posted on YouTube by its director Ira Gallen;

Click here to watch on AUSXIP Video - Rob Tapert Channel

New Rob Interview with Film Review Online

2010-01-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

Film Review Online has a great interview with Rob 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

Rob Interview - The West Australian 2 Dec 2009

2009-12-02T01:19:00.000-08:00

The film industry in Auckland must breathe a huge sigh of relief every time US producer Rob Tapert arrives in town.

His close links to the NZ city began in the 1990s with the making of the Hercules series and Xena: Warrior Princess and now he is back living there, having just finished making a new swords-and-sandals series, Spartacus, and with a second series of Legend of the Seeker underway.

And with long-time partner Sam Raimi he has shot a "bunch of horror movies" there over the years.

The first series of Legend of the Seeker has just begun on Fox8.

It is based on Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth novels and stars Australian actors Craig Horner (Blue Water High), Jessica Marais (Packed to the Rafters) and Bruce Spence (The Matrix Revolutions), along with Jay Laga'aia (Water Rats, Xena), who grew up in Auckland.

When we speak, Tapert is in Sydney on holiday with his wife Lucy Lawless, who starred in Xena and is also in Spartacus.

Read More

Evil Dead Theatre Schedule Released

2009-12-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

It was recently announced that Grindhouse Releasing would be bringing Sam Raimi's original horror classic The Evil Dead back to the big screen as a midnight movie. Today we got our hands on the new theatrical one sheet, along with some locations and dates. We're still working out details for our screening in Los Angeles this March, but you can get your tickets now over at the official NuArt website (pull down dates to March 5).

Raimi and producers Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell gave the go-ahead for a series of EVIL DEAD revival screenings to Grindhouse Releasing partner Bob Murawski, the film editor of Raimi's SPIDER MAN 1, 2 & 3, DRAG ME TO HELL and the EVIL DEAD sequel ARMY OF DARKNESS.

A similar theatrical break is planned for THE EVIL DEAD, with midnight screenings in select theaters across the U.S. and Canada.

THE EVIL DEAD launched Raimi and Tapertâ€™s careers and made star Bruce Campbell a cult movie icon, spawning two hit sequels: EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN and ARMY OF DARKNESS. The EVIL DEAD trilogy has become a fan phenomenon, ranked among the most popular and
acclaimed cult horror movies of all time.

The first dates and venues are below.

January 8-9:
Uptown Theatre, Minneapolis

January 15-16:
Esquire Theatre, Denver

January 29-30:
Sunshine Cinema, New York

February 5-6:
Egyptian Theatre, Seattle

February 19-20:
River Oaks Theatre, Houston

February 26-27:
Inwood, Dallas

March 5: Nuart Theatre,
Los Angeles

May 22
Hudson Horrorshow
Poughkipsie, NY

More cities will be announced as they are confirmed.

Source

Ghost House Pictures To Produce Alien Invasion Film

2009-11-30T12:03:00.000-08:00

Variety Reports that Ghost House Pictures Will Produce Alien Invasion Film...

Raimi will produce with Ghost House partner Tapert, with Vertigo's Roy Lee and Doug Davison also to be involved in producing capacities. Kahane will exec produce.

That an unknown could put himself on the map by placing his film on the Internet shows how much the Hollywood landscape is changing and how hungry financiers and studios are to find a filmmaker who may deliver the next "Paranormal Activity," "District 9" or "Twilight."

While the Thanksgiving weekend results for star-driven films like "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock show that name talent is still key, Alvarez's short conjured up a high-concept, visually intriguing pic that can be made for a small budget with no gross players by a filmmaker who can plug into a youthful demographic.

Ghost House deal gives Alvarez the opportunity to make his Hollywood debut that is godfathered by Raimi in a mentoring role similar to the one that Peter Jackson played in Neill Blomkamp's directing debut on "District 9," an under-$30 million film that's grossed over $180 million worldwide.

Source

Rob Tapert Article - West Side Story!

2009-11-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

Canvas Magazine (the New Zealand Herald magazine supplement) had a great article about Rob and his contribution for the filming industry in Auckland. Check out the article which features mentions of Lucy, Xena, Legend of the Seeker and of course Spartacus Blood and Sand:

Canvas Magazine - 31 October 2009
West Side Story

While most Auckland businesses have spent the past year with the recession blues, the city's film production industry — our so-called Westywood — has been quietly prospering, partly thanks to the man who gave us Hercules and Xena. But, as GREG DIXON finds, the industry is short of space for future growth

IN SHOWBIZ, glamour is just another special effect. On-screen and on the red carpet, the business is one of alluring fantasies and luminous stars. Off-screen — in, say, a warehouse in Auckland's drab, industrial suburb of Mt Wellington on a wet October morning — film and telly look much like factory work.

American TV producer Rob Tapert is walking me — at speed — through a soundstage converted from this particular warehouse, one where he's shooting parts of his latest TV fantasy series, the sword, sand and sex epic Spartacus. I am, apparently, the first New Zealand journalist to get this tour. And while I was grateful to Tapert — the guy behind Hercules and Xena and husband of Lucy Lawless — for bothering to make the time, it is, as one often finds on film and television sets, rather less fun than you imagine.

Read Full Article

Evil Dead Returning To The Big Screen

2009-10-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

SAM RAIMI'S 'THE EVIL DEAD' RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN!

'The Ultimate Experience in Grueling Horror' is Back!

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Grindhouse Releasing is bringing Sam Raimi's original horror classic THE EVIL DEAD back to the big screen as a midnight movie.

Raimi and producers Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell gave the go-ahead for a series of EVIL DEAD revival screenings to Grindhouse Releasing partner Bob Murawski, the film editor of Raimi's SPIDER MAN 1, 2 & 3, DRAG ME TO HELL and the EVIL DEAD sequel ARMY OF DARKNESS.

Stephen King hailed THE EVIL DEAD as “the most ferociously original film of the year”? when the film premiered in 1981. Shot in Michigan and Tennessee, Raimi's low-budget debut was released independently with a self-imposed 'No One Under 17' rating for its graphic violence and gore.

THE EVIL DEAD launched Raimi and Tapert's careers and made star Bruce Campbell a cult movie icon, spawning two hit sequels: EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN and ARMY OF DARKNESS. The EVIL DEAD trilogy has become a fan phenomenon, ranked among the most popular and acclaimed cult horror movies of all time.

A special screening of the EVIL DEAD trilogy sold out L.A.'s New Beverly Cinema this summer.
With a remake reportedly in the works, this theatrical release gives fans a chance to experience the original as it was intended to be seen.

"Nothing can prepare an audience for what they are about to see, because nothing punishes an audience like EVIL DEAD - especially on the big screen,” says Bruce Campbell. “I'm really glad it's back. People are gonna be hurt."

Formed by actor/director Sage Stallone and Murawski, Grindhouse Releasing restores and distributes classic horror and exploitation films. The company teamed with Quentin Tarantino in the '90s to revive Lucio Fulci's Italian horror classic THE BEYOND.

A similar theatrical break is planned for THE EVIL DEAD, with midnight screenings in select theaters across the U.S. and Canada.

Dates and venues will be announced at GrindhouseReleasing.com. For bookings, contact David Szulkin at info@grindhousereleasing.com.

Big Burst & 30 Days of Night Sequel Updates

2009-10-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

The following was posted on ShockTillYouDrop.com and its first in a series of articles coming out of an interview Ryan Rotten, the Managing Editor of the site conducted with Rob via phone:

EXCL: Big Burst & 30 Days of Night Sequel Updates

This afternoon, I spent some time on the phone with producer Rob Tapert (Drag Me to Hell, Evil Dead series) and learned a bit about Ghost House Pictures' upcoming slate.

One project we were curious about in particular was Burst, written by Gary Dauberman. Set during a vicious winter storm, the story focuses on disparate group of folks holed up in a lodge. Soon some of them literally begin to burst in a messy explosion.

I had heard rumblings that momentum was building on this film's development; that Ghost House was aiming to shoot it in 3-D and would partner with Lionsgate to produce. When I hit up Tapert for confirmation, he offered this:

"[Burst] is something we're attempting to bring to the marketplace and there is a director we have danced with and we're trying to dot all of the i's and cross all of the t's. Some time in the next week or two you'll hear about the director you'll know and you'll say, 'Hmm, he could do a really cool version of it.'"

Read More

Rob and Sam Launching Spooky Pictures

2009-10-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

Sam Raimi's genre label Ghost House is launching Spooky Pictures as a new banner that will produce thrillers for family audiences.

First pic will be "The Substitute," a remake of the Danish thriller that Scott Derrickson ("The Exorcism of Emily Rose") will helm and Columbia Pictures will co-finance and distribute through a first-look deal with Spooky.

Announcement follows a similar label launch by Disney, which is pairing up with Guillermo del Toro to make scary pics for family auds through Double Dare You (Daily Variety, Sept. 11), and signals the kind of thrillers Hollywood may soon be unspooling at the megaplex. Should the labels find an audience, the shift away from slasher fare and the like, often referred to as "gore porn," is likely.

Project revolves around a terrified sixth-grade class as the students race to reveal to their parents that their new substitute teacher is an evil alien being.

Derrickson is penning the script with Paul Harris Boardman, who co-wrote "Emily Rose" with Derrickson. The two also collaborated on the redo of Fox's "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

Ole Bornedal originally wrote and directed "The Substitute," which bowed in 2007.

Spooky will finance, develop and produce its own family fare under Ghost House, which has a deal with Mandate Pictures.

Raimi and Rob Tapert ("The Grudge" series and "30 Days of Night") will serve as producers of the "Substitute" remake through Spooky, while Russell Hollander and Nathan Kahane will serve as executive producers. Tendo Nagenda and J.R. Young will shepherd for Spooky.

Pic's original filmmakers, Bornedal and Michael Obel, will produce through their Thura Films banner.

Source

How TV's New Spartacus Will 'Bend' History

2009-07-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

The following interview with Rob and Steven was posted on SciFi Wire 31 July 2009

We got a chance to chat with Rob Tapert and Steven DeKnight about their upcoming one-hour drama for Starz, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which stars Andy Whitfield and sci-fi icon Lucy Lawless in a retelling of the sword-and-sandals tale.

Tapert (Lawless' husband and producer of Xena: Warrior Princess) and DeKnight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) explained why they decided to "bend history," as DeKnight put it, for the new show.

Read Full Interview

IESB Interview with Lucy, Rob, Peter, Steven and Sam

2009-07-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

The action-adventure drama series Spartacus: Blood and Sand is the latest to be added to the Starz line-up of original programming. Premiering on January 22, 2010, the highly anticipated epic story that promises to be brutal, bloody and sexy, is being brought to life by executive producers Steven S. DeKnight, who is also the series' head writer, Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi.

Lucy Lawless, best known for her role in Xena: Warrior Princess, portrays Lucretia, who along with her husband, Batiatus (The Mummy's John Hannah), own the Ludus gladiator camp, as well as Spartacus (Australian actor Andy Whitfield). The couple has fallen on hard times financially and has bought Spartacus hoping his fighting prowess will help them regain their status in the brutal world of gladiatorial contests.

Spartacus is a soldier in the Roman Auxiliary who has been taken prisoner and, as punishment for defying a Roman Legate, he has been sentenced to die in the gladiator area. But after surviving numerous fights, his sentence is commuted and he has been sold as a slave to be trained as a gladiator.

Actors Lucy Lawless and Peter Mensah, who plays Batiatus' most loyal and trusted slave Doctore, joined DeKnight, Tapert and Raimi at the Television Critics Association Press Tour to discuss this entirely new vision of the ancient legend.

Read Full Interview

Rob at TCA Spartacus Panel

2009-07-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

TCA Spartacus Panel News, Pics and Audio Roundup

Lucy, Rob, Sam Raimi, Steven DeKnight and Peter Mensah attended theTelevision Critics Association (TCA) conference in Pasadena on 29 July 2009 to promote Spartacus.

HQ Images
Medium Resolution Images

Links to Other Photo Sites
Reuters and World Entertainment News

News Reports

TV Squad - 30 July 2009 (With Lucy Audio)

BBCA and Starz: Lucy Lawless will get naked, and Tennant's last eps - TCA Report Posted Jul 30th 2009 1:02AM by Joel Keller

Spartacus: Blood and Sand

During the Spartacus panel, Lawless was asked if she's going to be naked during the first season, as the show involves a lot of sex scenes. "I'm afraid so," she said. She plays Lucretia, a "proprietor of a camp for gladiators." She takes up with a gladiator in the hope of having a baby. It's tough for her to do those scenes because, while she tries to keep in fantastic shape, "when you get on set, you get the 'freshman 15'," she told the scrum afterwords.

Near the end of the scrum, I asked her if she thought a certain fanboy segment (coughXenacough) will be happy to see her nude. Her response included her experience seeing Caligula when she was a teenager. Say one thing for Lucy; she's not the demure type.

Lucy Lawless on being nude (1:58)

In the "more than we need to know" department, apparently the show utilizes a prosthetic for when the various gladiators appear nude. Yes, that kind of prosthetic. "We had to create the 'Kirk Douglas', as it's aptly named, so people had a prosthetic they could wear," said EP Rob Tappert. Lawless said they hang it up in the prop truck "next to all the merkins." Must be a fun set.

Oh, Sam Raimi is also one of the EPs; he had the concept of the show, and was involved at the start, but the latest Spider-Man film will call him away from the rest of the season.

HitFix Site

Press Tour Notes: Joan Rivers trashes Leno, 'Spartacus' redefines Kirk Douglas - Posted on Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 By Daniel Fienberg

Rob Tapert on an unexpected homage to Stanley Kubrick's "Spartacus" in Starz' "Spartacus: Blood and Sand": "[T]here's a great deal of nudity, both male and female. And some guys are not as well-endowed as other guys, so we had to create the Kirk Douglas, as it was aptly named, so that certain actors would have a prosthetic that they could wear and feel comfortable." (To which series co-star Lucy Lawless added, "That thing gets shared around, though. At the moment it's pinned to the wall next to all the merkins in the makeup truck.")

SPARTACUS to Include Lots of Sex, Violence -- and Human Drama

The Torch Online - 29 July 2009

In a presentation today at the annual Television Critics Association conference in Pasadena, the producers and stars of the upcoming series Spartacus: Blood and Sand emphasized that it pushes the limits of what's been seen on television, with graphic violence and plenty of sex and nudity, but that it's all in the service of a well-told story involving compelling characters.

"Nudity?" said co-star Lucy Lawless after being asked if she gets naked in the the first season. "I'm afraid so. Not entirely, no, and I'm kind of praying that day never comes."

Read Full Article

Rob at Spartacus Comic Con Panel - Video

2009-07-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

Comic Con Spartacus Panel Video Now Online

Added video of the Spartacus Panel at Comic Con which was filmed by Lori. Part 1 and 2 of the Spartacus Panel with Lucy, Rob, Peter Mensah, Stephen DeKnight and Erin Cummins.

Can also be viewed on the AUSXIP YouTube Channel

PART 1

PART 2

Comic-Con, Day 3: Don't Mess With Spartacus

2009-07-25T15:43:00.001-07:00

Comic-Con, Day 3: Don't Mess With Spartacus
Posted on July 25th, 2009
By Stacey Harrison

Today's highlight was a sneak preview of the upcoming Starz gladiator epic, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Or, as you'll see as we get closer to the January premiere date, the TV version of 300. In describing the sex and violence quotient, the moderator said, "It's going to make Rome look like Full House."

Included on the panel were Lucy Lawless, who plays Lucretia, wife of the Spartacus' master; Erin Cummings, who plays Sura, Spartacus' long-suffering wife; Peter Mensah -- who was actually in 300, as the Persian messenger who gets kicked down that hole by Leonidas -- plays Doctore, the trainer of the gladiators; producer (and Lawless' hubby) Robert Tapert; and writer and producer Steven DeKnight, who looks more like a UFC promoter than a show runner. Spartacus himself was supposed to show up, but newcomer Andy Whitfield had to beg off due to the production schedule.

DeKnight says the story is far different from the one made famous in the 1960 Stanley Kubrick epic that starred Kirk Douglas. There is much more to the historical story of Spartacus than was told there. Yes, Spartacus led a slave revolution that nearly brought the Roman Empire to its knees, but what was his life like before. That is where Blood and Sand spends much of its 13-episode first season, making very good use of the relaxed standards that come with being on a premium network. "Starz told us, push it a little further," DeKnight said. "When you cross the line, we'll tell you."

Lawless said she will not get to make use of the fighting skills she learned during all those years on Xena: Warrior Princess. Instead, she spends a lot of time getting physical in a different way with the gladiators in her husband's stable. She is desperate to have a baby, and her husband, Batiatus (John Hannah), is unable to give her one, forcing her to look for help elsewhere. That aside, the couple does have a workable relationship, but their push for power drives them to become the Lady and Lord Macbeth of the piece.

For more news - check out Comic Con Spartacus Panel News & Pics

Spartacus Panel Photos Now Online

2009-07-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

Lori has reported in with some FABULOUS pictures from the panel. All of the pics are of Lucy, Rob and Erin. There are more to come. 18 photos have been posted.

Click here to view the images

Behind The Scenes Production Video and Interviews

2009-07-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

The official Spartacus site has released a Behind The Scenes productiaon video and interviews with Steven DeKnight (writer and exec producer), Rob Tapert, Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), Andy Whitfield (Spartacus), Craig Parker (Glaber) John Hannah (Batiatus), Manu Bennett (Crixus) and Viva Bianca (Ilithya)

It's quite a cool look behind the scenes.

Official Spartacus Trailer Promo Released

2009-07-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Holy Moly this is incredible! Absofrigginlutely incredible. I was excited about the show before I saw visuals and now that I've seen the visuals, WOW. I LOVED the movie 300 and anything that is set in Rome or Greece and this looks to be on par with that and beyond. Lucy looks AMAZING. Andy looks INCREDIBLE! Rob has created another gem!

Watch the trailer

Rob at Spartacus Panel at Comic Con

2009-07-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

Here they come - Pictures, Video and Reports from the Spartacus Panel!

Pictures

Lori has reported in with some FABULOUS pictures from the panel. All of the pics are of Lucy, Rob and Erin. There are more to come. 18 photos have been posted.

Click here to view the images

Lucy visited Ausiello (from TV Guide) and
"A Comic-Con veteran just dropped in and gave me the best interview ever "

Click here for the larger scan

There are two pics of Lucy currently on the web of her out and about at Comic Con and looking absolutely fabulous!
Twitter Pic #1 | Twitter Pic #2

Reports

The reports and articles are coming through...here's a list of articles:

Is anyone surprised that Lucy stole the show at Comic Con?

San Diego Entertainer Magazine - 24 July 2009

Lucy Lawless steals the show at "Spartacus" panel

We just got out of the panel for Starz' upcoming new series, Spartacus. They're making their presence known here this weekend, nabbing the lanyard rights and subsequently turning everyone with passes hanging from their necks into walking advertisements. Every question from the audience was to Lucy Lawless. With all the salivating males around, this is hardly surprising. The trailer was great, but, for most guys there, all they needed to know was that it was basically a show where Lucy gets naked.

LA Times Blog - 24 July 2009

Comic-Con: 'Spartacus' death toll 'like nothing you've seen'

"This will have a death toll like nothing you've seen on television before," vowed writer-producer Steven DeKnight of "Spartacus," Starz's new sword-and-sandals epic coming in January.

The premium channel unveiled the trailer during a Comic-Con panel today, and indeed the series looks gory. And full of naked bodies! Imagine the nudity of HBO's "Rome," the violence of "Gladiator" and the look of "300," and you'll have a good idea of what "Spartacus" is like.

It's "big fun back on the small screen," as star Lucy Lawless, the erstwhile Xena, told the crowd. And here's something you don't hear often from producers: The network wanted them to push the envelope even more. "There have been times when Starz has told us, push it a little further. We'll tell you when you cross the line," DeKnight said.

For all that, though, he added that the violence is more "operatic" rather than realistic. The nudity, meanwhile, forced Lawless to hit the gym. "I do have to work out," she said. "Being naked on-screen is no fun."

Beyond Hollywood - 24 July 2007

Comic-Con '09 Coverage, Featured, Spartacus: Blood and Sand TV Series, TV News, Videos -- By Nix on July 24, 2009

This was one of the panels at Comic-Con that I was most curious about. You've probably heard all the stories, since we've been covering the Starz show from Day 1. It's not supposed to be your father's Spartacus. Bloody violence, sex, nudity -- all that good stuff they couldn't have gotten away with if they were on network TV or syndication. And after having seen an extended trailer from the show at the Spartacus: Blood and Sand panel, I can safely say that Yes, I think they were right to make those promises. This really isn't my father's Spartacus, and oh hell yeah this thing has tons of bloody violence, nudity, and sex.

The panel was attended by castmembers Lucy Lawless (she plays Lucretia, the scheming wife (Lawless describes her as Lady MacBeth) of the guy who runs the Gladiator training facility known as the Ludus), Erin Cummings (she plays Sura, Spartacus' wife), Peter Mensah (Doctore, the gladiator's trainer), and executive producers Rob Tapert and Steven S. DeKnight, also the show's writer.

Read More

Channel Guide Magazine - 25 July 2009

Comic-Con, Day 3: Don't Mess With Spartacus
Posted on July 25th, 2009
By Stacey Harrison

Today's highlight was a sneak preview of the upcoming Starz gladiator epic, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Or, as you'll see as we get closer to the January premiere date, the TV version of 300. In describing the sex and violence quotient, the moderator said, "It's going to make Rome look like Full House."

Included on the panel were Lucy Lawless, who plays Lucretia, wife of the Spartacus' master; Erin Cummings, who plays Sura, Spartacus' long-suffering wife; Peter Mensah -- who was actually in 300, as the Persian messenger who gets kicked down that hole by Leonidas -- plays Doctore, the trainer of the gladiators; producer (and Lawless' hubby) Robert Tapert; and writer and producer Steven DeKnight, who looks more like a UFC promoter than a show runner. Spartacus himself was supposed to show up, but newcomer Andy Whitfield had to beg off due to the production schedule.

DeKnight says the story is far different from the one made famous in the 1960 Stanley Kubrick epic that starred Kirk Douglas. There is much more to the historical story of Spartacus than was told there. Yes, Spartacus led a slave revolution that nearly brought the Roman Empire to its knees, but what was his life like before. That is where Blood and Sand spends much of its 13-episode first season, making very good use of the relaxed standards that come with being on a premium network. "Starz told us, push it a little further," DeKnight said. "When you cross the line, we'll tell you."

Lawless said she will not get to make use of the fighting skills she learned during all those years on Xena: Warrior Princess. Instead, she spends a lot of time getting physical in a different way with the gladiators in her husband's stable. She is desperate to have a baby, and her husband, Batiatus (John Hannah), is unable to give her one, forcing her to look for help elsewhere. That aside, the couple does have a workable relationship, but their push for power drives them to become the Lady and Lord Macbeth of the piece.

For more news - check out Comic Con Spartacus Panel News & Pics

Report from Annie:

The footage looks AMAZING!!! Lots of nekkid bodies, male and female, gory fights with a visual style similar to 300. Lucy and Rob's nameplates were reversed-there was a humorous moment when Lucy covertly switched them to their proper place amongst audience giggles. Lucy said she has no fighting but has to work out for the revealing scenes. ;-) When a fan asked Lucy for her nameplate, she heaved a mock annoyed sigh and threw it off the stage to the guy-was hilarious!

Photos from Annie and Lori will be added to the the AUSXIP Spartacus Galleries
Only a couple of photos from Annie - more will be coming soon

From Natali Del Conte's site: "I am a correspondent for The CBS Early Show and WCBS and a host on CNET TV. My daily newscast on CNET TV is called Loaded and I am a co-host of the daily podcast Buzz Out Loud."

She tweeted: natalidelconte: "Feel like an entertainment reporter. Interviews with Terri Hatcher, Danny DeVito, Lucy Lawless, and Big Bang Theory cast."

Panel photo by http://www.yfrog.com/froggy.php?username=Scorpio_Sky
http://img248.yfrog.com/i/5ic.jpg/

TeelaJBrown tweets:
Lucy Lawless: "I am not playing a role model"

lifeonqueen tweets: Not surprisingly, Lucy Lawless is pratically the only one getting questions. #spartacus

TeelaJBrown: blurry lucy lawless (sorry) #sdcc http://sml.vg/rwcZeP

kphipps3000: Watching a panel for SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND. Lucy Lawless should have more roles with her natural accent.

lifeonqueen: Lucy Lawless gets the biggest laugh when asked about preparations for the role: "No, darling, I've been evil for years." #SPARTACUS #sdcc

lifeonqueen: I know lots of people who are going to be trilled that Lucy Lawless has just announced she's going to be naked onscreen in SPARTACUS #sdcc

gpcrush: Spartacus looks hot! its Rome, 300 and Gladiator mixed n2 one. Lucy Lawless looks gorgeous & regal. love her! #fb

mvrivero: @ewausiellofiles http://twitpic.com/bgzgb - OMG!!! Lucy Lawless is sooooooooooo GORGEOUS!!! what a lucky guy!!!

Starz Sends 'Spartacus'' Lawless, Tapert, DeKnight to Comic-Con TV Week

2009-07-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

Starz will give San Diego Comic-Con International attendees a first look at its new series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" on July 24.

The network will present a panel with stars Lucy Lawless, Peter Mensah, Andy Whitfield and executive producers Rob Tapert and Steven S. DeKnight.

The panel will also feature the unveiling of an exclusive comic book mini-series inspired by the series with a special Comic-Con cover from Devil's Due Publishing.

The series is slated to premiere in January 2010.

Source

Starz Announces Spartacus: Blood and Sand Panel at Comic Con '09

2009-07-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

The world of gladiators comes to life as the Roman Republic's most brutal fighters clash in the ultimate arena. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is an entirely new vision of the ancient legend and will utilize virtual environments giving it a unique graphic novel look and style, along with a fresh narrative approach. Debuting exclusively on Starz, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" in January 2010 is produced by Starz Media with Executive Producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Joshua Donen.

Starz's new "Spartacus" series was inspired by the actual slave of the Roman Republic who in 73 BC led a slave revolt that grew to more than 120,000 fighters. Defying the Roman Republic's legions of soldiers, they campaigned for two years through much of what is now Italy before succumbing to a much larger army. The new series will tell a new set of stories rich in character, action, sex and combat.

This series, including 13 one-hour episodes, is executive produced by heavy-hitters Sam Raimi (Spider-Man and Evil Dead), Rob Tapert (The Grudge, "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys") and Steven DeKnight ("Smallville," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). Production, based in New Zealand, runs through the end of October.

Comic-Con '09 takes place on July 23rd to July 26th in San Diego, California.

News submitted by Barbara Davies

Rob Interview - Hell Bound - Total SciFi Online

2009-05-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

Rob was interviewed for TotalSciFic Online site about his new movie "Drag Me To Hell"

Rob Tapert: Hell Bound

Rob Tapert has built quite a legacy with his childhood friend Sam Raimi. Indeed, Tapert has produced The Evil Dead series, opened up Ghost House Pictures with the erstwhile Spider-Man director (which gave the world Boogeyman, The Grudge and 30 Days of Night), and, most recently, overseen Raimi’s eagerly anticipated return to terror with Drag me to Hell. Calum Waddell caught up with Tapert for the following exclusive interview...

Read full interview

Rob Tapert Interview: The "Fanboy" Behind "Legend of the Seeker" and "Xena"

2009-04-28T01:36:00.000-07:00

Brent just sent me a heads up about his full Rob Tapert interview on
thetorchonline.com - check it out!

Rob Tapert Interview: The “Fanboy” Behind “Legend of the Seeker” and “Xena”

Posted on 27 April 2009 by Brent Hartinger, Editor

It’s hard not to be impressed by Rob Tapert. Along with his creative partners Sam Raimi and Joshua Donen, the man is responsible for some of the best, and most influential fantasy television of all time: first, Xena: Warrior Princess, which starred his wife Lucy Lawless, and now Legend of the Seeker, a surprisingly watchable adaptation of the Terry Goodkind’s The Sword of Truth novels.

Recently, I chatted with Rob via phone from New Zealand, and he soon made it clear what a perfectionist he is — which is an obvious source of frustration in the blindingly fast production pace of series television. As of this posting, Legend of the Seeker has still not officially been picked up for a second season (although things look very good), but that hasn’t stopped Tapert from micro-analyzing everything about the first season and gearing up for an even better second one.

Read the interview

No Xena Movie - Rob Tapert Interview

2009-04-21T23:09:00.000-07:00

Well we all kind of figured this was going to happen (or more to the point not happen) but now Rob has confirmed it. There will be NO Xena movie (at least not with Lucy and Renee in the roles).

Brent Hartinger interviewed Rob and sent me a note to alert me to his interview.

Exclusive: Xena Movie “Just Won’t Happen,” Says Creator Rob Tapert

Posted on 21 April 2009 by Brent Hartinger, Editor

Rob Tapert, the co-creator of television’s Xena: Warrior Princess, has given up hope that there will ever be a feature film version of the classic show, at least not any time soon or starring series leads Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor.

“It’s something that just won’t happen,” Tapert told TheTorchOnline.com in an exclusive interview. “I don’t think it’s going to happen for Lucy and Renee. In twenty years or ten years, in some amount of years, like McGyver, like Charlie’s Angels, it [could] happen like that [with other actresses].”

Click here to read full article

Rob and Lucy Attend The Cherry Orchard Play in New Zealand

2009-04-14T03:09:00.000-07:00

Rob and Lucy attended the opening of the Cherry Orchard play - 11 April 2009

The NZ Herald Blog mentions Lucy and Rob (and shock horror they moved seats!)

Lucy Lawless looked stunning in a sexy bob accessorised by her lovely hubby Rob Tapert. They drew whispers after the show's interval when the Hollywood couple jumped two rows to empty seats to be nearer to the stage.

Buy the Lucy and Rob photo from the NZ Herald Pix Site - do a search for Lucy Lawless.

Read more of the blog which also mentions other Xena alumni in attendance and the newest cast member for Spartacus.

Discuss this on AUSXIP Talking Xena - Lucy Chat