Q & A with Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight:
From the EW interview* with Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight here are some excerpted SPOILER quotes about Spartacus: Blood and Sand - Season 2 and comments on Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.
DeKnight: ...Gannicus (Dustin Clare) is one of Spartacus’ generals in the actual war. Our original plan was always to introduce Gannicus unto(?) storyline....We will set him up to at some point to come back.
Q: ‘At some point’? So not ... at the start of season two?
DeKnight: We’re still working on it. We don’t know when or how... He won’t pop up immediately.
DeKnight: ...The two major things Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) does — poisoning Titus and maneuvering her husband (John Hannah) to kill Tullius — are all done for love. Love of her husband and her friend, Gaia...
Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay) got so much development in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Will he be serving Lucretia like he did Batiatus in season two?
Ashur serves himself.... Who he aligns himself to is an ever-shifting arena all its own. I love the character... when you realize the reason he’s bad is he just wants a hug — he wants love and respect, but he can’t get it.... He’s going to have some amazing stuff in season two.
Liam McIntyre...plays Spartacus in season 2: (Comment on casting him):
De Knight: We saw a thousand people. It came down to a handful of choices. Liam was the only one who resembled Andy (Whitfield--originated the role--now too ill to work). What we really loved about Liam is he had an honesty and intensity and compassion and sympathy in his performance — something that Andy really brought to the role.
'Spartacus doesn’t come from a place of anger.' - DeKnight
Lucretia’s body slave, 'Naevia', played Lesley-Ann Brandt will not return for season 2:
DeKnight: That had to do with her contract and the lost period of time it’s taken to get back to season two. She moved to LA, is getting work and ... schedules couldn't be worked out... but in this show we weather characters dying and being recast.
(Confirm) Season 2 Spartacus:Blood & Sand is not coming until next January?...
DeKnight: We cannot air it until the end of January 2011. Our post-production process takes so long....and Starz has Camelot in the spring and Torchwood in the summer.
*Source:' 'Spartacus' creator talks 'Gods of the Arena' finale, epic season 2 plans'
After the jump: From Starz: Download Wallpapers from Spartacus: Gods of the Arena!