Starz Casts Aussie Whitfield In Lead Role In Spartacus Series

Starz has imported an Australian to star in the title role of its upcoming drama gladiator drama Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
Andy Whitfield (McLeod's Daughters, which was syndicated on WE, Packed to the Rafters) will play the lead role, while New Zealand's Lucy Lawless of Xena: Warrior Princess and Battlestar Galactica, has been cast as Lucretia who along with her husband Batiatus own Ludus, the Roman gladiator camp.
The new series, production of which will begin in New Zealand on April 1, is set to premiere on Starz in January 2010.
The series will present a 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 is produced by Starz Media with executive producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Joshua Donen.