Syfy Acquires the Rights to Starz’ Spartacus |

Syfy has been acquiring several shows to mix in with their original programming, but none quite like Spartacus. This is a Starz original series with 39 episodes, and, just like Starz’ other shows, Spartacus is chock full of nudity, sex, and gory violence. It’s very interesting that Syfy will be playing it on basic cable- I can’t help but wonder how that’s going to work. If they get away with playing this series unedited I will be shocked… and very pleased. I for one, hope they are able to air it full of the butts, boobs, and violence it was intended to have so I can get caught up on my favorite titillating swords and sandals show. It is what it is, and I like it. Spartacus will air on Syfy Thursday, June 26 at 10pm (ET/PT).

Here’s a run down of the show from the press release:

Spartacus 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 told a new set of stories rich in character, action, sex and combat centered on the title character. As punishment for defying a Roman Legate, Spartacus was sentenced to die in the gladiator arena. But after surviving numerous fights, his sentence was commuted and sold as a slave to be trained as a gladiator.Spartacus was executive produced by Rob Tapert (The Grudge, Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys), Steven S. DeKnight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Sam Raimi (Spider-Man and The Evil Dead), and Joshua Donen (The Quick and the Dead). The lead and title character was originally played by the beloved late Andy Whitfield. Following Whitfield’s departure from the series in 2010, Liam McIntyre was recast as the title character.

Additional cast members included: Lucy Lawless (Xenia: Warrior Princess) as Lucretia, who along with her husband Batiatus (John Hannah), owned the slave Spartacus and the original gladiator camp; Erin Cummings (Dollhouse) as Sura, Spartacus’ wife; Peter Mensah (300, Avatar) as Doctore; Manu Bennett (30 Days of Night, The Condemned) as Crixus; Craig Parker (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Legend of the Seeker) as Glaber, Ilithyia (Accidents Happen), played by Viva Bianca; Nick E. Tarabay (Crash, The Sopranos) as Ashur, Dustin Clare (Underbelly, Satisfaction) as Gannicus; and Todd Lasance as Gaius Julius Caesar.