December 2009 Archives   30 December 2009 MidSeason To Remember: BloodBath & Beyond Comcast Channel Guide Magazine has a three page article on Spartacus: Comcast Channel Guide A MidSeason To Remember: BloodBath & Beyond Starz Takes A Stab At Spartacus It features quotes from Andy and Lucy about their characters.   Contributed / Scanned by Karen Click here to read     30 December 2009 New Spartacus Artwork by Klippart   Added new artwork by Klippart of Spartacus! Gorgeous. Click here to view   More Klippart's artwork:     29 December 2009 Channel Guide Interviews Andy Whitifield Channel Guide Magazine has a great interview with Andy which has just been posted: "An Appropriate Level Of Pain" "Spartacus" Star Andy Whitfield Talks About Getting Into Gladiator Shape After testing the waters of original programming with Head Case, Crash and Party Down, Starz makes its biggest splash yet with an extreme action epic that turns an ancient tale into a bacchanal of guts, glory and a generous helping of flesh. Spartacus: Blood and Sand (Fridays beginning Jan. 22) -- in addition to taking full advantage of the freedom that comes with airing on a premium channel -- marries the graphic-novel visuals of 300 to the dramatics of Gladiator, and in the process promises to make a star out of Aussie newcomer Andy Whitfield. Writer/executive producer Steven S. DeKnight says Whitfield fit the bill both as a new face and as an example of rugged masculinity. "When Andy came in, he looked like everything I imagined [Spartacus] should look like," DeKnight says. "I remember the first day on the set, when he showed up with the hair and the Thracian uniform, it was like, 'My God, this guy is just perfect.' His acting is fantastic, and there's a warmth to him that really comes out, but there's also a hardness that he can play. ... We needed a man to play this part." Whitfield says he hasn't had much time to ponder his sudden rise from TV roles Down Under to the lead in a major Hollywood series. Much like his character, he's just been trying to survive. He took some time to talk with us about his sudden rise in profile, as well as the mental adjustment that needed to accompany learning how to fight like a gladiator. Read Full Interview News submitted by Barbara Davies     26 December 2009 Spartacus Series Hand Held Promo Mask Well this is .. interesting <g> This item has appeared on ebay and if you are collecting Sparty goodies..well this is different. Featuring Spartacus, Lucretia and Batiatus. The seller states: This auction is for 1 hand held mask from the original Starz series Spartacus measures approx. 13x6. Cut outs above the eyebrow to see out of. Can also double as a fan. Great for the collector, a handsome addition to the New Years Eve Masquarade Ball! Click here to bid on Ebay     24 December 2009 Spartacus Art - New Artist + More Artwork I'm very pleased to welcome KatXena to the AUSXIP Spartacus Artwork section.   Click here to view her artwork     New Artwork by Mesh Click here to view her artwork     The new AUSXIP Spartacus Artwork section is now open for submissions. After the show premieres and you would like to create some artwork based on the show or the current promo images which are now online, you can submit it to maryd@ausxip.com Any images on AUSXIP Spartacus Blood and Sand can used in your artwork and that includes upcoming episode stills, screencaptures, promo images etc. Since the show contains nudity and this site is general access, artwork containing full frontal nudity for the women and men / breasts for the women will not be accepted. Submission doesn't guarantee your artwork will be accepted. This rule strictly needs to be followed. Type: The artwork can be hand-drawn art or graphical manipulation Resolution: any resolution you wish but the higher resolution is better Based on the same rules that are in place for the AUSXIP Xenaverse Art Section. Artwork submitted here: maryd@ausxip.com     24 December 2009 UGO - Meet The Gladiators Video Exclusive - Spartacus: Blood and Sand Behind The Scenes Clip Yesterday we showed you some sexy new promo images for Starz upcoming series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. I say "sexy" because bloody sand is sexy when it looks like this! Today, to futher whet your appetite for gladiatorial carnage, we've got an exclusive behind the scenes clip featuring interviews with the cast. You might think of Spartacus as a blood-thirsty slave warrior hell bent on revenge but according to the man who plays the legendary warrior, Andy Whitfield, he's "just a regular guy." Hey, we all have our issues. Find out more about what it takes to swing a sword and shield in the world of Spartacus in the clip below and make the jump for the latest Spartacus: Blood and Sand trailer! Source     24 December 2009 Gladiator Lives To Fight Again - Herald Sun LITTLE-known Aussie actor Andy Whitfield has had Christmas come early with news that Spartacus: Blood and Sand has been picked up for a second series. The first series is yet to be aired in the US; however, pay TV network Starz is so confident it will attract viewers that it green-lighted the new season. The 13-episode second series will be called Spartacus: Vengeance and will be filmed in New Zealand. Whitfield was a virtual unknown when he landed the lead role in the gladiator series this year. He had appeared in small roles on Home and Away, All Saints, McLeod’s Daughters, The Strip, and Packed to the Rafters. Spartacus also stars Lucy Lawless, John Hannah and Peter Mensah. Source: Herald Sun 24/12/09     23 December 2009 MensHealth Spartacus Workout Video Spartacus Workout This cutting-edge circuit routine will strip away fat and define every muscle in your body. By Adam Campbell and Rachel Cosgrove, C.S.C.S. To create the Spartacus workout, we chose 10 exercises that collectively work every part of your body, and then placed each at a 60-second station, in order to challenge your heart and lungs as well as your muscles. The final product: A high-intensity circuit that’s designed to burn away fat, define your chest, abs, and arms, and send your fitness levels soaring. So you’ll sculpt a lean, athletic-looking body—while getting in the best shape of your life. Directions Do The Spartacus Workout 3 days a week. You can either use the routine as your primary weight workout, or if you’re already in great shape, you can use it as a “cardio” workout on the days between your regular weight workouts. For more weight workouts that you can pair with The Spartacus Workout, check out The Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises. Perform the Spartacus Workout as a circuit, doing one set of each exercise—or “station” in succession. Each station in the circuit lasts for 60 seconds. Do as many reps as you can in that duration (with perfect form), then move on to the next station in the circuit. Give yourself 15 seconds to transition between stations, and rest for 2 minutes after you’ve done one circuit of all 10 exercises. Then repeat 2 times. If you can’t go for the entire minute on an exercise, go as long as you can, rest for a few seconds, then go again until your time at that station is up. This will allow you to customize the workout to your current fitness level. Also, if using weights makes some exercises too difficult, simply perform the same movement without holding the dumbbells. Read More     23 December 2009 Official Spartacus Marketing Photo Set Starz have posted on their Facebook page a Photo set which is marked as Spartacus's Photos - Spartacus: Blood and Sand Marketing Set.                 Click here to view larger images     22 December 2009 Official Spartacus Merchandise Now Available Starz has authorised GoldLabel to sell Official Spartacus Merchandise and the following designs appear on quite a few items including t-shirts, bags, water bottles etc. Check them out here                     News submitted by Barbara Davies     22 December 2009 Spartacus Renewed For Season 2 - Press Release Hot off the presses...here is the official word on Sparty getting a Season 2! News Release Issued: December 21, 2009 2:17 PM EST Starz Returns to the Arena With More 'Spartacus' Second Season of Highly Anticipated Action Adventure Series Gets Green Light Prior To January 22 Premiere BURBANK, Calif., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- In a bold vote of confidence, Starz executives announced plans today to order a second season of the ground-breaking new original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," set to premiere Friday, January 22nd at 10 pm ET/PT. The unusual timing of the renewal, more than one month prior to the debut of the highly anticipated program, gives returning executive producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight (who is also the head writer on the show) the green light to start production in New Zealand on 13 new episodes in the first quarter of 2010. "We couldn't be happier with the first season. Spartacus delivers on all levels - action, characters, intrigue, romance and excitement," said Starz Entertainment EVP, Programming, Stephan Shelanski. "Spartacus is the most ambitious original project we've ever undertaken, and speaks to the commitment to our subscribers to provide truly original programming along with our unmatched lineup of theatrical features." "Steven S. DeKnight and his team of writers have created a rich narrative that lays the groundwork for more great stories," added Executive Producer Rob Tapert. "The slave rebellion led by Spartacus and the oh-so-current political intrigue and personal dynamics laid out in the first season provide rich source material for the second season and beyond." The title of the second season is expected to be "Spartacus: Vengeance," but other details are being kept under wraps, so as not to spoil any of the sure-to-shock plot twists the first season promises to deliver. Nearly 4 million moviegoers saw the new "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" trailer in theaters over the weekend and it is expected to hit wide online today. Continue reading Spartacus Renewed For Season 2 - Press Release.     19 December 2009 Spartacus Billboard in Los Angeles Spartacus Billboard in LA featuring Spartacus, Lucretia, Batiatus and Doctore! RT @Scorpio_Sky: Spotted in Los Angeles #Spartacus billboard! #lucylawless @spartacus_starz http://twitpic.com/u2ca7 Click here to view the larger version on Twitter     17 December 2009 Spartacus Wallpapers from Official Spartacus Site Starz has released some FANTASTIC wallpapers! Check these out and they are all available in sizes ranging from 1920 x 1200 and 1920 x 1400. Click here to download     17 December 2009 Spartacus Artwork Section Open For Submissions The new AUSXIP Spartacus Artwork section is now open for submissions. After the show premieres and you would like to create some artwork based on the show, you can submit it to artworksubmission@ausxip.com Since the show contains nudity and this site is general access, artwork containing full frontal nudity for the women and men / breasts for the women will not be accepted. Submission doesn't guarantee your artwork will be accepted. This rule strictly needs to be followed. Type: The artwork can be hand-drawn art or graphical manipulation Resolution: any resolution you wish but the higher resolution is better Based on the same rules that are in place for the AUSXIP Xenaverse Art Section. Artwork submitted here: artworksubmission@ausxip.com     17 December 2009 Canadians Get Sneak Preview of Spartacus 12 January 2010 Rome's legendary gladiator comes alive in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a new Starz original series premiering on The Movie Network and Movie Central - The graphic and visceral series premieres Monday, January 25, 2010 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT - Sneak preview begins Tuesday, January 12, 2010 online and on demand TORONTO, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - The brutal, primitive and electrifying world of gladiators bolts to life on Astral Media's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada) with the debut of the new Starz action-adventure original drama series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, premiering Monday, January 25, 2010 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Weaving together stories rich in character, action, sex and combat, the series uses a unique graphic look and style and a fresh narrative approach to tell the ancient story of the Roman Republic's most famous rebel. Andy Whitfield stars as the legendary gladiator warrior Spartacus, a soldier in the Roman Auxiliary who is torn from his homeland and the woman he loves and taken prisoner after defying a Roman Legate. Condemned to the gory brutality of the gladiator arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment, Spartacus' sentence is commuted after he survives numerous fights and he's sold as a slave to a wealthy couple who hope to regain their status in the viscous world of gladiatorial contests. The series also stars Lucy Lawless and John Hannah as Lucretia and Batiatus, the scheming couple who own Spartacus and a gladiator camp, Ludus; Erin Cummings as Spartacus' Thracian wife Sura; Peter Mensah as Doctore, Batiatus' most loyal and trusted slave; Manu Bennett as Crixus, the top gladiator at Ludus; Antonio Te Maioha as Barca, Batiatus' bodyguard and hit man; Craig Parker as Glaber, a Roman Legate who blames Spartacus for his failed military campaign; and Nick E. Tarabay as Ashur, a former gladiator who is now the Ludus' resident bookie. Spartacus: Blood and Sand is 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 legion of soldiers, they campaigned for two years through much of what is now Italy before succumbing to a much larger army. The series is executive produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight. Continue reading Canadians Get Sneak Preview of Spartacus 12 January 2010.     16 December 2009 Spartacus Magazine Promos - TV Guide & Emmy Magazine The PR has started for the January premiere and today's scans are from the US TV Guide Dec 21 - Jan 3 issue (many thanks to JulieH for the scan) and The Emmy Magazine Issue 6, 2009. Click here to view     16 December 2009 Spartacus Article & Promo Pics Emmy Magazine Emmy Magazine Issue 6, 2009 has a spectacular 10 page article on Spartacus Blood and Sand. Fantastic article with some very interesting info in it. Included in the promo pics is the elusive Lucretia and Batiatus couple shot that we've seen a small version of. This version takes the whole page :) It's available to buy online at Zinio.com. Emmy Magazine Issue 6, 2009 Price $5.00 USD http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416109427&o=int&prev=si&p=62 starting page 55 and it also has a spectacular promo advert for the show near the front of the magazine. The cover is The Simpsons     14 December 2009 Official Spartacus Press Page - Spartacus The Official Spartacus Press page has been updated with rotating images and character info and episode stills. If you click on the character name you get the bio and episode stills of the character. Click on the thumbnails to view the larger image   Click here to view the Press page Click here for more about Spartacus Click here to view Official Spartacus Episode Stills for Episodes 1 - 5 News submitted by Barbara Davies     13 December 2009 Official Starz Episode Stills For Episodes 1-5 Starz has officially released HQ episode stills for the first 5 episodes and they have been posted to the Episode Stills Gallery - If you wish to remain spoiler free..don't look!   Episode 1 - The Red Serpent 6 Images     Episode 2 - Sacramentum Gladiatorum 15 Images       Episode 3 - Legends 13 Images     Episode 4 - The Thing in the Pit 12 Images   Episode 5 - TBA 14 Images     13 December 2009 Spartacus in Canada 25 Jan 2010 + Photos For Canadians, Spartacus to air 25 January 2010 on The Movie Network There is a higher resolution photo of Spartacus on the main page (click on the thumbnail for the larger scan)   Click here to view site The episode pages have the following episode stills         Click here to view site     12 December 2009 Play The Spartacus Photo Game The Official Spartacus site has an online game you can play. For those wanting to remain spoiler free, there are episode images involved. Play The Spartacus Photo Game. News submitted by Barbara Davies     12 December 2009 Play The Spartacus Photo Game The Official Spartacus site has an online game you can play. For those wanting to remain spoiler free, there are episode images involved. Play The Spartacus Photo Game. News submitted by Barbara Davies     12 December 2009 Official Spartacus Episode Pages Episode 3-6 - Pic Spoilers For those keeping spoiler free (including not seeing pictures which is going to be mega difficult), don't read further. For those not keeping spoiler free the episode names / pages have been added to the Official Spartacus site. Episode 1.03 - Legends Episode 1.04 - The Thing In The Pit Episode 1.05 - TBA   Episode 1.06 - Delicate Things Episode 1.07 - Great And Unfortunate Things No image yet Click here to view AUSXIP Spartacus Episode Guide News submitted by Barbara Davies     10 December 2009 New Wallpaper - Spartacus Created this wallpaper inspired by the new promo pictures that have been posted to the Character Promo Pages - I'm hoping to create a few for each character.     5 December 2009 Official Starz Character Promo Images Now Online Starz has officially released promo character images for all the main characters on Spartacus Blood and Sand. These are now up on the Character Gallery on AUSXIP Spartacus Blood and Sand - check them out! Enjoy!           01 Spartacus 02 Lucretia 02a Lucretia and Batatius 03 Sura 04 Batatius 05 Doctore 06 Ilithya 06a Ilithya and Glaber 07 Glaber 08 Crixus 09 Varro 10 Asher 11 Barca 12 Naevia 13 Senator Albinius     5 December 2009 Official Spartacus Sweepstakes + Promo Pics Official Spartacus competition open to Starz affiliates - Rome is Calling Sweepstakes CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES, ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP TO ROME, ITALY You and a guest could experience the beauty of Rome. Simply enter the Rome is Calling Sweepstakes. Read Rules | Entry Form GRAND PRIZE: Includes round-trip air travel, 7 days/6 nights first class hotel accommodations, 48 hour pass for Hop On/Hop Off double-decker bus tour, $1,000 spending money and tax assistance funding. 300 FIRST PRIZES: Spartacus Gift Packs Enter once every day during the sweepstakes to increase your chance of winning. Betrayed by the Romans. Forced into slavery. Reborn as a Gladiator. The classic tale of the Republic's most infamous rebel comes alive in the graphic and visceral new series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment. But not all battles are fought upon the sands. Treachery, corruption, and the allure of sensual pleasures will constantly test Spartacus. To survive, he must become more than a man. More than a gladiator. He must become a legend. News submitted by Barbara Davies     4 December 2009 New Spartacus Promo Images on Official Site The official Spartacus site has the following rotating images which have just been added. Featuring Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), John Hannah (Batatius), Andy Whitfield (Spartacus) and Peter Mensah (Doctore) Click here for view     Read More Archives