Spartacus is back—with a twist. More than a decade after the franchise ended its run, Starz is diving back into the arena with Spartacus: House of Ashur, a bold, alternate-universe chapter anchored in violence, politics, and a new kind of warrior.
Premiering the official trailer during its San Diego Comic-Con panel, Starz gave fans a gritty glimpse of what’s ahead: stylized fights, Roman betrayal, and the rise of a gladiatrix not here to play games.
Nick E. Tarabay reprises his role as Ashur, in a version of the story where his character survived the events of Spartacus: Vengeance and was rewarded with control over the very gladiator school that once enslaved him. Now in charge of the ludus, Ashur is no longer a pawn—he’s the one setting the board.
But surviving Roman politics may be the real blood sport.
A standout in the trailer is Achillia, a rare female fighter played by Tenika Davis, who brings fire, strength, and something the franchise hasn’t seen before. Her presence disrupts the hierarchy of the male-dominated arena—and she’s clearly not waiting for permission to take up space.
From the looks of it, House of Ashur doesn’t shy away from what made the original franchise a phenomenon. There’s no shortage of swordplay, sweat, or spilled blood. But it’s also expanding the world: introducing new power players, and challenging tradition with characters like Achillia pushing the genre forward.
The cast also includes Graham McTavish, Jamaica Vaughan, Ivana Baquero, Jordi Webber, Claudia Black, Jaime Slater, India Shaw-Smith, and Leigh Gill.
Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight returns as showrunner, calling the series a “history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience.” He executive produces alongside Rick Jacobson and Aaron Helbing.
Liam McIntyre, who played Spartacus in later seasons, moderated the SDCC panel, which opened with a heartfelt moment honoring the late Andy Whitfield, the original Spartacus.
Spartacus: House of Ashur is produced by Lionsgate Television and will premiere this winter on Starz. Previous chapters of the franchise, including Blood and Sand, Gods of the Arena, Vengeance, and War of the Damned, are currently streaming on the Starz app