Starz has cancelled Spartacus: House of Ashur after one season. The reboot, which began last December and ended in February, failed to win over viewers.
Starz pulled the plug on one of its biggest historical bets after a single season, turning a long-anticipated reboot into a short run.
Spartacus: House of Ashur has been cancelled after its first season. The season began last December and concluded in February, leaving the series with no second chapter.
The show was billed as a continuation of a franchise that dates back to 2010. Created by Steven S. DeKnight (Daredevil), the series takes place in an alternate universe where the treacherous Ashur—played by Nick E. Tarabay (The Expanse)—is not beheaded by the rebellious slave Naebia on Mount Vesuvius. Instead, Ashur survives and is handed control of the gladiator school he once worked to build a life around.
From there. the story follows Ashur as he navigates Roman politics with a new top warrior at his side: Achillia. the Nubian gladiatrix played by Tenika Davis (Jupiter’s Legacy). The series also starred Graham McTavish (House of the Dragon). Claudia Black (Farscape). Ivana Baquero (Pan’s Labyrinth). Leigh Gill (Joker). and Jordi Webber (Prosper).
A reboot was the promise—an update to a historical hit placed back into the spotlight. But the ratings “delivered their verdict,” and Starz has now ended the gamble after just one season.
Starz Spartacus: House of Ashur cancellation one season Steven S. DeKnight Nick E. Tarabay Tenika Davis Graham McTavish Claudia Black Ivana Baquero Leigh Gill Jordi Webber
Damn, I didn’t even finish it.
One season?? That seems like they canceled it because it wasn’t woke enough or something. Like why even bring it back if they were gonna cut it that fast. Also the Spartacus name should’ve sold itself.
So the Ashur guy doesn’t get beheaded and then it still flops? I feel like they changed the whole thing and people were like “wait where’s the old cast” even though it’s a continuation or whatever. I swear STARZ does this, greenlight stuff then yank it once the first numbers come in.
I watched like 2 episodes and then got busy, so maybe I’m part of the problem lol. But I don’t know, Roman politics + gladiators sounds good on paper and still felt kinda slow? Also Achillia or whatever—Tenika Davis—she’s great, so it’s weird Starz didn’t give it more than a quick trial run. Maybe they expected it to be as huge as the 2010 thing overnight.