After bringing back a dead man for a new Spartacus sequel show, there’s another character Steven DeKnight would like to revisit, if not revive.
In a pre-release interview with ScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender, the Spartacus: House of Ashur creator revealed which other figure from the original series he would like to further explore, declaring there are “other stories I’d love to tell” in the so-called Sparta-verse.
“I’d love to go back before Ashur died and explore Gannicus,” DeKnight then said. “Because Dustin Clare is a fan favorite and I’d love to work with him again.”
With the show so locked in on its title character’s alternate timeline redemption arc, there just wasn’t room in House of Ashur for any other surprise revivals, DeKnight explained. “I was really focused on the Ashur character. I really love the idea of seeing a bad man try to be better.”
Clare’s Gannicus was introduced in Spartacus season 2, and was also featured in the prequel show Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. In a 2020 rundown of Spartacus characters who were underused, ScreenRant agreed with DeKnight in deeming Gannicus worthy of a bigger role.
“Between Gannicus’ superior fighting skills and his knack for offering some needed comic relief, it would have been nice to see the former champion of Capua in more than half the series,” the article proclaimed.
A further dive into Gannicus could perhaps lead to him developing some better relationship skills, after ScreenRant named him and Saxa one of Spartacus’ worst couples, calling out the drama that ensued between them after Sibyl began pursuing Gannicus.
“This caused Saxa to become insecure and overprotective,” the article explained. “She would constantly confront Sibyl and warn her to stay away from her man. This only created the reverse effect. Gannicus began ignoring Saxa and eventually dumped her for Sibyl who he stayed with until the time of his death.”
That death came via crucifixion in the Spartacus season 3 finale, after Saxa met her own tragic end earlier in the same episode.
Even without the charmingly anti-heroic Gannicus in the mix, Spartacus: House of Ashur has proven a critical success, boasting an initial 100% Rotten Tomatoes score that has since shrunk slightly to 92%.
If show creator DeKnight has his way, House of Ashur season 1 will not be the end of the line for the Spartacus sequel series.
“We roughly mapped out about five seasons, and that could be four seasons, could be seven seasons, all depending on how popular the show is,” DeKnight told ScreenRant back in July at San Diego Comic-Con.
Spartacus: House of Ashur comes out weekly on Starz, with the next episode set to drop on Friday, January 2.
Release Date
December 5, 2025
Directors
Rick Jacobson, Julian Holmes
