Rundown of the "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" Comic-Con Panel

[JamesG]

"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" ... and Dish at Comic Con
by Michael Maloney
posted Jul 24th 2010


The cast of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" including Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, Viva Bianca and executive producer Stephen S. DeKnight met in rooms 6B, C and F at Comic Con on Friday to talk about the show's upcoming season.






McKnight says there are changes ahead for the legendary title character in the Starz' series second season, which is set to return next January.

"As history tell us, Spartacus is going to become more and more socially conscious," the exec previews.

"He's going to start to see outside of his need for revenge and vengeance. He ends up leading a slave rebellion that almost brings down the Republic. There are always going to be personal stories for him, but slowly, he's going to start to see the bigger picture and do something about it."




"But he's still going to kill a lot of people?" asked the moderator.

"Quite a few," DeKnight replied.









DeKnight would love to see a chariot race in season two, but realizes there are economic factors to staging such a production.

"Maybe a miniature one?" he says. "I also want a 'Spartacus' Xbox game and and action figures."




The exec adds that viewers possibly haven't seen the last of John Hannah's Biatus either.

"We'll have some future flashbacks," he says. "If John's in the neighborhood, we'd love to have him."



Another possible returnee for some flashback action is Jai Courtney's Varros.

"He's a great guy," says McKnight.






DeKnight says he'd like to see the show continue with same-sex relationships, but without special references.

"They're just relationships," he says.











Fans and the actors praised the "Spartacus" show runner for his incredible writing.

"I might have learned something from my old boss Joss Whedon," DeKnight says.





Also, fans were naturally thrilled to see Whitfield looking so well after the actor had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma earlier this year.

The fit actor says he's had as little as 9 or 10% body fat and this season he may bulk up to 190 lbs.



"There's so much slow-motion that you'd know if it wasn't me," he says. "So I did a lot of falls. It kind of hurts, but you want to do again."


He recalls a 6'8" martial artist stuntman giving him the okay to strike him full force in one scene. "He said, 'You can hit me in the face.' On the third take, he said, 'That felt like 20%.'"











Bianca got a special thanks for one attendee for saving him $24 a month. "Thanks to you I no longer need the Playboy Channel."


"Spartacus" is shot all in doors, which sets fine with Bianca. "We have amazing sets, it's not all 'green screen,'" she noted. The actress does have one request -- that she become nicer next season.


"We can talk about it over dinner," DeKnight saids with a smile.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/07/24/sp...-at-comic-con/