"Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena", the STARZ Original series, now available from Anchor Bay Entertainment on Blu-ray and DVD, is the two-disc prequel of episodes to "Spartacus: Blood And Sand", with additonal new featurettes and behind-the-scenes footage, including a set tour with series actor Lucy Lawless.
The Blu-ray also offers extended episodes and audio commentary.
Also included is a 3D 'Ring Of Fire' battle sequence, a first for TV on Blu-Ray.
The opportunity to produce"Gods of the Arena" emerged when the second season of the ground-breaking series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" was halted after lead actor Andy Whitfield became seriously ill.
Series creator, executive producer Steven S. DeKnight expanded a single flashback episode, for the second season of "Spartacus" into a six-part "Gods Of The Arena" mini-series, debuting January 21, 2011.
Also executive produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Joshua Donen, "Spartacus; Gods Of The Arena", follows 'Gannicus', a gladiator aspiring to become 'Champion of Capua' and the 'House of Batiatus':
Also executive produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Joshua Donen, "Spartacus; Gods Of The Arena", follows 'Gannicus', a gladiator aspiring to become 'Champion of Capua' and the 'House of Batiatus':
"...'Quintus Lentulus Batiatus (John Hannah) becomes a 'lanista' (manager) when he takes over his father's 'ludus' of gladiators, with ambitions of stepping out of his father's shadow.
"By his side stands his ruthless and beautiful wife 'Lucretia' (Lawless) who will help her husband achieve his goal no matter what the cost.
"Batiatus puts all his fortunes on the man who will gain him fame and glory, his best gladiator, the Celt, 'Gannicus', a skilled warrior who wields his swords in the arena as if it were his last day alive.
"Also purchased is an undisciplined and disheveled recruit, the Gaul 'Crixus' who endures mockery and threats of death .
"Batiatus fends off repeated attempts by his professional rival 'Tullius' to obtain Gannicus.
"Meanwhile his relationships with his father 'Titus' and friend 'Solonius' begin to suffer the strain of Quintus' relentless ambition.
"Meanwhile his relationships with his father 'Titus' and friend 'Solonius' begin to suffer the strain of Quintus' relentless ambition.
"Former champion gladiator 'Oenomaus' reluctantly retires from combat to become 'Doctore', while Syrian recruits 'Ashur' and 'Dagan' become fierce enemies as Ashur tries to prove himself worthy of being a gladiator.
"Veteran gladiators 'Barca' and Gannicus accept the rising star of Crixus but fear that their own careers will suffer, as the machinations of Batiatus and Lucretia to court Capua's elite end in tragedy for several members of the household.
"Against all of this, the city's splendid new arena nears completion and with it the opening games that will make men into gods..."
Cast also includes Dustin Clare, Peter Mensah, Jaime Murray, Marisa Ramirez, Jeffrey Thomas, Stephen Lovatt, Manu Bennett, Nick Tarabay, Craig Walsh Wrightson, Antonio Te Maioha, Gareth Williams, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Jessica Grace Smith, Temuera Morrison, Josef Brown and Shane Rangi.
