How did a dead character become the central figure of a spinoff series? The Spartacus spinoff, House of Ashur, premieres on December 5, 2025, focusing on the treacherous slave Ashur, now the boss of the gladiatorial school formerly owned by Batiatus. Ashur receives control of the ludus as a reward for assisting the Romans in ending the Third Seville War. The problem? The character was killed on Mount Vesuvius in the original series. He never survived the war. So what’s going on?
Initially, fans called for a Julius Caesar spinoff because of how formidable the character was in the original series. Unfortunately, neither the series creator, Steven S. DeKnight, nor Starz expressed interest. Years later, news emerged that a new offshoot was being produced, focusing on Ashur. This was surprising, not only because the slave was killed off, but also because he was one of the most annoying characters in the original show. On the brighter side, the franchise is back, and that’s all that matters.
There are now three different Spartacus shows, and given that the prequel (Gods of the Arena) was released midway through the original series, an explanation of the timeline is needed. History enthusiasts and new viewers who prefer to follow the series chronologically are likely to appreciate this.
The Rise of Quintus Lentulus Batiatus (‘Gods of the Arena’)
73 BC (Five Months Before the Third Servile War)
Our story begins with a younger Batiatus administering his fading father’s ludus while the old man is away in Sicily, enjoying semi-retirement. Eager for fame and glory, he pays 50 dinars for the Gallic slave Crixus, far more than the usual price of 10 dinars. However, Batiatus insists that Crixus has the potential to be a great fighter. At the ludus, Crixus bonds veteran gladiator Oenomaus and other slave recruits.
A master manipulator, Batiatus (aided by his loyal wife, Lucretia), understands that besides the obvious intrigue and adventure of the arena fights, scheming is what will truly drive him to the top. He thus strikes a quid pro quo deal with the powerful magistrate Tullius: new games in the soon-to-launch grand arena in exchange for dirty deeds. Predictably, Batiatus falls out with the man and eliminates him. And when his father returns — in his usual condescending form and seeking to regain control of the ludus — Batiatus opts for patricide.
Meanwhile, Gannicus, the house’s starboy, continues to dominate in the arena and in matters of love and lust. He falls in love with Oenomaus’s wife, Melitta, and engages in a dangerous affair with her that results in tragic consequences for the latter. Oenomaus eventually gets promoted to Doctore (gladiator trainer), and Gannicus earns his freedom through a victory in the arena. The chapter ends with Crixus taking over Gannicus’ place as the dominant gladiator and the House of Batiatus positioning itself as the next big thing.
Context
Gods of the Arena, which premiered after Season 1 of the original series, was never meant to happen. The six-episode prequel miniseries was made because production for another season had been delayed following lead actor Andy Whitfield’s cancer diagnosis. Hopes were high that the star would recover. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the disease on September 11, 2011, prompting Liam McIntyre to take on the role of Spartacus from Season 2 onwards.
Even though the spinoff was born out of unfortunate circumstances, it remains an important part of the franchise. It helps us unpack the mind of Batiatus, a relentless Machiavellian who never allows any fateful encounters to dim his light. The chapter is also wildly entertaining. It features several unexpected tussles and betrayals, with characters biting hands that feed them. And the gladiatorial fights, taking place in a smaller arena, feel precise and neatly choreographed. Most importantly, Gannicus, one of the franchise’s best fighters, dominates the proceedings without having to fight for the spotlight with Spartacus.
Spartacus Enters the Stage (‘Blood and Sand’)
Late 73 BC – Early 72 BC
Blood and Sand opens with a nameless Thracian warrior and his clan members aligning with legate Gaius Claudius Glaber to protect their land. The alliance quickly falls apart when Glaber orders the Thracians to embark on a senseless mission. Following a disagreement, the warrior and his buddies slaughter Glaber’s men. The Romans then retaliate by attacking the warrior’s home, condemning his wife, Sura, to slavery, and sentencing the protagonist to death in the arena. However, he defeats all four opponents, earning the right to live. He is then given a new name, Spartacus.
Spartacus is quickly purchased by the ambitious Batiatus, who promises to reunite him with his Sura if he does a wonderful job in the arena. Under the harsh tutelage of Oenomaus, he becomes a formidable gladiator, defeating the legendary Theokoles and becoming Champion of Capua. A rivalry also emerges between Spartacus and Crixus, with the two fighting for top spot. Meanwhile, Batiatus and Lucretia murder and scheme their way to even higher heights in the Roman political circle.
When Spartacus learns that Batiatus organized for Sura to be killed to keep the gladiator in the house forever, he becomes enraged. Consequently, he influences other slaves, including Crixus, to revolt against their masters. During a private spectacle at the villa in the finale, they slaughter Batiatus, the guests, and the guards, escaping into the night and vowing to bring down the Roman Empire.
Context
All the documents from the past tell us how Spartacus ran circles around the Roman Empire during the Third Seville War, but none ever say why he and his fellow warriors were so good. Season 1 explains why… showing that, apart from their combat history, these men had the best gladiatorial training in the land, allowing them to easily slay soldiers who were only used to fighting in formation.
From action and sex to the most daring of subterfuges, Blood and Sand has just about everything that fans of the franchise love. By choosing to rebel against his masters, the real Spartacus made a bold move that affected him profoundly, and the show (despite its numerous fictional elements) captures this aspect of history perfectly. The character development is worth saluting, too. When Spartacus arrives on the scene, his carefree way of life is patently out of step with the more conventional lifestyle of the other gladiators. But he soon learns the ropes, sheds his naivety, and exploits the weaknesses of those around him.
Hunter vs. Hunted (‘Vengeance’)
72 BC
Following the escape, Spartacus, Crixus, and the rest of the House of Batiatus slaves flee to the Italian countryside and free even more slaves from villas, boosting their numbers. Even better, Gannicus foregoes the perks of his freedom to join the rebellion. Glaber, now Praetor with the Roman Senate, is ordered to return to Capua and extinguish the emerging rebellion.
As the rebellion goes on, each major character is shown to have their own motivations. Spartacus wants revenge against Glaber, while Crixus is desperate to find his missing lover, Naevia. Ashur, the former slave and right-hand man of Quintus Batiatus, figures there’s more chance of success by aligning with Glaber, so he offers to assist in capturing Spartacus. It’s later revealed that Glaber has promised Ashur the ludus and his blessing of marriage with Batiatus’ widow, Lucretia, if Spartacus falls in the upcoming battle.
The season ends in a showdown between the slaves and Glaber’s men at Mount Vesuvius. Three key characters die at this point: Ashur, Oenameus, and Glaber. The former is killed while trying to convince Spartacus and his men to surrender. Naevia convinces Crixus to allow her to fight the treacherous slave, and after a protracted duel, she decapitates him. Oenomaus, on the other hand, is killed during the fight with the Egyptian gladiator. Better, Spartacus gets his revenge by slaying Glaber.
Context
Vengeance is arguably the franchise’s most historically accurate chapter. Glaber’s Season 3 arc is the only factual part of the Roman’s life. Documents don’t mention any personal feud between him and Spartacus. The praetor (one of eight who had been elected at the time) is only ever mentioned by classical historians and researchers in connection with his disastrous military campaign at Mount Vesuvius. Little is known about his personal life.
Many of the combat details are captured accurately, too. Among the best-known details of the battle is how Spartacus’ forces used rappelling lines made from local vegetation to scale down the other side of the mountain, outflank Glaber’s forces, and annihilate them. Besides the history, Vengeance stands tall as an account of the most fulfilling era of the protagonist’s life. He is a military leader and no longer just a tool for entertainment. Spartacus experiences no major pain in his life. It’s all prowess and an endless show of dominance.
The End of the Third Seville War (‘War of the Damned’)
71 BC
Desperate and lacking in resources, the Roman senate turns to the wealthy businessman Marcus Crassus to raise and fund a new army to put down the army of Spartacus, which has now ballooned to a 100,000-strong force. It turns out Crassus is as good a schemer as Batiatus… a ruthless, conniving man who has spent his life wreaking havoc on those around him. He secretly provides Spartacus with information on two of the most influential Roman generals so they can be killed, thereby granting him total command. Beyond that, Crassus’ deranged son, Tiberius, is eager to get in on the action.
To boost his chances of success, Crassus enlists a young Julius Caesar, who has his own ambitions, seeking a wealthy ally to fund his political dreams. The new dream team proves formidable, killing Crixus and decimating the army he commanded. The story ends at the climactic Battle of the Silarus River, where Spartacus and Crassus agree to fight each other to the death. Spartacus defeats Crassus after the two exchange severe blows, only to be mortally wounded by three Roman soldiers who impale him with spears. The rest of the slaves (including Gannicus) are then captured and crucified along the Appian Way. Later, Pompey arrives and steals credit for defeating Spartacus.
Context
Spartacus ended after only three seasons, but it was important to DeKnight and his team not to stretch a historical drama beyond reasonableness. The real Spartacus lost the war, and it was important for events to play out the same way here. The best part is that the victory didn’t come easily for Crassus and his men. Spartacus puts up a tough fight, and in that iconic scene where he kneels with spears stuck on his abdomen, we find solace in the fact that it wasn’t a fair fight.
The Rise of the House of Ashur
Sometime After 71 BC
House of Ashur explores a “What If” scenario where Ashur did not die on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance. Instead, he aided the Romans in killing Spartacus, thereby putting an end to the slave rebellion. As a reward, he was gifted the ludus once owned by Batiatus.
Context
The big question is whether history buffs should feel free to sit this one out. After all, alternate history is not history. They should watch, as Ashur was a fictional character from the start. He was only created to add some spice to the original series. Showing a different version of the character’s fate, therefore, doesn’t change much. Instead, it creates an easy route for the show to continue.
A young Julius Caesar is a major part of the new spinoff, and his story will likely be told more accurately this time (the real Caesar didn’t help in quashing the Spartacus-led rebellion). The character is now portrayed by Australian actor Jackson Gallagher, recasting the role originally held by Todd Lasance in Spartacus: War of the Damned. Lasance couldn’t return because of a heavy production schedule in NCIS: Sydney, where he has a recurring role. So, we’re actually getting the Julius Caesar spinoff we always wanted. Spartacus: House of Ashur premieres on Starz on December 5, 2025.
|
Spartacus Entry |
Year |
|---|---|
|
Gods of the Arena |
73 BC |
|
Blood and Sand |
Late 73 BC – Early 72 BC |
|
Vengeance |
72 BC |
|
War of the Damned |
71 BC |
|
House of Ashur |
Sometime after 71 BC |
- Release Date
-
December 5, 2025
- Network
-
Starz
- Directors
-
Rick Jacobson
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