It seems time waits for no man to recover with Starz announcing they have recast the role of ‘Spartacus’. Andy Whitfield stepped down from the role after his cancer returned during prep for season 2 and at this stage an update of his health has not been given.
The Starz network delayed production of the second season for a year and have been struggling with the idea of finding a new actor which Whitfield gave his blessing to the recasting. Now Australian actor Liam McIntyre has been named the successor of the Starz drama series, which was massive hit for the cable channel when it first launched. McIntyre was recently singled out as a possible candidate and the Starz brass liked his acting abilities but needed him to bulk up for the role of a gladiator.
Starz made this announcement about the new actor:
[he] has excelled at a grueling and rigorous audition process to claim the title role in the second season.
CEO Chris Albrecht said about the recasting:
Since no one can really replace Andy, we realized that we should instead find an actor who can truly lead ‘Spartacus’ forward… It was important to us to have Andy endorse the idea of recasting this part, which he did in the same heroic manner that he’s dealt with his whole ordeal. And that, coupled with our fortune in finding a young actor with the gladiator credentials and the acting ability of Liam, makes it easier for us to keep this hit franchise going.
McIntyre takes over the role of the Thracian warrior sold into slavery in the Roman Republic city of Capua – where he rises to become the champion gladiator and leads the slave revolt. Production on the second series is set to resume by Spring of 2011.
You’ll be able to catch Andy Whitfield in the role of he owned when he appears briefly in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, which debuts on Friday, January 21 2011.
via: Deadline
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