Is Spartacus: House Of Ashur A Sequel, Reboot, Or Prequel?

Summary Spartacus: House of Ashur will revive Starz's beloved sword-and-sandal historical drama.

The new season follows a "what if...?" scenario that retcons the entire third season of Spartacus.

The new show will follow Nick Tarabay's Ashur as he leads his own ludus.

Starz's hit historical action drama Spartacus is getting a revival titled Spartacus: House of Ashur, although it will unfold in an unusual fashion from the typical reboot or sequel series. The highly stylized and ultra-violent action series was based very loosely on the real Thracian gladiator who escaped servitude and became a major leader in the Third Servile War, an uprising against the might of Rome beginning in 73 BC. The series follows Spartacus and his fellow gladiators through their trials in the arena, their escape, their rebellion against Rome, and their ultimate demise.

Given that the story of Spartacus came full circle by the end of the original four seasons of the show, there has been some question as to how a Spartacus revival would work. Original showrunner Steven S. DeKnight will return for the revival, ensuring that the style and quality of the first four seasons of the action drama is represented in the new show. Spartacus: House of Ashur has a clever solution for how to not only revisit the world of Spartacus, but to explore a story never even hinted at in the original series.

Related "You Are So Not Ready For This": Spartacus Sequel Show Hyped By Creator In New Script Update Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight confirms the progress of the forthcoming revival, while also adding that fans are not ready for what’s to come.

Spartacus: House Of Ashur Is A "What If...?" Scenario

It follows an alternate timeline from the original show

The fifth installment of Starz's Spartacus will chronicle a story that might have occurred in an alternate timeline. Nick Tarabay, who portrayed the conniving ex-gladiator Ashur, will return to star in a season that follows what would have happened if Ashur had not met his demise on Mount Vesuvius at the end of season 2, titled Spartacus: Vengeance. The new season will essentially ignore everything that played out in season 3 (Spartacus: War of the Damned) and instead pivot away from the climactic conclusion of season 2.

All episodes of the first four seasons of Spartacus are currently streaming on Starz.

Tarabay's Ashur was one of the more well-fleshed-out characters in the show's original run, as his cloak-and-dagger style of conducting business made for an intriguing villain. While there are no details yet concerning whether Ashur will remain a primary villain in the new season, it's safe to assume that Tarabay will bring his charismatic flair to the treacherous former gladiator. As of now, there has been no information released about whether Tarabay will be joined by any other former Spartacus cast members, but the projected plot hints that Tarabay will be leading an entirely new cast of characters.

How Spartacus: House Of Ashur Changes The Original Show's Timeline

It takes the plot in a completely different direction

Close

At the end of Spartacus season 2, Ashur was working with the Romans under Gaius Claudius Glaber, and was sent to the camp of Spartacus on a mission to negotiate their surrender. He was never permitted to leave, and was ultimately decapitated by Naevia, who sought vengeance for Ashur's past violations against her. Spartacus: House of Ashur will chronicle what would have happened if Ashur had survived the showdown at Mount Vesuvius between Spartacus' forces and those of Gaius Claudius Glaber.

Related "Romans Appear To Be Spearmen All Of A Sudden": Spartacus' Battle Scene Brutally Assessed By Expert A battle scene from Spartacus gets brutally assessed by historian Dr. Roel Konijnendijk, who judges the fight scene for its historical accuracy.

The show will follow Ashur after Spartacus is defeated; for his service in bringing Spartacus' rebellion to an end, he is gifted the ludus of Batiatus in Capua. Little else is known about the plot, but in theory the show will return to the dynamic seen in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, in which a majority of the action takes place in the gladiators' training and actual fighting in the arena. Tarabay's Ashur will undoubtedly continue to deal in secrets and double-crossing, which should make Spartacus: House of Ashur a worthy revival of the cult classic show.