[Cornballer]

- EW.com: Starz' 'Spartacus' to end next season

Spartacus’ final battle is coming sooner than you think. Starz is set to announce that the next season of its historical drama Spartacus will mark the show’s final outing. The upside: Creator Steven S. DeKnight promises the remaining episodes will be spectacular. “This season is bigger than anything we’ve attempted,” DeKnight says. “The scope and scale is just amazing. We’re dealing with massive battles between thousands of people. We hope to leave people feel satisfied.” DeKnight says he’s been 90 percent certain for months that the upcoming third season — subtitled “War of the Damned” — would be the last for Spartacus. Creatively, the writer-producer assures that the timing will result in a strong tale. The historical foundation for the rebel leader’s journey, he says, lends itself to wrapping up the show sooner rather than later. ... Spartacus will leave behind a legacy of having stretched the boundaries of series television, between expanding the use of green-screen technology (the show has never shot one frame outdoors) and proving hard-R sex and violence can draw an audience when mixed with compelling storytelling. There was, and remains, nothing quite like the show on TV. “I would much rather end a series with the audience wanting more than limping to the finish line, with only the die-hard fans sticking around for the wrap up,” DeKnight says. “We want to make the 10 best episodes we can. I can’t wait for everybody to see it.”

Much more from DeKnight, including some spoilers for next season, via the link.

One more article:
- Maureen Ryan: 'Spartacus' Ending After Season 3: Show Creator On Why The Starz Gladiator Drama Is Over

Also:
- EW.com: 'Spartacus' final season ad: 'War of the Damned'



EDIT: IGN UK: Next Spartacus Season, War of the Damned, Will End the Series

[Eggman]

Is season 1 still on Netflix?

[RS4-]

Spartacus will leave behind a legacy of having stretched the boundaries of series television, between expanding the use of green-screen technology (the show has never shot one frame outdoors)

wtf

[Rapstah]

Spartacus will leave behind a legacy of having stretched the boundaries of series television, between expanding the use of green-screen technology (the show has never shot one frame outdoors) and proving hard-R sex and violence can draw an audience when mixed with compelling storytelling. There was, and remains, nothing quite like the show on TV.

I didn't know this. I've only ever seen a couple of episodes, and it makes sense I guess because there's no way a lot of these sceneries would exist to shoot in, but that's really cool technology.

[DieH@rd]

NOOOO, WHY END IT?

[Weenerz]

They are canceling the only entertaining thing on Starz.

[Moaradin]

Well damn. I thought there would at least be 2 more seasons. Show is a ton of fun.

[DieH@rd]

why......

[Big-E]

Fuck, but given who they are going to bring in next season, this is probably going to be the best yet maybe.

[Stumpokapow]

Starz is kinda screwed on the original content side. Magic City is not a hit, Boss ratings were awful, Spartacus is really the only unambiguous hit they've ever had :/

[Johann]

NOOOO, WHY END IT?

Historically, they'll run out of good material after a certain event in the slave rebellion. They want the story to end on a high note.

[BattleMonkey]

Good to know, lot of shows need to just end instead of trying to go on forever only to eventually get cancelled with no clear ending, or some shitty last episode tagged on.

[Steelrain]

Is Lucy Lawless still in this show?

[DieH@rd]

reaction to cancelation:

[Moaradin]

Is Lucy Lawless still in this show?

uh...

[Santiako]

Starz is kinda screwed on the original content side. Magic City is not a hit, Boss ratings were awful, Spartacus is really the only unambiguous hit they've ever had :/

They should bring back Party Down.

[Good Job Bob]

Haven't watched S2, is the new Spartacus guy any good?

[RJT]

It's not like the Spartacus story can be stretched a lot...

[Steelrain]

uh...

Yes? No?

[Moaradin]

Yes? No?

I take it you didn't watch S2?

S2 spoiler:
she dead.

[Steelrain]

I take it you didn't watch S2? S2 spoiler: she dead.

I didn't. :(

Ahh well. She was hot.

[Mr_Zombie]

Yes? No?

No :(

Sheet, a shame that the show ends so fast. It's been fantastic.
Maybe they will do another prequel? Or a spin-off? Right?

[Johann]

Haven't watched S2, is the new Spartacus guy any good?

I thought his acting was good but the writing and fight choreography for him wasn't as good as in Blood and Sand. The character of Spartacus becomes a sort of preachy Messiah figure when he was occasionally impulsive and short-sighted in the first season.

[zephervack]

Yes? No?

Spoiler:

She kills herself in the finale of the previous season, so who knows if she will come back in some way

[DieH@rd]

Haven't watched S2, is the new Spartacus guy any good?

S2 is awesome, and new Spartacus actor is good. He took few eps to grown into the role, by the end was great.

[StalkerUKCG]

Fucking Amazing show sad to see it end but no doubt the last season will be epic.

Not a single outdoor scene blows my mind.

Its thefirst Starz show to make it this long isnt it ?

[ConfusingJazz]

They should bring back Party Down.

Terrible ratings, and Adam Scott has a gig on a network show and getting regular movie roles.

[Moaradin]

I thought his acting was good but the writing and fight choreography for him wasn't as good as in Blood and Sand. The character of Spartacus becomes a sort of preachy Messiah figure when he was occasionally impulsive and short-sighted in the first season.

Yea, a lot of people thought this. Wasn't really the actors fault though. He did what he had to work with.

[Battersea Power Station]

They are canceling the only entertaining thing on Starz.

reaction to cancelation:

They're not actually cancelling it, are they?

[Evolved1]

Haven't watched S2, is the new Spartacus guy any good?

Not imo. Both of the main characters that were replaced unfortunately fell flat.

New Spartacus was middling. New Naevia was goddamn awful.

[Santiako]

Terrible ratings, and Adam Scott has a gig on a network show and getting regular movie roles.

I know, I also love P&R, just a wishful thought.

[HarryHengst]

While i love the show, i am happy that they decide to end on their own terms instead of stretching the shit out of it or having a cancellation forced on them.

[Good Job Bob]

Not imo. Both of the main characters that were replaced unfortunately fell flat. New Spartacus was middling. New Naevia was goddamn awful.

Damn it, sounds bad; guess I'll just skip the rest of the series.

[Sinatar]

Noooooooooo!

[HarryHengst]

Damn it, sounds bad; guess I'll just skip the rest of the series.

No, the show is still amazing. Spartacus himself was never the best part of the show, and seeing Glaber descend into madness was awesome.

[Meier]

I'm positive their decision to hardball Netflix fucked this show and all of their original programming.

[mattiewheels]

Never seen the show, how did it cope with the loss of the main actor from the first season?

[CoffeeExpress]

Spartacus is my guilty pleasure, I know its not top rated tv but theres something about it that I really like. Will be sad to see it go.

And isnt this Straz biggest hit? Why would they even think of ending before (at least) 3 more seasons?

[Battersea Power Station]

Damn it, sounds bad; guess I'll just skip the rest of the series.

That's bullshit. If you liked the first two seasons, you'll like Vengeance.

[HarryHengst]

Never seen the show, how did it cope with the loss of the main actor from the first season?

Just fine, the main actor really wasnt the main character, strange as it sounds for a show called Spartacus. The supporting cast was fleshed out and interesting enough to carry the show on their own.

[FootballFan]

Aww no. :(

I love Spartacus. Losing Andy Whitfield sucked really bad but season 2 was still great.

[BattleMonkey]

I'm positive their decision to hardball Netflix fucked this show and all of their original programming.

Didn't seem to affect the ratings.

[Big-E]

Just fine, the main actor really wasnt the main character, strange as it sounds for a show called Spartacus. The supporting cast was fleshed out and interesting enough to carry the show on their own.

Yep, Ganicus and Crixus are who really matter.

[Moaradin]

Yep, Ganicus and Crixus are who really matter.

Oenomaus, Ashur, Lucretia and Ilithyia as well =(

[FootballFan]

Oenomaus, Ashur, Lucretia and Ilithyia as well =(

Batiatus will be #1 forever.

[Ventilaator]

This news definitely bumps the show up my "To watch" list. Always nice to start a show that has ended already. I was seriously surprised about the positive reaction this show got, because when you look at it it's so easy to assume it's absolutely nothing special.

[kai3345]

I stopped watching when they brought in the new spartacus, I didn't like him as much as Andy

:(

[Scarecrow]

Bring it home strong, guys.

[Suairyu]

It's not like the Spartacus story can be stretched a lot...

The same could be said of most American TV shows. I always think they end up bloated, over-long works lacking in arc pacing.

That this has a definitive end in mind now makes me want to give the show another chance, especially given there's only 13 or 10 episodes per season, too.

[Hari Seldon]

God damnit I want more!