Liam McIntyre takes on the role of the famous gladiator in 'Spartacus: Vengeance.' (Starz)
“I am Spartacus!”
Liam McIntyre delivers the line ferociously in the Season 2 trailer that played during the “Spartacus: Vengeance” panel Friday night at Comic-Con International. And there was no refuting his declaration. His new disciples in the room cheered him on.
McIntyre takes over the role originally played by Andy Whitfield, who left the Starz period drama due to his ongoing battle with cancer.
“It’s an absolute mind-bending journey so far,” McIntyre said. “It’s a great privilege. A Great honor … a great responsibility.”
And the cast has been supportive of his arrival—hazing the newbie would have been kind of difficult: “There’s not a lot of pants [on the show] to pull down.” Still, he couldn’t help note the bittersweet aspect of taking on the role that fans identify with someone else.
“It’s hard. You kind of wish you didn’t have the opportunity,” the Australian actor said. “The best thing I can do is bust my [butt] … and honor the legacy.”
Executive producer Steven S. DeKnight assured fans that Whitfield is doing well and has been vocal about tackling another project together — a project in which he wouldn’t have to take his clothes off, DeKnight said.
When it comes to keeping things consistent, DeKnight says there are few flashback scenes with Spartacus except for a brief one that was re-shot with McIntyre. As the season progresses, viewers can expect to see Spartacus learn how to be a leader.
“Last season he had an ax to grind,” DeKnight said. “Now he’s getting the bigger picture.” But “Vengeance” is part of the title, and there will be lots of it, only Spartacus isn’t the only one seeking it.
“I’m going to claw my way back to some kind of platform of power,” said Comic-Con patron saint Lucy Lawless, who plays Lucretia.
And if there appeared to be a lot of bloodshed last season, prepare for more when the second season premieres in January.
“The plan for the second season is to kill more people,” DeKnight said. “There’s an episode where we kill a lot of people.”
–Yvonne Villarreal
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Great – TV's home for weekly full frontal male nudity will be donging up your screens again next January.
Watching this teaser, I'm surprised at how seamlessly McIntyre fits into the role. It helps he looks like an even better-looking Sam Worthington.
When I read he pulled out of a movie and didn’t honor his commitment to another film he lost me forever. How can he have honor as Spartacus when he behaves like this. Check this out.
http://bravenewhollywood.com/spartacus-star-liam-…
not really even close to Andy´s sorry I don´t like the new spartacus, they should have waited for Andy´s comeback or kill the proyect OR do something with the othjer guy that´s in the presequel so it gives time to Andy´s to recover, they lost me as a fan forever too.