"Spartacus: House of Ashur" contiunes the legacy of "Spartacus" with renewed vigor, guts, and glory

Reel Perspectives

December 6, 2025

What if the treacherous Ashur, former slave and gladiator, wasn't brutally killed on Mount Vesuvius? The new spinoff of STARZ's hit series "Spartacus" premiered on December 5 with the first two of its ten episodes and explores an alternate timeline in which Ashur is very much alive in "Spartacus: House of Ashur." Ashur now leads his own gladiator academy as creator Steven S. DeKnight attempts to rejuvenate the bloody franchise with renewed vigor, guts, and glory.

"Spartacus," which ran from 2010 to 2013, became a cult classic known for its explicit bloodshed, gore, violence, and sexual exploits. Based on the Thracian gladiator who led a major slave uprising against the Romans, the show quickly gained popularity and became an instant hit.

"Spartacus: House of Ashur" is a thrilling, erotic, history-bending, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit. What if Ashur lived, and the Romans rewarded his treachery with the gladiator school where he once bled? Welcome to the House of Ashur. No longer a slave, Ashur has clawed his way to power, owning the same ludus that once owned him. But ruling a band of merciless gladiators is child's play compared to surviving the savage world of Roman politics, a cutthroat game in which betrayal isn't a sin, it's currency. Flipping tradition on its head, Ashur unleashes Achillia, a fierce and powerful gladiatrix eager to prove herself worthy in a man's world. Together, they ignite a new kind of spectacle that shocks, disrupts, and offends the elite with every drop of blood.

STARZ

In addition to Nick E. Tarabay, the cast of the adrenaline-pumping series includes Graham McTavish, Jamaica Vaughan, Ivana Baquero, Jordi Webber, Claudia Black, India Shaw-Smith, Leigh Gill, and Tenika Davis, who plays Achillia, a powerhouse and absolute scene-stealer.

"Spartacus: House of Ashur" is a stunning visual experience and a dazzling array of the senses, with blood-soaked imagery and vivid language that will make even the most die-hard "Spartacus" fan blush. It's a worthy sequel that continues the legacy of the original series, for its treachery, vengeance, impossible alliances, and political backstabbing. Tarabay skillfully reminds viewers why Ashur was a fan favorite as he brilliantly embodies the cunning Ashur.

"Spartacus: House of Ashur" is a thrilling, gritty ride. It does not shy away from darkness, and it rewards you for embracing its savage, uncompromising vision.

The first two episodes of "Spartacus: House of Ashur" are streaming now exclusively on STARZ.