"Spartacus: House of Ashur" Canceled at Starz After 1 Season

Steven S. Knight's big return to the Spartacus Universe with Spartacus: House of Ashur will not go beyond its freshman season at Starz, which has canceled the gladiator drama. Lionsgate Television, which produces the series, is shopping it to other platforms.

The Spartacus sequel could not match the buzz and viewership levels of the original 2010 series. Additionally, the makeup of the follow-up's audience did not quite align with Starz's focus on women and underrepresented audiences.

The sword-and-sandal genre is inherently male-skewing and popular with white viewers. Still, like its predecessor, House of Ashur features a diverse cast with storylines that feature prominently women and characters of underrepresented backgrounds. Examples include powerful Black gladiatrix Achillia, played by Tenika Davis, as well as multiple spotlights of LGBTQIA+ characters.

Following Starz's split from Lionsgate, House of Ashur is no longer owned by the network. To shore up its financial future, Starz has been leaning into more owned series such as Fightland, executive produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, and the untitled family drama set in the world of Black rodeo in Texas. The Nick E. Taraby-led House of Ashur was picked up by Starz in 2023, prior to its separation from Lionsgate.