Image Credit: Michael Caulfield/WireImage.comAlthough Starz execs have yet to decide how Andy Whitfield’s cancer relapse will impact the future of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, exec producer Steven S. DeKnight reveals that one of two things will likely happen: a new actor will be brought in to replace Whitfield or the series will end.
“The two main options are to close up shop or recast,” says DeKnight. “I want to talk to Andy and find out how he feels about the options. That’s obviously very important to us.
“We’re still absorbing what’s happened,” adds DeKnight. “I think it’s going to be a little while before we reach any conclusions.” (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, a prequel to the series, will still air as scheduled in January 2011.)
DeKnight says his primary concern remains Whitfield, who bowed out of the show’s second season after doctors advised him to resume “aggressive treatment” for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. “He’s a trooper,” marvels DeKnight. “He has a very positive outlook.”
I hope Andy gets better. I just started the show today and I am really enjoying it. Hopefully if they recast, they will get someonewgo brings the same passion to the role of Spartacus.
It’s spelled trouper, not trooper!
NO…it’s spelled Trooper…Trooper means soldier…look it up
No, Mary, it’s trouper as in an actor who goes on with the show.
that’s not what Steven meant in this sense though.
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Seriously people? Trooper/Trouper. Who the F cares! Though the back and forth is entertaining.
In the mist of a back and forth a spammer got in, that just ruined it.
Now its trooper not trouper, cause he is not using it as he will continue on the show he is talking about his battle with cancer.
Ps is there nothing that can be done about the spammers, I just want them to fall off the internet world matter fact fall ocompletely off the planet.
I agree about the spamming. It is so prevelant and so annoying and always the same “I love this…” BS. Seems like someone at EW could take a few minutes to monitor the comments section and delete the spam.
“In the mist of a back and forth…”
Actually the word you want to use here is midst.
Now its mist not midst, cause Yepyep was using it to talk about something being obsucured, not referencing the time period being talked about.
People should REALLY refrain from “correcting” other people when they themselves don’t know what they’re talking about. In this context, the word should absolutely, positively, undoubtedly be “trouper.”
http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/troop.html
Wouldn’t it be obscured, not obsucured? (hee hee hee)
Those spammers sure are persistent! They’re real trewpers…
I don’t care; as long as they use there, their and they’re correctly…….
How much did they film? I know he was meant to appear in the prequel, and I imagine that’s wrapped now. Had they begun S2?
No they hadn’t begun filming season 2. I’m also not sure that he has a part in the prequel because it takes place before he became a gladiator. If he has a part in the prequel, it must be pretty small (especially since one of the main reasons for the prequel was to keep up interest in the show during the delay for his cancer treatment).
Andy explained it at Comic Con, search youtube for the video (Starz put up the entire panel): Spartacus was going to be in the first and last episode, ‘bookending’ the prequel as Andy put it. I can see how that was supposed to have worked. Show Spartacus leaving the ludus, flash back to the past, setting up the back story scenes. At the end, the flash back ends and we see Spartacus again, ready to free slaves and recruit them into his army.
It would have given the prequel context.
Who knows how they’re going to handle that now. I had thought they were going to use existing film of Andy in some way, or maybe use a new guy as Spartacus in those parts if they were going to recast.
As sad as I am that Andy won’t be returning, I hope they continue the show. I want to see where Steve was going to take these characters and their stories next.
I want to see Lucretia get her revenge on Ilythia and Glaber get his ass handed to him by Spartacus on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius. (Historically, that’s where Spartacus gave the slave army their first big victory.)
They can’t recast it. Andy is Spartacus. It wouldn’t be the same. If I had to pick, it would be Sam Worthington, but Andy internalizes the character so much. He is so confident yet brooding. I just don’t think it would have the same appeal.
I’d rather they just keep new seasons as prequels. The cast in the first season was amazing so if they continue making more seasons with that cast (apart from Andy) I’d be ok with that. I’d rather they not go to the present and just write off Andy as being killed during the first days of the escape unless Andy is able to make a quick appearance to wrap up his character then start forward.
The problem with that Joe is that Andy is SPARTACUS. He leads the slaves in rebelion against Rome. He can’t die in the first few days or the whole point of the story is over.
Well one thing they could do is: (Spartacus was given his name because he was named after someone else {sorry, I can’t remember who the original Spartacus was that Batiatus named him after}) So they could have Andy’s Spartacus pass the torch to Crixus. Remember in the final episode, they promised each other to avenge the others cause if one of them dies. So let’s say that Andy’s Spartacus gets injured and gives his title “Spartacus” and the reputation that goes with it to Crixus (or whoever) because chances are most of the slaves have never seen him and wouldn’t know the dif. I don’t know if that makes sense. It did in my head. It seems like a better idea than just recasting. Spartacus is more about the legend of the name than the person. That being said, noone could replace Andy.
With today’s advances in film technology, can’t the producers use CGI or whatever applicable digital technology to insert the images of Andy as Spartacus in the opening and ending scenes for the 2nd season? It will require creative editing, too.
**someone who**
Stupid fat fingers and small iPhone screen!
I am wondering exactly what response is DeKnight expecting here. Does he expect Andy Whitfield to say, yes close up shop and put all the other actors, writers, and crew members out of a job. Not really fair to put this on him. I get that this is a hard decision to make, but at best this seems like an effort to not look like a jerk by just recasting and instead be able to insist that that Andy gave them their blessings.
I think it’s more being considerate of him and how he feels rather than just recasting the role outright and saying, “See you later.” Whitfield was the star of the show, and they’re taking into consideration how huge a part of it he was rather than just ignoring him.
exactly. so not cool. sadly, i think the show needs to hang up its swords. great single season. great finale. great irreplaceable actor.
totally agree.
Bruno, I couldn’t agree more. I hate to say it but if Andy isn’t able to return for season 3 then they need to just end the show. The first season was amazing and I can’t see it getting any better with a replacement, lets end it on a good note.
Agree with you and yes they are just trying not to look bad. They have every intention of recasting the role. Such a shame to lose him but there are many other talented actors on the show. I will be tuning in, although I don’t think he can really be replaced. Hope he gets well.
All the best to him. My nephew lost his short battle with NHL two years ago. It’s very aggressive and there’s no going back. I hope his treatment buys his family more time with Andy than our family had with our lost one. The very nature of this ravaging disease don’t leave much room for hope, but staying positive is crucial to living as long as he can hope to.
As much as I like Andy playing Spartacus, I think the show is too amazing to be stopped. I dont think many people would be turned off by having another Actor play Spartacus. It will really be a shame if the show doesnt have a second season.
This is horrible news. I don’t even watch the show, but just to think about what he is going through is just brutal.
Hope he gets better and gets to live many more years.
Same here, best wishes to all
Good luck to him and his family. My prayers are with them
I just hope he gets well enough to return to the series; any other actor in the role wouldn’t be the same
It will never be the same, I agree. Hope he makes a full recovery. Sad and hopeful … Andy/actor makes the role.. no one else comes to my mind to replace him ever
I think they should end it. Better to have one fantastic season than do a recast and have multiple seasons. It wouldn’t be the same without Andy in the role. The actor makes the role.
i agree
I totally agree with everyone on this site….it would not be the same without Andy Whitfield as Spartacus. But as someone else put it…this series is just to amazing not to continue with a different actor. Andy was amazing in this role, if they have to find someone else to fill his shoes, I only hope that he does Andy proud and brings the same passion and commitment that Andy had for this role. I pray that Andy gets better and can continue his life for his familie’s sake.
This really sucks. I actually liked this show a lot and I can’t see another actor in the Spartacus role. However, I would love to see the series continue because there’s still so much left for them to wrap up.
As much as I love Andy in the role, I think the best option is to recast. As someone has already pointed out, there’s too much at stake; plus, Starz isn’t going to let their hit show slip away so easily. All of the actors are just terrific on the show. It will take some adjusting by viewers, but a new Spartacus could work if they cast it right. Another option: expand the prequel to an actual series, focusing on Crixus and others. Say that lasts a season or two. Once Whitfield recovers, he could pick up his role and resume the story as season three or four.
I cannot believe the heartlessness of the producers. This man is fighting for his life and they want to put it on him as to whether to give up his job/contract(maybe this is all about the money?) or end the show and put everyone out of a job. How about they recast the role, temporarily, until he can return and resume his role? That would be fair and just, not to mention the right thing to do, IMHO. BTW, I don’t watch or know about the show although I know what it means to do the decent things in life.
Please. You’d be just as quick to decry them as heartless if they *didn’t* talk to him before making a decision.
Against a recast and hoping Andy gets better regardless of what happens with the series. How about a 3rd option? Have season 2 be season 3 story wise. Sort of like Star Wars. Give us the ending and then go back to season 2 WHEN Andy gets better.
I’m sorry to hear this! My thoughts are focused on Andy and his family. I hope this has a positive outcome all around.
i thinks the show should just be postponed once again.If you are gonna do something do it right and andy is the only way to go. THE SHOW MUST WAIT FOR THE STAR
Well, they can’t postpone it any longer.They were to start shooting next month, and were looking at an early 2012 premiere date.Any longer and you’re looking at summer 2012.That’s over 2 years after the first season.Also, you can’t hold the cast and crew to the series if you’re not actually filming anything.While it’s sad that Andy is sick, they also have lives.They have to make money.
The first season of Spartacus did so well, Starz1 actually canceled their other two series.Until Camelot and Torchwood debut next year, Spartacus is their only series.There is no way they can cancel it.The only thing they can do is recast.It’s just a good thing that it’s only had 1 season.Any longer, and it would have been next to impossible for anyone to accept a new actor.