Recently, showrunner Steven S. DeKnight and actor Nick E. Tarabay opened up about pushing the boundaries of sex and violence on Spartacus: House of Ashur, the upcoming Starz spin-off. Speaking at the Heat Vision Live event, the duo discussed the creative freedoms behind the new series.
Steven S. DeKnight and Nick E. Tarabay discuss pushing boundaries on Spartacus: House of Ashur
At The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Heat Vision Live event, showrunner Steven S. DeKnight and actor Nick E. Tarabay reflected on the creative risks behind Spartacus: House of Ashur.
DeKnight noted that he has yet to encounter a creative boundary involving sex or violence that he is unwilling to test. He credited both Starz and Lionsgate Television for supporting the show’s more extreme moments. The showrunner cited one especially graphic sequence in the second episode, admitting he expected network pushback. He said, “I was sure we were going to get a note about that.” However, DeKnight clarified that he received none, “Nothing.”
For DeKnight, the harshness and hypersexuality depicted in the show reflect the historical setting. “This time in ancient Rome was a brutal, brutal time and hypersexual,” he said, adding that he is especially proud of the introduction of a female gladiator. Expressing his gratitude, he added, “I’m very thankful to Lionsgate and Starz that I have not gotten a note that said, ‘Whoa, can you pull it back?’”
When asked whether the series’s explicit content might provoke backlash from parental advocacy groups, DeKnight responded lightly. He said, “I welcome a parents advisory out for blood.”
Tarabay also addressed how conversations about on-set safety have evolved since the original series premiered 15 years ago. The House of Ashur production used intimacy coordinators for any performer who requested one. He said, “Bringing that in is great for the new generation. That’s awesome.”
The actor added that nudity eventually becomes routine. “But also being nude, after a while, it becomes easy. It becomes just another scene,” Tarabay explained.
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
