Robert Tapert

By Paula Haifley

I’ve never been scolded by a famous TV actress before, let alone one with twinkling blue eyes, a devilish grin, and a reputation for on-screen butt kicking as Xena, Warrior Princess. When Lucy Lawless, one of the stars of the upcoming TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, teasingly gave me a hard time for not speaking up much during the press conference for her show at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con, it did make me ask more questions. I guess it’s that commanding personality that serves her well in her role as a powerful, manipulative Roman wife on the show...

Lucy Lawless (Xena, Battlestar Galactica) returns to TV with a new series from Sam Raimi called Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Debuting January 2010, the historical fantasy series stars Lucy Lawless in the pivotal role of 'Lucretia'. In a passionate and ambitious partnership with her husband Batiatus (John Hannah), she supports his every move as he maneuvers their way back from near financial ruin. Lawless parallels their relationship with Shakespeare’s Macbeth, “They’re a team; they have a great relationship. He’s the brains and she shores up his confidence; she supports her man."

We've got the trailer, and its pretty awesome. Dark, intense, gory, sexy, and hardcore violent, the series was inspired by the actual slave of the Roman Republic who in 73 BC led a slave revolt that grew to more than 120,000 fighters...