Lucy Lawless Returns to TV in 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand': Watch the trailer

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...

Defying the Roman Republic’s legions of soldiers, they campaigned for two years through much of what is now Italy before succumbing to a much larger army. The original series will tell a new set of stories rich in character, action, sex and combat.

This series, including 13 one-hour episodes, is executive produced by heavy-hitters Sam Raimi (Spider-Man and Evil Dead), Rob Tapert (The Grudge, Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) and Steven DeKnight (Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Production, based in New Zealand, runs through the end of October 2009.