Spartacus to recast as Whitfield undergoes treatment
Starz is considering recasting the title role of Spartacus as Andy Whitfield resumes treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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US network Starz is considering recasting the title role of Spartacus as Australian actor Andy Whitfield resumes treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Sources say the network has begun talks with casting directors about possibly finding another actor to play Spartacus, but another possibility involves shifting the series around a new central character. If no suitable candidate is found, Starz may opt to delay or cancel production.
It is the second time Whitfield’s diagnosis has set back production, with Spartacus: Gods of the Arena prequel put in place to address his first absence.
But the recasting comes with Whitfield’s blessing. Reluctant producers are searching for some way to have Whitfield involved in the show and maintaining him on the payroll.
Filming on the prequel is currently underway in New Zealand, with the second season scheduled to start production immediately afterwards.
It airs in Australia on GO!
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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- Tagged with Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
5 Responses
Good on the producers for trying to do the right thing for the show and the actor.
With today’s tech they could just hire Andy Serkis and then lay Whitfield’s image over the top. The show is already half CGI anyway.
While it’ll suck if they recast him, they really have no choice. Ideally I’d like them to delay the show until he’s better. He was excellent in the first season.
However it’s a business and there’s plenty of reasons against delaying. Ideally if they can find a way to do something in the story or related that doesn’t involve Spartacus until he’s better that’d be great.. Although it’s hard. It’s the story of Spartacus so how on earth can you continue it with out him. Being based on a true story you can’t really leave out the main character.
We know where the story went after the escape you can’t do that with out Spartacus.
Here’s a long shot.. could they work on scripting and shooting the series except for Spartacus’ stuff, then come back and shoot that at the end.
While a different sort of show, something like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is completely scheduled around Danny Devito. Season 2 of that, he only filmed for 20 Days, then they went and shot everything that he wasn’t in after. Could something like that be tried for Spartacus? Then if Andy can return, great! If he has to be recast they will have had plenty of time to do the best casting they can.
They got rid of Valerie Harper on a show called Valerie, I am sure they can retitle it Blood and Sand or New Character Name: Blood and Sand if they really wanted to. But recasting may just be something they have to do.
It will be a great shame if they recast “Spartacus”, but they don’t appear to have many other options with a show called “Spartacus” where the actor who played Spartacus has been forced to resign for health reasons.
If they do recast the role, I hope they go for talent instead of physical similarity to Andy Whitfield. Everyone is going to know that they have recast after all the media attention so there is no need for them to try and find an Andy Whitfield lookalike to try and “fool” the audience.