"Spartacus: Vengeance" Panel At SDCC 2011

Pic by Chelle

In order to grow an Evil Diva Empire, it is crucial to gather allies in different territories.

This is how Red Dot Diva was able to get this intel giving her the abs-worthy updates on her favourite gladiator porn, Starz TV series "Spartacus".

Chelle, her trusty LA contact and frequent SDCC attendee, was at the "Spartacus" panel to nab some information relating to the cable TV series, which is reknown for its gory bloodshed and blatantly sexy nude scenes.

For those who are not already aware, the next season will be a sequel to "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" entitled "Spartacus: Vengeance".

Most Spartacus fans were devastated when they heard that previous lead actor Andy Whitfield would not be able to return to the series due to his illness. But, from what Red Dot Diva heard, replacement Aussie actor Liam McIntyre seems equally capable of meeting the gladiator challenge. Which would of course, normally consist of chopping off heads and exploding ovaries at the same time.

Bravely putting herself in danger of losing her fallopian tubes, Chelle brings the "Spartacus: Vengeance" panel report:

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I attended the much anticipated "Spartacus: Vengeance" panel on Friday of SDCC.

The trailer for the new season was shown and then the panelists were introduced on stage. They were the new Spartacus Liam McIntyre, along with Lucy Lawless, Manu Bennett, Katrina Law, Dustin Clare, and exec-producer Steven DeKnight.

The panel moderator began the session with an introduction of Liam as the new Spartacus and asked him how comfortable he was with the cast.

Liam McIntyre as Spartacus

Liam mentioned that it is never easy to take over someone else's role. He was a huge fan of the show and said that everyone would agree that Andy was simply amazing as Spartacus. The best he could do was to work really hard to make this season as amazing as the previous one.

Executive producer and writer Steven was then asked about how Andy has been doing. Steven said they have spoken to each other and Andy is doing well but wouldn't go into details because Andy is very private about his personal health.

With a gleeful grin on his face, Steven also confessed that that his plan for the new season was "to kill more people". (YAY!)

Dustin Clare who played Gannicus from the prequel would be back in "Spartacus: Vengeance". When asked what Gannicus, who was given his freedom, had been doing all this while. Dustin quietly joked, "He has been studying to be a hairdresser. He's obsessed with it." Hahaha.

Fans were invited to ask questions and one asked Steven if he had to re-film certain specific segments because Andy had left. Steven replied that they had to re-shoot only a couple key scenes from the past with Liam as Spartacuz to keep with the continuity of the show but he said everything was basically present day so the loss of Andy was not a major issue.

Lucy Lawless found it difficult to say much during the panel because she felt she would inadvertently give away spoilers of the new season, but she did assure the fans that most of the favourites will be back, including Naevia (now played by new actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson) and Asher. And that there will be quite a few new "beefy" characters for fans to fantasize about.

Manu shared with fans that he loved the full fight scene with Octus in the prequel. The cast also discussed about the various injuries they sustained on the set, and Manu said they all have scars from the fight scenes. A fan asked if the guys get nervous doing sex scenes with the beautiful ladies on set. Manu confessed that he gets nervous doing sex scenes with Lucy Lawless, because her husband Rob Tapert the producer, has now cast Manu in two shows - just to be in bed with his wife. That brought laughter to the whole room.

At one point, Liam even gave the signature call "I am Spartacus!" along with the fans.

Then the exciting "Spartacus: Vengeance" trailer was screened again.

Overall, the panel was really awesome and it was great to see the cast get on so well together.

I am glad I was able to see the new Spartacus on stage. He is such a cutie and has gorgeous dimples! :-)

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Ugh. Red Dot Diva is now very impatient for the bloody and vengeful season of "Spartacus" to begin. The new season will only be ready in January 2012!

Meanwhile, she'll just get her bicepstous gladiator fix by watching this trailer. Again... and again...:



Woooo...

Ilythia's back, so is sour-puss Glaber and poor poor Doctore. Lots of the usual merry blood-letting. And Lucretia looking wildly "off".

".... And the gods shall weep for their suffering."

Oh, Spartacus! Spartacus!
Red Dot Diva can't wait!