Nick E. Tarabay was in France when he received an unexpected message from longtime showrunner Steven S. DeKnight. The two had collaborated throughout the early 2010s on the Starz series Spartacus, where Tarabay portrayed Ashur, the manipulative former slave and gladiator audiences loved to despise. Although Ashur met his demise in the 2013 season Spartacus: Vengeance, the character never fully left DeKnight's imagination. That lingering connection led him to contact Tarabay with a simple question. According to the actor, DeKnight asked what his plans were for the next several years.
DeKnight proposed that Tarabay return to the role of Ashur for a reimagined historical drama exploring what might have happened had the character survived. Tarabay enthusiastically agreed, and the new series, titled Spartacus: House of Ashur, is set to debut on Starz on December 5. Much like the original show that premiered in 2010, the new installment embraces stylized battles, heightened drama, and the signature blend of violence and decadence that defined the franchise.
DeKnight and Tarabay reunited at the London Hotel for the first Heat Vision Live event, a screening and discussion series presented by The Hollywood Reporter. The conversation highlighted how House of Ashur aims to revive the visceral energy of the original, pairing elaborate fight choreography with vivid, cinematic storytelling.
Despite a broader trend toward restraint on television, DeKnight has continued to push boundaries regarding mature content. He explained that both Starz and Lionsgate TV offered strong support, even for the series' more extreme moments. He noted that after a particularly graphic sequence in the second episode, he expected network feedback but received none. For DeKnight, portraying the brutality and hypersexuality of ancient Rome remains essential to the authenticity of the story, and he expressed gratitude that neither studio asked him to scale back.
He also emphasized his pride in introducing a female gladiator to the narrative. When asked whether potential criticism from parent groups concerned him, DeKnight responded with confidence, suggesting he is fully prepared for any objections.
Tarabay acknowledged that attitudes toward on screen intimacy have evolved since the original Spartacus series aired fifteen years ago. While he came from a theatrical background where performers managed such scenes through direct conversation, the new production offered intimacy coordinators for cast members who preferred additional support. He noted that nudity becomes less daunting with experience and ultimately feels like any other aspect of performance.
During the discussion, Tarabay's energetic personality was on full display. He described his enthusiasm for the physical demands of the role, including attending a month long gladiator boot camp involving daily four hour training sessions in weapon handling, jiujitsu, grappling, wrestling, and conditioning.
One boundary Tarabay refused to cross, however, was changing dialogue. The series is known for its distinctive speech patterns, which DeKnight describes as a fusion of Shakespearean cadence and the bold tone of classic sword and sorcery tales. Each line is carefully constructed to evoke another era, even if not historically accurate. DeKnight remarked that he could instantly detect when even a single word was altered, comparing it to the jarring sound of a skipping record.
Although the series has yet to premiere, DeKnight has already mapped out Ashur's continuing journey. Tarabay shared that the second season is fully written, and DeKnight explained that he typically envisions five to seven seasons when building a series. According to him, there is a substantial arc planned and many more developments ahead for Ashur.