Spartacus: House of Ashur release date, how to watch, plot and trailer

It's been more than a decade since fans saw the violent world of Spartacus on screen, but finally, after a very long wait, new spin-off series House of Ashur has had its release date confirmed.

The new series imagines an alternate future for Nick Tarabay's iconic character Ashur than what was depicted in the original run, with it being set in a world where he not only survived the events of season 3, but thrived!

Spartacus co-creator Steven S DeKnight is back at the helm, and he recently explained why he decided to focus on Ashur when returning to this world.

Speaking with Deadline, DeKnight said: "Ashur is just such a juicy character. He is definitely a villain in the original series. But when you go to Gods of the Arena, you see why he became that. He just wanted to be part of the brotherhood. He wanted to have friends and love, and he was denied that. It was pretty much, 'If I can’t serve in heaven, I’ll rule in hell.'

"This deep-seated emptiness in his heart really drives him, his need to be accepted and loved. One of the challenges we face in the new show is how to take a character who was so despicable in the original and get the audience behind them. And the answer is, introduce even worse people, and they are the Roman elites who really work them over."

While the show will primarily be made up of new characters surrounding Ashur, we do know that Lucy Lawless will return in a guest capacity as Lucretia.

There was also at one time a contingency plan in place, that were Lawless not be able to return due to scheduling, John Hannah would come back as his character Quintus Lentulus Batiatus instead.

DeKnight revealed it "didn't quite work out" for Hannah to return, but Tarabay added that even if the team could bring Hannah back only for one episode, he would "love" it.

But, as we head towards the show's debut, what do we know about Spartacus: House of Ashur so far? Read on to find out.

Spartacus: House of Ashur release date speculation

After a long wait since the show was first announced in 2023, we now know exactly when Spartacus: House of Ashur will debut.

The first two episodes will be released on Starz in the US on Friday 5th December 2025, while they will arrive on MGM+ in the UK one day later, on Saturday 6th December.

Subsequent episodes are set to arrive on the respective platforms weekly, with new instalments airing on Fridays in the US and Saturdays in the UK.

How to watch Spartacus: House of Ashur

While fans in the US can watch Spartacus: House of Ashur on Starz, fans in the UK will be able to watch the episodes on MGM+.

Viewers can get MGM+ as an add-on subscription within Prime Video. Other shows to air on MGM+ include the series within the Power franchise and both Outlander and its prequel, Blood of My Blood.

Spartacus: House of Ashur cast: New and returning

Nick Tarabay leads the cast of Spartacus: House of Ashur as the titular villain, who will be taking centre stage in this dark reimagining of the series lore.

He will be joined by a whole host of new stars and characters, including Graham McTavish as Korris and Tenika Davis as Achillia.

Meanwhile, one returning stars from the original Spartacus who we know will be reuniting with Tarabay is Lucy Lawless, who will be reprising her role as Lucretia in a guest capacity, and has been seen appearing in the underworld in an early clip.

Here's a round up of the central confirmed Spartacus: House of Ashur cast.

• Nick Tarabay plays Ashur
• Graham McTavish plays Korris
• Tenika Davis plays Achillia
• Jamaica Vaughan plays Hilara
• Ivana Baquero plays Messia
• Jordi Webber plays Tarchon
• Claudia Black plays Cossutia
• India Shaw-Smith plays Viridia
• Leigh Gill plays Satyrus
• Jaime Slater as Cornelia
• Jackson Gallagher as Gaius Julius Caesar

What is Spartacus: House of Ashur about?

Spartacus: House of Ashur is set in an altered continuity to the original series, which nullifies the death of the villainous Ashur, which occurred towards the end of the third season.

The synopsis for the series says that it is "a thrilling, erotic and history-bending, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything which made the original series a colossal hit."

The synopsis continues: "What if Ashur had lived, and the Romans rewarded his treachery with the gladiator school where he once bled? Welcome to the House of Ashur. No longer a slave, Ashur has clawed his way to power, owning the same ludus that once owned him.

"But ruling a band of merciless gladiators is child's play compared to surviving the savage world of Roman politics — a cutthroat game in which betrayal isn’t a sin, it’s currency.

"He flips tradition on its head by unleashing Achillia, a fierce and powerful gladiatrix eager to prove herself worthy in a man’s world. Together, they ignite a new kind of spectacle that shocks, disrupts and offends the elite with every drop of blood."

Spartacus: House of Ashur trailer

You can watch the Spartacus: House of Ashur teaser trailer right now, featuring the return of actor Nick Tarabay. Check it out here:

You can also see the full-length trailer here.

Spartacus: House of Ashur will air on Starz in the US from Friday 5th December and on MGM+ in the UK from Saturday 6th December.

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