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Spartacus New Season Player Kadros, EXCLUSIVE: Who's Returning on the Next Season of 'Spartacus'

'Spartacus' fans, it's Friday but we don't have an episode of the Starz drama to look forward to. Feel free to curse and vent in the celebrated manner of Quintus Batiatus.

But once you're done with that, turn your thoughts to the upcoming second season of the gladiator chronicle.

Wouldn't you like to know which characters from the first season and the recently concluded prequel season will be back?



Read on to find out whether Gannicus, Crixus, Ashur, Ilythia and other characters from 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' and 'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena' will return when the show comes back early next year.


Of course, if you don't want to know who's back and who's not, stop reading now.

As 'Spartacus' fans know, there was much bloodshed at the end of both the first season and the prequel season. But when season 2 begins, there will be a host of familiar faces for Spartacus to contend with as he leads his fellow slaves in a revolt against the Roman regime.

• As most fans know, the drama's title role has been recast. Liam McIntyre is taking over the role of Spartacus and Andy Whitfield is not returning due to his ongoing cancer battle.

• Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), who had a nasty stab wound at the end of 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand,' will nevertheless be back in season 2. "it was just a little poke in the tummy," Lucy Lawless told a recent press gathering. "Put a poultice on it, she'll be all right."

• Gannicus (Dustin Clare), a gladiator who got his freedom at the end of the prequel season, will return for the show's second season.

• Crixus (Manu Bennett), a House of Batiatus champion and, eventually, a friend to Spartacus, will return for season 2.

• Oenomaus/Doctore (Peter Mensah) will be back also. Let's face it, 'Spartacus' isn't 'Spartacus' without this magisterial man cracking his trusty whip.

• Ilythia (Viva Bianca) will return in Season 2, 'Spartacus' creator Steven S. DeKnight confirmed Friday on Twitter. I certainly don't expect this Roman noblewoman and Lucretia to be BFFs in future; as you'll recall, once Ilythia saw members of Batiatus' household beginning their murderous rampage, she ensured that Lucretia and her husband were locked inside the house with their angry slaves. I'm betting that makes for a tense reunion in future.

• Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay) will return for season 2, with lots of plots and schemes up his sleeve, no doubt.

• The character Naevia, a slave loved by Crixus, will return, but Lesley-Ann Brandt will no longer play the role. Producers are recasting Naevia, who will return in season 2.

• Mira (Katrina Law), a slave who helped Spartacus in 'Blood and Sand,' will return in Season 2.

• Vettius (Gareth Williams), a ludus owner and an enemy of Batiatus in 'Gods of the Arena,' will not return in season 2.

• Legatus Glaber (Craig Parker), Ilythia's husband and the man responsible for Spartacus' enslavement, will be back in season 2. He'll be "hot on [the] heels" of the escaped slaves, according to a story by Matt Fowler of IGN.

For extensive coverage of 'Gods of the Arena,' look here. For more on what's to come next season on 'Spartacus,' check out this interview with creator Steven S. DeKnight and listen to what he said on a recent Talking TV podcast.