Steven S. DeKnight, the creator of Spartacus: House of Ashur, has shared his wish to bring back a major fan-favorite character from the original series. While the new spinoff focuses on the villainous Ashur, DeKnight confirmed he would love to revisit the charismatic champion Gannicus, played by actor Dustin Clare. This news has excited fans of the long-running Starz drama, which made a major return to television in December 2025 after more than a decade.
The desire to explore Gannicus again highlights the creative possibilities within the expanding Spartacus universe. However, DeKnight was clear that for now, this is just an idea for a potential future story. The current show, House of Ashur, strictly follows its own “what-if” timeline where only Ashur has been resurrected.
Why Steven DeKnight Wants a Gannicus Story
In recent interviews promoting House of Ashur, Steven DeKnight was asked which character he would like to center a future spinoff on. His immediate answer was Gannicus.
“I’d love to go back before Ashur died and explore Gannicus. Because Dustin Clare is a fan favorite and I’d love to work with him again,” DeKnight told ScreenRant.
He echoed this sentiment in another discussion, simply stating, “I’d love to see Gannicus in a spin-off. That’s your rock star, and I loved working with Dustin”. Nick E. Tarabay, the star of House of Ashur, agreed with his showrunner, saying he would also pick Gannicus for a follow-up story.
Gannicus first appeared in the 2011 prequel series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. He was a carefree, immensely skilled gladiator who captured the audience’s affection with his charm and prowess. The character later returned during the main rebellion in Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned, securing his status as one of the most beloved figures in the series.
How House of Ashur’s Rules Prevent Other Returns
While DeKnight is interested in a Gannicus project, he has set firm rules for the current spinoff. Spartacus: House of Ashur operates on a specific alternate timeline where Ashur survives his murder on Mount Vesuvius. In this new reality, Ashur is rewarded for betraying the slave rebellion and is given ownership of a gladiator school, or ludus.
DeKnight has stressed that Ashur’s survival is the only major change to the original series’ history. He has told fans asking about other characters that “everybody else is still dead”.
“I’m not touching what happened in that respect or undoing the deaths that were earned in the original show, just with Ashur,” DeKnight explained in an interview with Parade.
This means iconic characters like Spartacus, Crixus, and indeed Gannicus remain deceased in the world of House of Ashur. DeKnight mentioned that the only way to see other legacy characters would be through devices like flashbacks or dreams, and only if it served the new story. The sole returning cast member is Lucy Lawless, who reprises her role as Lucretia in a guest capacity to help explain Ashur’s resurrection.
What a Gannicus Spinoff Could Look Like
Since DeKnight’s idea involves exploring Gannicus “before Ashur died,” a potential story would likely be a prequel. This could mean a series set after the events of Gods of the Arena but before his reappearance in Vengeance.
The original series showed that after winning his freedom, Gannicus left the city of Capua and spent years living a dissolute life, drinking and fighting across the Roman Empire. This largely unexplored period of his life offers rich storytelling potential. It could delve into his adventures as a free man, how he coped with the trauma of his past, and the events that ultimately led him to rejoin Spartacus’s cause.
Such a series would allow actor Dustin Clare to return to a role that made him famous and is still adored by the fanbase. For now, this project remains a hopeful idea from the creator, dependent on the success of House of Ashur and future interest from the network.
The New Focus: Ashur and the First Gladiatrix
While fans may dream of Gannicus’s return, the current series is firmly centered on Ashur’s new life. The show explores whether a man known for his deceit and self-interest can become a better person when given power and a second chance.
A key part of his strategy is his introduction of the arena’s first female gladiator, or gladiatrix, named Achillia, played by Tenika Davis. DeKnight and original producer Rob Tapert had wanted to include a gladiatrix in the first series but found they were not historically documented until roughly 80 years after the show’s setting.
“By Ashur now being alive, he’s changing the course of history, and that first domino is introducing the gladiatrix 80 years early,” DeKnight said.
This change creates a major point of conflict, shocking and offending the Roman elite who see the very concept as a disgrace. Achillia’s journey is brutal and parallels Ashur’s in many ways, as both are outsiders fighting for respect and survival in a ruthless society.
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Fan Reactions and Series Availability
The news of DeKnight’s interest in a Gannicus story has spread quickly through the dedicated Spartacus fan community online. On social media and fan forums, many are expressing excitement at the possibility of seeing the beloved champion again.
Spartacus: House of Ashur premiered on December 5, 2025, on STARZ in the United States. The first two episodes were released together, with new episodes airing weekly on Fridays. In the United Kingdom, the series is available on MGM+, premiering on December 6, 2025, with weekly episodes on Saturdays.
The main cast features Nick E. Tarabay as Ashur, Tenika Davis as Achillia, and Graham McTavish as the trainer Korris. The series also includes Lucy Lawless as Lucretia and introduces a young Julius Caesar, played by Jackson Gallagher.
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