Celebrity News
Spartacus Producers Decide to Recast Andy Whitfield’s Role
(HMG Celebrity News) – I don’t like to hear this, whether it’s business or not. As we recently sadly reported, Spartacus: Blood and Sand’ star Andy Whitfield was forced to bow out of the show’s second season after he had a relapse of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and was forced to resume “aggressive treatment.” The cancer was originally detected during a routine medical check-up required for insurance before the show’s second season began shooting in New Zealand. In a statement, Whitfield expressed regret at leaving the series while describing his cancer battle “as another extraordinary journey.” At the time, Starz network said that co-stars Lucy Lawless and John Hannah would take center stage for a six-episode prequel leading up to Spartacus’ arrival. It will air beginning in January. Sadly Starz, according to a just-released casting notice (via EW), has officially started looking for an actor to replace Andy now. It’s a tough business decision I guess, because I am sure the network feared they would lose their audience and it would have been hard to go the whole season without stories about the main star. But still it seems a bitter pill to swallow.
Greedy Starz will not stop them from recasting.It is about money and Andy is expendable in the producers eyes.I hoped they would cancel it and respect Andy and his work. But as Lucy LAwless said it is making us money so it must go on.I wish andy the best and hope it gets canceled soon.
Andy is not expendable in the producers eyes at all, if that was the case they would not have started the prequel. Which was to give Andy time to recover from his illness. Andy has also given his blessing to the producers in finding a replacement, knowing that the many people involved with the show would be out of work.
And if Lucy Lawless made that remark, which seems unlikely to me. It’s because she is thinking of the people losing their jobs, not how much money they can get out of it at Andy’s expence. I admit it will be a shame to lose Andy, as I adore him. And anyone else will have big shoes to fill, but I still want to see it finished as I loved all the characters, Spartacus didn’t fight off the romans on his own.
ANDY IS AN EXORDINARY ACTOR! HIS PERFORMANCE IS COMPARIABLE TO RUSSELL CROW IN GLADITOR. ANDY IS SUCH AN UNIQUE AND SPECIAL TALENT. I PRAY FOR WELLNESS FOR HIM THIS YEAR..
I don’t see how they can replace Andy. But I think that the show itself is extraordinary and should be continued. Not to mention all the fine and wonderful actors that we have come to know and love.
I want Starz to create another character who is called “Spartacus” – more like a title than an identifying name. The Romans assume there is only one leader because that’s how they would do things, but Thracians and Gauls were tribal peoples and why not have different “tribes” that come together to fight the Romans. Could explain why the Romans had such a hard time catching Spartacus. Andy’s “Spartacus” can be written off to the side — off screen. And I would also hope for a miracle and that Andy can come back in Season 3.
But the bottom line is that Andy gets well. That’s first and foremost. I’m praying for him.
its a pity we should pray for the guy he started a great role serious
I’m so much disappointed that the guy will not be featuring in the next series. Guy, you did a great work in the last season. I pray you will get back to your feet before the commencement of the next season. I suggest Brad pitt for the replacement, but the movie will not be as interesting if Andy is not used.
It’s not about greed. There are literally 100′s of people who work on that show. Are you suggesting that they should all lose their jobs because of one guy? Is that how it works at your company? The CEO gets sick and they shut down that entire company? Think before you type.
Most people would be shocked to find out the truth about Lawless.She has called her supportive fans mental cases that need to get a life yet when she she needs them it is a different story.She is a user of people in the worst way.Xena fans support her and behind their backs she laughs at them– she hated doing Xena -thought it was stupid and hated doing the stunts.She treated her so-star like shit behind the scenes but is nice to her at public events.Nother would surprise me at what comes out of her mouth-she is two-faced as they come.
Wish they could wait for Andy==wish him well anyways.About Lucy i heard the same thing from someone who work in wardrobe that the last 2 years of xena were hell on Renee because of Lawless and she does want her husband Rob to hire her for Spartacus-he wanted to thought.
Good luck Andy! Shows come and go but life is a one-shot deal. Hope he gets better very soon, not for the show’s sake although I am a fan