Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (January 23, 2009)

IS THAT AN OYSTERS/SNAILS QUESTIONS?
In a previous life, I was a historical novelist, and I especially loved ancient history — Greek, Roman, and even older. So I was definitely stoked when I heard the Starz network plans later this year to launch Spartacus, a new series "that will reinvent and reinterpret the ancient legend of the rebellious warrior slave."

Naturally the first question that popped into my head was whether or not the show would acknowledge the existence of same-sex relationships that were commonplace in Ancient Rome. That question came up during the panel which prompted Spartacus' show runner Steven S. DeKnight to quip, "Is that an oysters or snails question?"

Laurence Olivier and Tony Curtis discussing what kind of delicacies they prefer in Spartacus

DeKnight referred to a famous scene from Stanley Kubrick's 1960 epic Spartacus where Crassus (Laurence Olivier) seemingly hits on a slave named Antoninus (Tony Curtis) by pointing out different toga-clad dudes had different tastes — some men like oysters, some like snails and some like both. However, the actual "tastes" to which Crassus euphemistically referred to were not lost on TPTB and the scene was cut (and only recently restored).

So how gay will the new Spartacus be? To hear Spartacus's executive producer (and Xena: Warrior Princess mastermind) Rob Tapert tell it, very. Tapert told reporters "The beauty of being on premium cable is that there is no story that we can’t tell in detail. So the gay stories are totally accessible and don’t have to be handled with kid gloves. They can be confronted head-on." DeKnight added, "There will definitely be gay characters on the show, and relationships. "

At that point I jumped up and said, "Woo hoo!" Okay, not really. Well, maybe a little.

Roman Emperor Hadrian and his lover Antinous, second century A.D.

I spoke with DeKnight after the panel as well and was impressed by how much research he was doing into the topic and how much he already understood. In much of the ancient world, same-sex relationships weren't necessarily taboo. What most mattered was who was submissive and who was dominant. It was all about social position such as with Emperor Hadrian and his young lover Antinous pictured above.

Alas, there isn't a single line of dialogue written or an actor cast yet so it's impossible to know how this rendition of Spartacus will turn out, but given Tapert and DeKnight's statements thus far, I'm at least cautiously optimistic. (Plus Sam Raimi is involved so at least we know it will look great.)

And it certainly can't be anymore disappointing than Oliver Stone's Alexander starring Colin Farrell as Alexander and and Jared Leto as his lover Hephaistion.

Leto: Does the script say anything about us ever kissing?
Farrell: Nope, but if we did ever get it on, I'd so be the dominant one!

Next page! A look back at "classic" portrayals from the ancient world!