Interview: "Spartacus" Creator Steven DeKnight and New Star Liam McIntyre

Spartacus star Liam McIntyre and show creator Steven DeKnight

While the word "epic" probably isn’t quite right when it comes to describing the journey taken to get to the third season of Starz’s Spartacus, which debuts on January 27th, it isn’t far off either. After becoming a surprise hit for the cable network, the show had to deal with the news that star Andy Whitfield was stricken with cancer. While waiting for Whitfield to recover, the show’s co-creators Steven DeKnight and Rob Tapert decided on very short notice to shoot a six episode prequel in order to maintain the show’s momentum.

Tragically, Whitfield never recovered, and that left the show having to face the difficult chore of recasting the lead role of Spartacus, something DeKnight did with the blessing of Whitfield who wanted Spartacus to go on.

During last summer’s Television Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles, AfterElton had the chance to get some face time with DeKnight, as well as Liam McIntyre who is taking over the titular role after the passing of Whitfield. They had a lot to say about the upcoming season.

AfterElton: Previously we talked about [how] this season might have a gay villain. Is that going to happen?
Steven DeKnight: No. It was — I think I can reveal this — when we were originally 13 episodes, we had plans that Gaius Claudius Glaber was actually going to be bisexual. But then when we went and shrunk it down to 10 episodes, we realized there wasn’t enough room to explore that. It felt like an odd tack on. So I’m still very much interested in exploring a bisexual character. In hopefully the season after this one, we’ll be able to make that happen.

AE: Any gay characters in this season?
SDK: Yes.

AE: Anything you can give me a hint about?
SDK: No, I can’t. I can’t on this one.

Liam McIntyre: It’s good though. Surprised me.

SDK: Yeah.

AE: Male or female?
SDK: Male.

AE: Fine, tease us.
SDK: With the gay relationship this season, I was really interested in exploring kind of a deeper love. It’s almost like a tender romantic...

LM: You really get time to see it...

SDK: Yeah. You get to see it from the start.

LM: You can see it bloom.

SDK: Yeah, from the start, where they come into it.

AE: Great!
SDK: You see it start. I think we lay a lot of great groundwork for it this season and then next season I want to explore it even deeper.

AE: Okay, good, good. I’m now going to ignore you [Steven] for the rest of the interview so I can talk with Liam. I’m kidding!
SDK: Hey!

AE: I’m sure you’re used to that. First of all, congratulations on getting the part, Liam.
LM: Thank you,

AE: What was the best piece of advice you’ve received since being cast?
LM: Um...

SDK: Don’t f*ck up.

LM: [Laughing] You idiot...

SDK: Don’t f*ck up my franchise.

LM: I know. Like in a non-humorous way? It was just make sure you survive the whole shoot because it’s such a full-on experience. I got that from everyone from Dustin Clare, from the produces to Andy himself. He said it is a long and tough road that is very rewarding. So just [brace] yourself. You get excited.

SDK: Did they warn you that sooner or later you’ll either your back will go out or you will get horribly, horribly sick? You’ve already got down the sick thing.

LM: Oh, you know, I’m doing my best. You get covered in something.

SDK: You get something covered in something.

AE: Taking the part seems like it would be really daunting for a whole host of reasons. Developing the gladiator body, for starters. You had another role that had you looking quite a bit more thin…
LM: Absolutely. You guys documented it closely. I’ve seen it.

AE: We might have noticed how you changed. Then there was learning how to fight convincingly, plus the show is very adult-oriented and there is a fair bit of frank sexuality. Which of those was the most daunting to take on?
LM: Well everything is daunting in its own way. I’ve got the best job in the world. And there’s nothing you can do but love going to that. I’ve got a huge responsibility to the fans, to the producers that trust me, to Andy and the amazing job he did in Season One.

And ultimately you can take two approaches there. You can get so scared you can’t do it, or you go, “I’ve got a really big job, so don’t mess up.” When it came to learning how to fight I found that I kind of.... That actually came to me without as much difficulty as I thought, which was odd.

With the body, I started really skinny, you work really hard, you get in Spartacus shape. And that’s not easy. With the dialogue and the story, you work really hard at it and you do your job and… When I finally saw that trailer at ComicCon, I went “Wow.” It was mine.