‘Sparatcus: House of Ashur’ Creator Steven DeKnight on Pushing Sex and Violence Boundaries

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This winter, “Spartacus: House of Ashur” is shaping up to be the hottest new series. As a spin-off of the original Starz hit known for its intense violence and explicit content, it promises to deliver more of the same – and creator Steven DeKnight wasn’t about to tone it down, especially with some TV executives currently hesitant about mature content. Thankfully, no one asked him to compromise the show’s signature style.

At a recent Hollywood Reporter event, showrunner DeKnight discussed the upcoming season of Spartacus: House of Ashur, promising it will be exceptionally violent and sexually explicit – potentially the most so of any series in years. He also revealed the studio gave him complete creative freedom, requiring no changes to his vision.

I expected to receive feedback about that, but surprisingly, I didn’t. Depicting ancient Rome accurately means showing a very harsh and sexually charged era, and I’m grateful that Lionsgate and Starz haven’t asked me to tone it down.

When the Spartacus series first began, shows like Game of Thrones were known for their violence and frequent nudity. But as Game of Thrones continued, it actually reduced those elements. In contrast, the new Spartacus: House of Ashur seems to be going in the opposite direction, with even more intense and explicit content.

Spartacus’ Nick E. Tarabay On Intimacy Coordinators

Over the past ten years, there’s been growing conversation about using intimacy coordinators on film and TV sets when nudity is involved. Nick E. Tarabay, who plays Ashur, says coordinators were available on set for anyone who wanted one. While he believes they’re a valuable resource, he doesn’t view nude scenes as particularly unusual or requiring special handling beyond that.

I grew up working in theater where we didn’t have intimacy coordinators – we simply discussed boundaries and comfort levels directly with each other. It’s wonderful that the new generation has that support. But honestly, after doing nude scenes for a while, it becomes less awkward and just feels like another part of the job.

The new Spartacus series, ‘House of Ashur,’ explores an alternate storyline – what if the character Ashur had lived? This allows original showrunner Steven DeKnight to return and take the franchise in a fresh direction. If the show performs well, there’s a good chance we’ll see future seasons that recapture the series’ signature blend of violence and sensuality. At a time when many TV shows are becoming less explicit, ‘Spartacus’ promises to stand out with its bold content.

Spartacus: House of Ashur debuts on Starz on December 4, 2025.

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2025-12-03 18:32