On December 22, 2009, a month before it premiered, it was announced that the show was renewed by Starz for a second season.[citation needed] On March 9, 2010, IGN.com reported that production of Season 2 had been delayed due to star Whitfield being diagnosed with early-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma.[7] Due to the delay, Starz announced on May 11, 2010, that it is developing a six-episode prequel series, entitled Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.[8] The prequel features new and returning stars, headlining the roles of John Hannah as Batiatus, and Lucy Lawless as Lucretia. Star Andy Whitfield will also briefly appear. Production begins in New Zealand in the summer of 2010 and the prequel will air beginning January 2011.[9]
However in September 2010, Starz announced that Whitfield's cancer had returned and he had decided not to return for season 2, tentatively scheduled for September 2011.[10] The show will continue, but Starz plans on recasting the role of Spartacus in the wake of Whitfield's exit.[11] Whitfield also gave his blessing for Starz to recast the role when he announced he would not return.
On January 7, 2011, Starz president Chris Albrecht told journalists at the Television Critics Association press tour that the network had decided to go forward with a second full season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. In an interview later that day, Albrecht said a new lead actor for the series would be announced in the following weeks and the second season of Spartacus will probably arrive in early 2012, if filming is on schedule.
Spartacus series creator Steven S. DeKnight said in an interview, There are a "couple of very strong candidates" for the role of Spartacus, and season two should begin production in New Zealand in April [2011]. DeKnight added that the Spartacus producers and Starz executives weren't always sure they would go forward without Andy Whitfield, who they said had brought "gravity and heart" to the role of the famous warrior. "It's unheard of to recast your titular character in a television show, and we did a lot of soul searching about whether we even wanted to try," DeKnight said. "And then Andy [Whitfield] said, 'I really think the show should go forward without me. I give you the blessing. I want this story told.'"[12]
On Jan. 17, 2011, it was announced that Australian film and TV actor Liam McIntyre had been selected to replace Whitfield.
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