LOS ANGELES, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- NCTA Cable Show 2010 -- Pre-production is underway on a six-part prequel to Starz' hit original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." Andy Whitfield, who played the title character in the series, will appear in the prequel briefly, but Lucy Lawless and John Hannah take center stage in this story of the rise of the House of Batiatus and its champions before Spartacus arrives as a captured Thracian slave.

LOS ANGELES, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Andy Whitfield, who plays the title role in Starz Original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," announced today he has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and will begin treatment immediately in New Zealand.

The cast and creators of Spartacus: Blood and Sand are to discuss their new television series at Comic-Con in San Diego, Calif., Starz said.