Starz hit the Television Critics Assn. press tour Thursday with a new tagline (“We’re All Adults Here”) and news on several new and returning series — including a greenlight for the yakker “ Fat Joe Talks” (hosted by the “What’s Luv” hip-hop star) and news that it had acquired the U.S.
and Canada broadcast rights to “ Sweetpea ,” a new drama starring and executive produced by Ella Purnell (“Yellowjackets,” “Fallout”). Starz also announced new castmembers for its upcoming spinoff “ Spartacus: House of Ashur ,” the latest series in the “Spartacus” universe. Graham McTavish (“Outlander,” “The Witcher,” “House of the Dragon”) joins the cast as Ashur’s Doctore, who trains the gladiators.
Tenika Davis (“Jupiter’s Legacy”) will play the first female gladiator in the “Spartacus” universe, described as “a fierce warrior driven to surpass her male counterparts and earn her freedom.” Joining them are Jamaica Vaughan (“Home and Away”) as “Hilara,” a young, elevated house slave, deeply in love with Ashur; Ivana Baquero (“The Shannara Chronicles”) is “Messia,” a house slave in love with Hilara; Jordi Webber (“Choose Love”) plays “Tarchon,” a brash and headstrong gladiator; Claudia Black (“The Nevers”) plays “Cossutia,” a politician determined to keep Ashur in his place and is constantly plotting his downfall; India Shaw-Smith (“Supernatural”) is “Viridia,” Cossutia’s daughter; and Le.