Yahoo News Starz Picks Up ‘Fat Joe Talks,’ Acquires Ella Purnell Drama ‘Sweetpea,’ Adds ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ Cast
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.”
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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 Leigh Gill (“Game of Thrones”) will appear as “Satyrus,” the leader of the Brothers Ferox, gladiators from a rival Ludus. They all join Nick Tarabay (“Spartacus”) in the series, with production under way in New Zealand.
In the case of “Sweetpea,” Purnell plays Rhiannon Lewis, who lives an anonymous life — until “everything in her life turns upside down. Rhiannon is pushed over the edge and loses control. Suddenly the wallflower is gone, and in its place is a young woman capable of anything… Rhiannon’s life transforms as she steps into a new, intoxicating power, but can she keep her killer secret?”
The six-part series, based on the C.J. Skuse novel, will premiere in 2024 on Starz in the U.S. and Canada. The show is produced by See-Saw Films and Fanboy in association with Sky Studios. Kirstie Swain, Krissie Ducker, Laura Jayne Tunbridge and Selina Lim are EPs. Ella Jones is director and also EP. Manpreet Dosanjh, is EP for Sky Studios; Fanboy’s Patrick Walters, See-Saw’s Helen Gregory, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman and Purnell are also EPs.
“We’re excited to partner again with Ella Purnell and Sky Studios on such a fresh, boundary-breaking story,” said Alison Hoffman, president of domestic networks, Starz. “This darkly-comedic tale of revenge is sure to thrill viewers, as is Ella’s performance as a woman who finds her voice and claims her agency in ways that are devious and shocking.”
As for “Fat Joe Talks,” the 30-minute series will follow Fat Joe as he leads conversations “around a wide range of newsworthy topics and will travel throughout the United States to meet these cultural icons in their environment.”
Embassy Row is producing “Fat Joe Talks”; Fat Joe will EP with SpringHill’s LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Philip Byron and Jamal Henderson, and Embassy Row’s Michael Davies.
“‘Fat Joe Talks’ is an exciting foray into talk, and who better than Joe—a legend in and of himself—to drive provocative conversations that tap into the zeitgeist and matter to our audience,” said Kathryn Busby, president of original programming for Starz. “We are thrilled to be working with Joe and our partners at SpringHill and Embassy Row to launch this incredible show, offering authentic, backstage, rare access to these cultural icons.”
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