'Spartacus' At Comic-Con: Cast And Creator Talk Final Season, 'War Of The Damned'

"Spartacus: War of the Damned" might be the series' final season (watch the Comic-Con trailer below), but they're going out with a bang. Show creator Steven DeKnight joined stars Liam McIntyre (Spartacus) and Manu Bennett (Crixus) for their San Diego Comic-Con panel, and they had plenty of surprises.

DeKnight talked a lot about sticking the landing, and the pressure to get this final season (premieres January 2013 on Starz) right for the fans. "Let's make the biggest, most epic season ever and go out on a high," he said. DeKnight also told the Comic-Con audience they've condensed quite a bit of history to squeeze it all in, so it'll be action-packed, but not 100 percent factual, timeline-wise. "Don't write a high school paper based on the show," DeKnight joked.

According to star Liam McIntyre, that action includes a lot more deaths, something the show has become known for. McIntyre said they actually ran out of fake blood to use while filming "Spartacus: War of the Damned." Good news for fans of the bloodier parts of the show!

Talking about the emotion of the final season, after so many major deaths, DeKnight said that Spartacus "goes from sad Spartacus to emotionally unavailable" after the death of Mira. Bennett talked about the war dance they all do, called Haka, to send off castmembers whose characters have been killed. He showed the audience a bit of it, and then lifted his shirt, which got huge cheers from the crowd.

But the biggest cheers were for the panel's surprise guest: Lucy Lawless, who played Lucretia, popped by to join the guys, praising them for letting her play such a "criminally insane" character, and crediting the show for revitalizing her career. It wasn't long before the rest of the "Spartacus" gang popped on stage, getting the whole crowd cheering on their feet. Just don't think that means that any of them will be magically resurrected for this final season: "Yes, I'm actually dead," Viva Bianca confirmed about her character, Ilithyia.

We caught up with DeKnight, McIntyre, Bennett and Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Naevia) before their panel to get some scoop on "War of the Damned."

Click back to this page to read our Q&As with the stars, which will be posting soon.

Check out our slideshow for more of our "must see" TV picks for San Diego Comic-Con 2012, and be sure to visit HuffPost TV over the next few days for our full coverage of the convention.

• DC Comics' Darkness & Light Art Exhibition

  <strong>When:</strong> Mon., July 9 to Sun., July 15 <strong>Where:</strong> Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts, 363 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 <strong>Why:</strong> If you're a fan of superheroes and villains, you won't want to miss this one-of-a-kind art show, presented to raise awareness and funds for the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. The unique pairing of comic-inspired art with photography features a large-scale piece of original artwork by Jim Lee, the legendary artist and DC Entertainment co-publisher, featuring the profile of Batman in a color palette inspired by the hues of Africa. <a href="http://www.wecanbeheroes.org/darknessandlight" target="_hplink">More info here.</a>

• Preview Night Pilot Screenings

  <strong>When:</strong> Wed., July 11 at 6 p.m <strong>Where:</strong> Ballroom 20 <strong>Why:</strong> Warner Bros. continue their annual Preview Night tradition with exclusive world premiere screenings of the pilot episodes of five of the most highly anticipated TV series of the 2012-13 television season: "666 Park Avenue," "Arrow," "The Following," "Revolution" and "Cult."

• Nerd HQ

  <strong>When:</strong> Thurs., July 12 to Sun., July 15 <strong>Where:</strong> Block No. 16 Union & Spirits, 344 7th Avenue (7th and J), San Diego CA, 92101 <strong>Why:</strong> For the second year running, Zachary Levi's <a href="http://www.thenerdmachine.com" target="_hplink">Nerd Machine</a> presents Nerd HQ, a cornucopia of gaming, technology and nerdtastic "Conversations for a Cause" -- intimate Q&As with some of the industry's biggest stars to benefit <a href="www.operationsmile.org" target="_hplink">Operation Smile</a>. "Conversation" tickets cost $20 and guests include Joss Whedon, Stan Lee, Damon Lindelof and the cast of "Psych." <a href="http://www.thenerdmachine.com/conversation-panel-preview/" target="_hplink">More info here.</a>

• The "Extra" at Comic-Con Stage

  <strong>When:</strong> Thurs., July 12 to Sat., July 14 <strong>Where:</strong> Bayfront Park between the San Diego Convention Center and the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel. <strong>Why:</strong> Free entertainment and a festival atmosphere from noon 'til 10 p.m., including movie screenings of "The Goonies," "Beetlejuice" and the "Friday the 13th" remake; a showcase featuring all six Batmobiles; live performances from The Bacon Brothers, "The Voice's" Tony Lucca and Frenchie Davis; and on-stage interviews with Warner Bros. talent including stars from "The Big Bang Theory," "Childrens Hospital," "Fringe," "Nikita," "Person of Interest," "The Vampire Diaries" and more. <a href="http://comiccon.thewb.com/2012/wbsdccextrastagelineup/" target="_hplink">More info here.</a>

• The Walking Dead Escape: Live The Apocalypse

  <strong>When:</strong> Thurs., July 12, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Fri., July 13, 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Sat., July 14, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; waves will run every 20 minutes. <strong>Where:</strong> Petco Park in downtown San Diego, CA. <strong>Why:</strong> Do you think you could survive a zombie apocalypse? Now's your chance to prove it as you navigate a ballpark infested with walkers and must climb, crawl, hide and slide your way to safety. "Survivor" tickets cost $75 and participants will receive an Exclusive Special Edition of the 100th Issue of "The Walking Dead." Less daring (but more bloodthirsty) fans can buy spectator tickets for $15. <a href="http://www.thewalkingdeadescape.com/" target="_hplink">More info here.</a>

• "Nikita" Q&A and Exclusive Video Presentation

  <strong>When:</strong> Thurs., July 12 at 6 p.m. <strong>Where:</strong> Room 6BCF <strong>Why:</strong> Allow me to be self-serving for a moment, because yours truly is moderating this panel. But aside from representing HuffPost TV, the presentation also features the majority of the show's stellar ensemble cast, with Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca, Aaron Stanford and Melinda Clarke joining executive producer Craig Silverstein to spill a few secrets about Season 3.

• "The Big Bang Theory" Screening and Q&A

  <strong>When:</strong> Fri., July 13 at 12:05 p.m. <strong>Where:</strong> Hall H <strong>Why:</strong> For the first time ever in Hall H, the mega-popular TV series returns to Comic-Con for a special screening and a lively discussion. Will Howard "Froot Loops" Wolowitz return from space? Where do things stand with Penny and Leonard? And will unscheduled handholding affect "The Relationship Agreement"?

• "Firefly" 10th Anniversary Reunion Panel

  <strong>When:</strong> Fri., July 13 at 12:30 p.m. <strong>Where:</strong> Ballroom 20 <strong>Why:</strong> Calling all Browncoats! It's been 10 years since the crew of the Serenity first took flight in "Firefly" and for the first time ever, Science Channel will reunite Captain Mal Reynolds and the crew from the ship. Join Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and many more for a trip down memory lane, some special surprises, and exclusive Science Channel giveaways. SHINY.

• "Game of Thrones" Panel and Q&A

  <strong>When:</strong> Fri., July 13 at 2:45 p.m. <strong>Where:</strong> Hall H <strong>Why:</strong> Last year's panel was one of the most buzzworthy of Com-Con and now that the series has graduated to Hall H, it's certain to be even bigger. Cast members attending include Alfie Allen, Emilia Clarke, Michelle Fairley, Richard Madden and Rose Leslie, with author George R. R. Martin moderating.

• EW: "Powerful Women In Pop Culture" Panel

  <strong>When:</strong> Fri., July 13 at 4:15 p.m. <strong>Where:</strong> Ballroom 20 <strong>Why:</strong> Entertainment Weekly presents the "Powerful Women In Pop Culture" (a.k.a. Women Who Kick Ass!) Q&A. The panel features Kristin Bauer van Straten ("True Blood"), Sarah Wayne Callies ("The Walking Dead"), Kristin Kreuk ("Beauty and the Beast"), Nikki Reed ("Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2"), and Anna Torv ("Fringe"). The fan-favorite females will open up about the power and privilege of playing characters that have redefined the rules for women.

• TV Guide Magazine: "Fan Favorites" Panel

  <strong>When:</strong> Sat., July 14 at 1 p.m. <strong>Where:</strong> Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront <strong>Why:</strong> "Fan Favorites" brings together stars from TV's hottest shows for a lively discussion filled with behind-the-scenes scoop. Panelists (subject to change) include Nathan Fillion ("Castle"), David Giuntoli ("Grimm"), Joel McHale ("Community"), Tyler Posey ("Teen Wolf"), Maggie Q ("Nikita"), Matt Smith ("Doctor Who") and more.

• "Fringe" Panel and Q&A

  <strong>When:</strong> Sun., July 15 at 10 a.m. <strong>Where:</strong> Hall H <strong>Why:</strong> Fringe returns to Comic-Con for its farewell panel to celebrate its fifth and final season. Series stars Anna Torv, Josh Jackson, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole and John Noble, along with executive producer J. H. Wyman, offer a Q&A with fans and an exclusive video presentation. Following the panel is another cult hit, "Supernatural," featuring new showrunner Jeremy Carver, writer Ben Edlund, and cast-members Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, Jim Beaver and Mark Sheppard.

And watch the "Spartacus: War of the Damned" trailer here:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/13/spartacus-comic-con_n_1672790.html

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