Manu Bennett previews ‘Spartacus: GOTA’ finale

PUBLISHED: February 25, 2011 at 11:15 a.m. | UPDATED: June 18, 2018 at 3:42 p.m.

The wild ride that is “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” comes to a vicious end tonight on Starz with a battle royale in the new arena.

According to Starz, “Batiatus seeks vengeance for all that has befallen him and retains his gladiators and Solonius in the cause. The opening of the new arena arrives, promising a spectacle of combat and blood.”

According to Manu Bennett, the finale (9 p.m. Feb. 25, Starz), which includes the largest battle “Spartacus” has filmed to date, will blow fans away in surprising ways.

“What you expect is probably coming, but it’s probably going to be something you don’t expect,” he said cryptically during a phone interview last week.

When last we saw Bennett’s character, Crixus, he became the champion of the House of Batiatus by defeating Gannicus (Dustin Clare). After a very short celebration, he was reminded that even as a champion, he’s a slave, when Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), the wife of his owner, Batiatus (John Hannah), summoned him to play stud in her efforts to get pregnant.

“When you live in a dungeon with a bunch of guys and someone invites you upstairs, you’re not going to say ‘no,'” Bennett said. “For her, it’s more about power and using people,” and supplying her with the genetic fixins for a strong heir.

“For Crixus, to be nobody and come from nowhere and then suddenly to be given everything and be thrust upon this stage, he’s really fighting to survive.”

Survival is one of the key themes in the world of “Spartacus.” An episode doesn’t go by in which someone isn’t killed off, either in the gladiator arena or just out-and-out murdered (goodbye Titus and Gaia!). Bennett wouldn’t say whether Gannicus survives.

“Gannicus’ character is pivotal … but champions are lost in this show. Let’s just say that nothing in this show lasts. That’s the way it is; it’s not always happy or what everybody wants or expects, but there’s a lot in store that will change the dynamics again.”

I’ll have more from Bennett later. Don’t forget that after the extended “Spartacus” finale, Starz will air a sneak peek of the first episode of its new series, “Camelot.” (The official series premiere is April 1.) You can check out the preview for that after the previews of the GOTA finale below.

FIGHT FOR HER

BOUND TO EACH OTHER

CAMELOT

In the wake of King Uther’s sudden death, chaos threatens to engulf Britain. When the sorcerer Merlin has visions of a dark future, he installs the young and impetuous Arthur, Uther’s unknown son and heir, who has been raised from birth as a commoner. But Arthur’s cold and ambitious half sister Morgan will fight him to the bitter end, summoning unnatural forces to claim the crown in this epic battle for control. These are dark times indeed for the new king, with Guinevere being the only shining light in Arthur’s harsh world. Faced with profound moral decisions, and the challenge of uniting a kingdom broken by war and steeped in deception, Arthur will be tested beyond imagination. Forget everything you think you know…this is the story of Camelot that has never been told before.

CAMELOT SCENE