Spartacus: House of Ashur stars veteran actor Graham McTavish, known for his roles in historical and period dramas. This alternative retelling of the Spartacus saga will air on Starz from Friday, December 5, 2025, with a brand new episode every subsequent Friday.McTavish has been a part of both historical and fantasy worlds in the past, starring in projects such as House of the Dragon and Outlander. His experience in similar genres aligns with the tone and setting of Spartacus: House of Ashur. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAnd yet, he doesn't feel like these period scenarios are too far removed from today's world:"So, the stories, the struggles that all of these people have in all of those shows are the same struggles that we have now. I think that we all have a Roman within us. Still. Just under the surface. One of the great appeals of a show like ours is that it opens the door to that. For an audience."From The Hobbit to Outlander to The Witcher to Spartacus: House of AshurThe Scottish actor was a huge fan of Game of Thrones before being offered a part in its sequel, House of the Dragon. Similarly, as a massive Spartacus fan, he couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of the universe. He said:"I know. It’s funny isn’t it? It’s possibly like the laws of attraction and that kind of thing. I love these kind of shows. I just do. I loved the original Spartacus series. I was a huge fan of it. I loved the original Game of Thrones series. I went on to do House of the Dragon and I like those worlds. I like worlds that have something that’s very very different about them for a modern audience and is yet still relatable."In fact, fans of Outlander, which is a story about time travel, asked McTavish where he'd visit given the opportunity. He replied, 'Ancient Rome':"Suddenly, they’re back. They’re back in Rome. And Rome is…I remember when I did Outlander, people used to ask me – if you could time travel where would you go? And I always answered Rome. Just one day. I don’t think I’d like to stay there for more than a day. I think if you survived a day, you’d be doing well actually."Having traversed Middle Earth and Westeros, McTavish got to live another fantasy through Spartacus: House of Ashur:"But that’s where I would have wanted to go. And it’s endlessly fascinating. Ancient Rome. And it’s great that we’re able to share our vision of Rome with an audience."Spartacus: House of Ashur tells the story of a character who dies at Spartacus' hands. He is given yet another chance to live. McTavish expounded::One of the core things about this Spartacus is that it presents an alternative history. An alternative personal and group history. So, I think we can all relate to something that says if you were given another chance to do something differently that you would either regret or wish it turned out differently, what would you do? What would happen?"What is your favourite Graham McTavish role? Let us know in the comments below. Stay tuned for more exclusive content from Spartacus: House of Ashur.