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Spartacus has been missing from our screens for 12 years but now a new bloody era is on the horizon

Spartacus: House of Ashur is on the way, breathing new life into the unforgettable violent period drama.

The long-awaited series is going to be set in an unfamiliar world as not only does cunning Ashur (played by Nick Tarabay) survive his horrific series three death, he thrives.

Brought to life on MGM+ and Starz in the US, Spartacus: House of Ashur comes 12 years after the original Spartacus series came to an end.

As the wait is almost over for the iconic show to return, here’s everything there is to know about watching Spartacus: House of Ashur.

When will Spartacus: House of Ashur premiere?

There is just a matter of days left before the drama’s big debut with Spartacus: House of Ashur starting on Friday, December 5, on Starz in the US and Saturday, December 6 on MGM+ in the UK.

Those in the UK can get access to MGM+, which also features the Power franchise and Outlander, via an add-on subscription within Prime Video

The show’s confirmed release has been a long time coming with news of the spin-off first being announced back in 2023.

Spartacus: House of Ashur episode count and release schedule

Spartacus: House of Ashur is going to consist of 10 episodes with only the first two instalments dropping on December 5 and December 6. From this point on, a single episode is going to be released on the same days every week, continuing to bring this epic story to life.

And as long as there are no delays to the schedule, this means that the grand finale is going to be out on Friday, January 30, in the US and Saturday, January 31, in the UK. But fans are going to have to stay tuned in to find out how it all plays out.

Spartacus: House of Ashur cast

Actor Nick Tarabay will be reprising his devious role of Ashur from the original Spartacus series for his own spin-off House of Ashur. As this is an alternate reality, he will be joined by an abundance of new faces including Outlander icon Graham McTavis as Korris.

Other new cast members include Tenika Davis as Achillia, Jamaica Vaughn as Hilara, Ivana Baquero as Messia and Jordi Webber as Tarchon.

The only other original star to briefly join Tarabay in House of Ashur is actress Lucy Lawless as Lucretia. An early released clip has teased her appearing in the underworld where she once again comes face to face with Ashur.

Julius Caesar will be portrayed by actor Jackson Gallagher, a role which had previously been taken on by actor Todd Lascance. It was planned that Lascance would reprise the role but wasn’t able to due to scheduling conflicts with NCIS Sydney.

What is Spartacus: House of Ashur about?

As previously mentioned, Spartacus: House of Ashur is a spin-off from the original Spartacus drama which will be set in an alternate reality. It delves into what could have happened if Ashur hadn’t been decapitated on Mount Vesuvius 12 years ago.

Instead, Ashur has been gifted the gladiator school which had once been owned by Batiatus (John Hannah) as a reward for helping the Romans kill Spartacus and ending the slave rebellion. While Ashur may have been given all that he desired, will he truly be happy with his second chance?

Spartacus: House of Ashur will premiere on Friday, December 5, on Starz in the US and Saturday, December 6, on MGM+ in the UK.

The line where the sky meets the sea is calling to the new “Moana.”

The first teaser trailer for the live-action Disney film released Monday features star Catherine Laga’aia singing a few lines of her character’s signature “I Want” song as the footage offers glimpses of the island and people of Motunui, the demigod Maui, the seafaring Kakamora and Moana’s clumsy rooster Heihei.

“I am a girl who loves my island and the girl who loves the sea,” Laga’aia as Moana sings in the opening moments of the trailer. “It calls me.”

Fans of the original animated movie will recognize the scene of a young Moana playing with the ocean after seeing a seashell on the shore. Speaking of the 2016 film, Dwayne Johnson, who voiced the shapeshifter demigod and hero of men in the animated “Moana,” will also portray the live-action version of the arrogant trickster. You’re welcome.

Directed by Thomas Kail, the live-action remake will follow Moana, who dreams of being a wayfinder and exploring the ocean. She leaves Motonui in search of Maui and the Heart of Te Fiti to help save her people.

In addition to Laga’aia and Johnson, the “Moana” cast includes John Tui as Moana’s father, Chief Tui; Frankie Adams as her mother, Sina; and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala.

The trailer ends with Laga’aia triumphantly singing, “I am Moana.”

The animated “Moana,” with Hawaiian actor Auliʻi Cravalho in the title role, grossed $643.3 million worldwide during its initial run. Its follow-up “Moana 2” was one of three films released in 2024 that crossed the $1-billion mark at the worldwide box office. Cravalho serves as one of the executive producers of the live-action film, along with Kail, Scott Sheldon and Charles Newirth.

The live-action “Moana” will hit theaters July 10.

Beloved animated franchise Toy Story is returning to our screens after six years, with the iconic characters competing against technology for the affection of their kids

Toy Story fans are heading to infinity and beyond once again as the animated franchise returns for its fifth film – with the first teaser trailer being released. While many fans are queuing up to buy cinema tickets already, some have spotted a huge plot hole in the clip.

The 50-second trailer sees a package arrive at the house of little girl Bonnie, who now owns Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the other toys, with her mum saying: “Bonnie, there’s a package for you.” As Never Tears Us Apart by INEX plays in the background, we watch as Slinky Dog, Rex, Forky, Mr Potato Head, Mrs Potato Head, Jessie and the rest of the toys tremble in fear as Bonnie unpacks a frog-like tablet.

“In summer 2026, the age of toys is over?” text reads throughout the teaser trailer. We then see Woody and Buzz hug one another in fear as the tablet says, “Hi there, I’m Lilypad. Let’s play.”

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Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are set to return as the voices of Woody and Buzz, while The Morning Show’s Greta Lee joins as Lilypad. Anna Faris, Ernie Hudson and Conan O’Brien will be taking on new roles in the cast, which features Joan Cusack, Blake Clark and Tony Hale.

However, after the events of Toy Story 4, some fans have been quick to point out that Woody actually left the rest of the toys at the end of the last film to join Bo Peep as a ‘lost toy’. One wrote on X: “See but like how did Woody get back there after staying with Bo peep such a plot hole.”

Another tweeted: “So Woody came back with the gang after he decided to be an ownerless toy with Bo at the end of the last movie? Toy Story 3 should’ve been the end of the series, 4 & 5 are not needed at all.”

“They’re gonna pretend 4 didn’t exist because Woody is there with the others,” a third wrote, while a fourth replied: “Honestly, at this point, if you’re gonna keep making endless Toy Story movies, don’t do any more bittersweet emotional endings anymore.

“Pixar baited us into believing the franchise would be finished TWICE, so don’t even think about making a bittersweet ending for 5.”

Despite the puzzling character return, many can’t wait for the fifth instalment. “Oh this is perfecttttttttttty,” one fan wrote on X, while another said: “Oooohhhhh we are about to have a TIIIIIIIIMEEEE!!!”

The new film is set to be released in June 2026 in theatres, with star Tim Allen teasing its tech villain last month.”It’s such a great story, I can only tell a little bit of it – it’s a Jessie story,” he said.

He continued: “Tom and I have to reunite and there’s just the funniest thing because there’s a whole bunch of Buzzes involved – and there’s a reason why.

“There’s 100 of me in a separate story and I get to play and have fun. So, the story is good.”

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