Spartacus: Blood and Sand star Andy Whitfield has opted to leave the series due to his continuing bout with cancer. The star first revealed he had cancer shortly after the first season finished airing, and had recently announced that his treatments had been successful. Unfortunately, the actor revealed in a statement today that his cancer has returned.
Whitfield played the lead role in the series, leaving the status of season two in limbo while the producers decide whether to re-cast the role, cancel the series or go in a different creative direction.
Regardless of what happens with season two of the hit series, fans will still get the prequel series focused around the training facility from season one that was greenlit when Whitfield's diagnosis was first revealed. That series focuses around the characters played by John Hannah and Lucy Lawless in season one.