"SPARTACUS" RENEWED FOR SECOND SEASON

Released by Rick Porter/From Inside the Box

Starz has given a second-season pickup to its series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" -- a month before the show begins its first season.

The pickup allows the series, which is produced by Sam Raimi and is based on the Roman gladiator who led a slave revolt, to go back into production early next year -- and presumably deliver new episodes to Starz sooner than it otherwise would have. It stars Andy Whitfield as the title character and also features John Hannah and Lucy Lawless.

Season two is likely to be titled "Spartacus: Vengeance," Starz says. Here's the cable channel's latest blood-soaked trailer for the first season, which premieres Jan. 22.