Starz Developing Two New Original Series with 'Spartacus' Producers

Starz is continuing its push into original programming with two new original series in development, the network announced July 11. Both projects are from producers of "Spartacus," Starz's hit gladiator drama that will end its run after its upcoming third season.

"Spartacus" creator Steven DeKnight's "Incursion" is a sci-fi action series that follows a squad of soldiers caught in a war against a hostile alien race. The show will be set on a different planet each season, as humanity delves deeper into enemy territory.

And Rob Tapert, one of the executive producers of "Spartacus," is teaming with J. Michael Straczynski and horror producer Roy Lee ("The Ring," "The Grudge") to develop "Vlad Dracula," a vampire origin story that will blend historical facts of the 15th century Prince of Wallachia with the fictional Dracula, tracing his evolution from a revered ruler to the world's most feared vampire, and his slow downfall as he struggles desperately to hang on to his humanity, his wife, and his kingdom.

"Steven DeKnight, J. Michael Straczynski, Roy Lee, and Rob Tapert are legendary talents, having created some of the most groundbreaking and iconic television series with incredibly passionate fan bases the world over," Carmi Zlotnik, managing director of Starz, said in a statement. "We are thrilled to work with such sophisticated auteurs and producers as we grow the slate of unique Starz original series."

The third and final season of "Spartacus," titled "Spartacus: War of the Damned," is scheduled to premiere in January.

Deadline also reported that Straczynski is launching his own media company, Studio JMS, which will produce feature films, web series, and even comic books. Straczynski's credits include TV shows like "Babylon 5" and "Murder, She Wrote," films such as "Thor" and Clint Eastwood's "Changeling," comic books including "The Amazing Spider-Man," "Fantastic Four," and "Superman," and more.

"For 20 years, I've had the remarkable good fortune to work successfully as a writer and producer in a wide variety of fields, from television to comics and movies," Straczynski told Deadline. "I've always dreamed of creating a mini-studio where I can put all of that work under one roof, telling stories that I want to tell and which can be spun up between various platforms: comics that can become TV shows, TV shows that can become movies, and movies that can become comics. With the tremendous recent success of films such as 'The Avengers,' 'Thor,' and the 'Batman' series of films, this feels like the best time to tackle that dream. Best of all, unlike many other startup ventures, I'm not looking to get into these areas, I'm already working in them; now it's just a matter of taking the next logical step: consolidation."