Over a decade after the final season of the STARZ hit series Spartacus, the blood-soaked sands of rebellion return in Spartacus: Rise of the Forgotten (2025) — a bold, gritty, and emotionally charged continuation that expands the legend beyond its original scope.
Rather than retelling the familiar rise and fall of Spartacus, this new installment explores the aftermath of his rebellion, following a group of surviving gladiators and freed slaves who refuse to surrender. Led by the mysterious warrior Kaeso (a former Roman turned traitor, played by British breakout actor Jack Lowden), the story unfolds across war-torn provinces where the Roman Empire struggles to stamp out the embers of rebellion.
What sets Rise of the Forgotten apart is its blend of raw spectacle and introspective storytelling. While brutal arena battles, sword-swinging carnage, and political intrigue remain, there’s a more reflective tone throughout. The series explores themes of identity, loyalty, trauma, and the cost of freedom — both personal and collective.
Visually, the film is stunning. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood brings a modern cinematic flair to the franchise while maintaining the iconic stylized violence that fans loved. The choreography of battles is balletic yet brutal, while sweeping drone shots of Roman landscapes give the film a truly epic scope.
But beyond the action, it’s the characters who make this revival shine. Kaeso is a complex protagonist — a former centurion haunted by guilt, torn between his Roman upbringing and his newfound ideals. The return of familiar faces, including a brief yet poignant appearance by Crixus’ son (rumored to be played by Manu Bennett’s real-life protégé), adds emotional weight and continuity.
The film also shines in its portrayal of women. Characters like Lysandra, a former slave turned resistance strategist, are fully fleshed out and integral to the plot — no longer just romantic side figures or victims of violence, but leaders in their own right.
Spartacus: Rise of the Forgotten is both a love letter to the original series and a reinvention. It honors its roots — the blood, the rebellion, the legendary cry of “I am Spartacus!” — while pushing the narrative forward into new moral territory.
Final verdict: A triumph of storytelling and spectacle. Fans of the original will be thrilled, and new audiences will find a rich, provocative historical epic that goes beyond vengeance into legacy.
