Taking full advantage of premium cable, Starzs new TV series version of Spartacus will be a “totally R-rated-hard-hard show”, according to producers Rob Tapert and Steven S. DeKnight.

The producers seek to show the series as intensely graphic as possible, with the first draft said to be essentially NC-17 in terms of sex and violence that had to be toned down just a bit.

“Much like 300, there will be a visual beauty to the way it is shot, said DeKnight. Theres an ode to violence … there are decapitations, people being split in half … we dont want to shy away form violence or sexuality. The beauty of being on premium cable is there is no story we cant tell.

The green-screen series will offer the same content as Stanley Kubricks 1960 film; it will also have additional characters and storylines.