Andy Whitfield exits SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND: Season 2 to Fight Cancer

Andy Whitfield and Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Season 2 will not be happening. Andy WhitField has been forced to drop out of Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Season 2 because of a recurrence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer that had been in remission. Whitfield spoke of his readiness to begin training for Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Season 2 at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con here: Spartacus: Blood and Sand: San Diego Comic-Con 2010 Panel. Last Friday Whitfield reported otherwise:

“It’s with a deep sense of disappointment that I must step aside from such an exceptional project as Spartacus and all the wonderful people involved,” Whitfield said in a statement. “It seems that it is time for myself and my family to embark on another extraordinary journey. Thank you sincerely for the support so far.”

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The six part prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand is still set to air in January of 2011. Starz had this to say about withdrawing from Season 2 of their most popular series to date:

“Our hearts and prayers are with Andy and his family during this difficult time,” Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht said in a statement. “Andy is not only an incredible actor whose portrayal of Spartacus made an indelible impression on Starz audiences, he is also an amazing human being whose courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity have inspired all of us.”

I’m guessing that Spartacus will be re-cast. There is no way Starz is going to let their golden goose sit on a shelf or worse yet, fall into shadow. Who would you pick to replace Andy Whitfield as Spartacus?