Spartacus star Andy Whitfield has non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Executives from the Starz televsion network announced production will be halted on the new show “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.”

The star of the show, Andy Whitfield, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma during a routine checkup while he was preparing for the second season, according to the Associated Press. 

Whitfield, 38, will undergo treatment, and the shooting schedule will be postponed until treatment is complete, network executives announced.

“Spartacus: Blood and Sand” premiered on the Starz network in January.  Thirteen episodes have been filmed.  So far, I’ve seen one episode, and it was worth watching.  It’s based on the historical figure and gladiator Spartacus during the first century B.C.

The show also stars Manu Bennett, Peter Mensah, Nick Taraby and Lucy Lawless.