Lucy Lawless to star in 'Spartacus'

Thesp reteams with Raimi, Tapert for series

By DANIEL FRANKEL

Lawless

Lucy Lawless is returning to her action-hour roots, signing on to star in the new fantasy-and-fighting series from "Xena: Warrior Princess" masterminds Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi.

The previously announced project from Starz Media, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," will feature the New Zealand-bred thesp, who starred in "Xena" from 1995-2001, as the proprietor of a camp for gladiators.

Australian thesp Andy Whitfield will play the title role.

Project, which goes into production in April, is set to bow on the Starz premium cabler in January 2010.