Spartacus (miniseries)

Spartacus is a 2004 North American miniseries directed by Robert Dornhelm and produced by Ted Kurdyla from a teleplay by Robert Schenkkan. It aired over two nights on the USA Network, and stars Goran Visnjic, Alan Bates, Angus Macfadyen, Rhona Mitra, Ian McNeice, Ross Kemp and Ben Cross. It is based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast.

The movie starts with Varinia Rhona Mitra, a Gaul woman and her village being attacked by the Romans. Her entire village is taken into slavery, and she is sold to Lentulus Batiatus Ian McNeice. Spartacus Goran Vinji, a Thracian slave condemned to the mines, attempts to protect another slave. Spartacus is nearly crucified before Batiatus purchases the man. Spartacus and a handful of other slaves are brought to Batiatus ludus to be trained as gladiators. Spartacus and the other slaves are brought to the Gladiators to eat, where he meets Nardo Chris Jarman, Draba Henry Simmons and David James Frain, before a fight breaks out between Draba and Gannicus Paul Telfer, they are stopped by their trainer Cinna Ross Kemp.

Source: Wikipedia