COMIC CON 2011: Torchwood, Spartacus First TV Panels Announced

Here we go again! Comic Con 2011 is just 5 weeks away (!!!!) and STARZ is the first network out of the gate with their panel announcements. They’ll be bringing Torchwood: Miracle Day and Spartacus: Vengeance to the convention on Friday, July 22. Rueben already put in her for the Torchwood: Miracle Day press room, so count on coverage here on NGTV! Here’s the full press release from STARZ, including details on both series.

STARZ will bring the casts of two of its most riveting original series, “Torchwood: Miracle Day” and “Spartacus: Vengeance” to 2011 San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 22^nd, it was announced today.  For “Torchwood: Miracle Day,” set to debut on STARZ,  Friday, July 8^th at 10pm ET/PT, the panel will feature: Torchwood alum John Barrowman (Capt. Jack Harkness), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), and new headliners Bill Pullman (Oswald Danes), Mekhi Phifer (Rex Matheson), Alexa Havins(Ester Drummand), Lauren Ambrose (Jilly Kitzinger) and writer Jane Espenson.  Highlights of the  “Spartacus: Vengeance” panel (slated to premiere on STARZ in 2012) will include fans’ first-ever opportunity to meet the new Spartacus, Liam McIntyre (Spartacus), along with stars Lucy Lawless (Lucretia), Dustin Clare (Gannicus), Manu Bennett (Crixus), Katrina Law (Mira) and Executive Producer and Head Writer Steven S. DeKnight.

On Thursday, July 21 at 9:30pm PT, the eve of the panels, STARZ will screen a never-before-seen “Torchwood: Miracle Day” episode entitled “Night of Dead” in room 6DE. This episode premieres on STARZ the following day, Friday, July 22 at 10pm ET/PT.

About “Torchwood: Miracle Day”: Premiering July 8 at 10pm ET/PT

Imagine a day when nobody dies.  All across the world, nobody dies.  And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep aging.  They get hurt and sick but they never die.  This is the extraordinary premise of the highly-anticipated STARZ original drama series, “Torchwood: Miracle Day,” produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for STARZ, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide.  The new series, premiering on STARZ on July 8 at 10pm ET/PT, features Torchwood alumni John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Kai Owen and new headliners, Mekhi  Phifer, Alexa Havins and Bill Pullman. Special guest starring actors in the cult sensation include: Arlene Tur (“Crash,” Eat Pray Love) and Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under,” The Other Woman). The 10-episode, hour-long series will also feature an impressive list of guest stars: Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld,” Jurassic Park), C. Thomas Howell (“Southland,” The Outsiders), Ernie Hudson (“OZ,” Ghostbusters), Nana Visitor (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”), John DeLancie (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), Mare Winningham (Mildred Pierce, George Wallace) and Frances Fisher (Titanic, The Lincoln Lawyer). The show’s original creator, writer/producer Russell T Davies, serves as executive producer along with BBC Worldwide Productions’ SVP Julie Gardner, with Davies also serving as show-runner. “Torchwood: Miracle Day” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide.

About “Spartacus: Vengeance” (Premiering 2012)

From the time “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” debuted on Starz in January 2010, it established itself as an epic production with rich storytelling and visuals unlike anything seen previously on any TV show. Also starring John Hannah as Batiatus, Lucy Lawless as Lucretia, Peter Mensah as Doctore, Manu Bennett as Crixus and Viva Bianca as Ilythia, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” was one of the most talked-about and best-loved TV shows of 2010. Season two of the series finds Spartacus and his fellow gladiators now out of Capua and engaged in the massive slave rebellion against Roman society that has echoed through time. “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,” the six-part prequel that told the story of the House of Batiatus gladiator school, and the intricate personal, sexual and political maneuverings in Capua five years before “Blood and Sand” was set, debuted in January 2011.

In season two of the popular series, Liam McIntyre takes over the role of the Thracian warrior sold into slavery in the Roman Republic city of Capua – where he rises to become the champion of the city – before leading the slave revolt that ended the first season. The part was played in the first season by acclaimed Andy Whitfield, who was forced to leave the show due to health issues. “Spartacus: Vengeance” recently began production in New Zealand.