'Spartacus': Andy Whitfield's cancer returns

You most likely know that season 2 of Spartacus: Blood & Sand has been delayed because lead actor Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in March, forcing Starz to commission a prequel called Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena as a stop-gap. Whitfield announced his cancer's remission earlier this summer, prompting the likelihood season 2 would be back for September 2011, but the cancer has apparently reoccurred and the actor's again seeking medical treatment.

Consequently, it's unlikely Whitfield will be healthy enough to resume work on the series...

Andy Whitfield:

"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. 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."

Chris Albrecht, Starz President & CEO:

"Our hearts and prayers are with Andy and his family during this difficult time. 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."

Carmi Zlotnik, Managing Director of Starz Media:

"Right now, we just want to extend our concern and support to Andy and his family. We will address our programming plans at some later date."

Clearly this is a terrible blow for Andy Whitfield and his family, so I'm sure all the Spartacus fans will be sending them their best wishes. Hopefully he can beat this cancer once and for all.

In the meantime, Starz will focus on their Gods Of The Arena prequel, about the early days of the House of Batiatus (starring John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Manu Bennett, Peter Mensah, and newcomer Dustin Clare), but it'll be interesting to see what they do next, sans Whitfield. There appears to only be three options for the cable network: (1) end the show, retroactively turning the season 1 finale into a series finale, letting our imaginations complete the story; (2) recast the role of Spartacus, risking a fan backlash; (3) start a new story set in the same world with the same creative team.