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IGN is reporting some very unfortunate news today, Starz’s hit show Spartacus will come to end after its third season. It’s a surprising move as the show has done very well for Starz and the network just recently ordered a third season, which will be titled War of the Damned and begin its ten episode run in January 2013.

Steven S. DeKnight, the creator of the show, had this to say about the show ending after its third season.

“This show has been challenged, to say the least, in many, many ways. We’ve faced many difficulties and tragedies on the show. My original plan was to attack the show in a five- to seven-season arc. Once we got into it and after Andy [Whitfield]’s passing and looking at the historical story of Spartacus, we came to the decision to basically end on a high note.”

“We certainly could have continued for a few more seasons and stretched it out, but we really wanted to end high and not feel like we were treading water – and really just condense the rest of the history into one amazing ten-episode, badass final season. You know, the whole show was a huge risk from the start for Starz, and it was another huge risk when I decided to try to keep the show going after Andy’s passing. Any normal studio would have just cancelled the show at that point and not risk the financial downside of it not working. But Starz, thankfully, really stuck by the show, and they really wanted it to be told all the way to the end. They didn’t want to cheat the viewers and just suddenly pull the plug. So they gave us this opportunity to wrap up the story, and we’re certainly taking that opportunity and running with it. This is by far the biggest season we’ve ever attempted.”

“I would much rather end a series with the audience wanting more than limping to the finish line, with only the die-hard fans sticking around for the wrap up. We want to make the 10 best episodes we can. I can’t wait for everybody to see it.”

As a fan of the show since season one, this news definitely upsets me. What DeKnight says about “ending a series with the audience wanting more” does make sense but still, the show has only had three seasons (four if you include the prequel). That’s not nearly enough and speaking as a longtime fan, I can say that we will no doubt be left wanting more.

Let’s just hope that they have a fantastic ten episodes for us with Spartacus: War of the Damned.