The gladiator series Liam McIntyre took Whitfield's place once filming began.
Making headlines for sex and violence, Spartacus was inspired by the story of the legendary warrior. In the first season, Spartacus trains as a gladiator with the hopes of saving his life; he ends up becoming a notable champion. After discovering that the murder of his wife Sura (Erin Cummings) was a setup by his master Batiatus (John Hannah), Spartacus s forces with Crixus (Manu Bennett) and other gladiators to lead a massacre. The second and third seasons see Spartacus balancing his desire for revenge with his responsibilities in leading his band of liberated slaves against the Romans.
Sadly, it was announced in March 2010 that production for Spartacus: Vengeance was delayed because Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. To give the actor time to seek medical treatment, Starz went on to develop the prequel miniseries Spartacus: Gods of the Arena starring Hannah's Batiatus with Lucy Lawless playing Lucretia. Production began in the summer of 2010, and the prequel aired beginning in January 2011. Whitfield was able to have a small voiceover part in "The Bitter End," the last episode of the miniseries, and started training again for season 2 once he was in remission.
In September 2010, however, both Whitfield and the network announced that the cancer had returned (via Deadline) and that the actor wouldn't be returning to the show. Production for season 2 had been expected to start around that time in order to prepare for tentative airing in September 2011, but Whitfield was advised by his doctors to resume aggressive treatment for the cancer's recurrence. "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," Whitfield had said in the statement.
The fate of the gladiator franchise was up in the air as creator Steven S. DeKnight and the show's producers were unsure they should move forward without Whitfield. But the actor ended up giving his blessing for the series to continue without him, and it was announced in January 2011 that McIntyre would be taking on the lead role. Spartacus: Vengeance aired the following year in January 2012. Whitfield ed away on September 11, 2011, much to the dismay of his former costars and colleagues. "We were fortunate to have worked with Andy in Spartacus and came to know that the man who played a champion on-screen was also a champion in his own life," said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht (via The Hollywood Reporter). "He will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and fans."