An awesome new preview of the upcoming follow-up season to the hit Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, has found its way to the ‘net.

The new season, titled Spartacus: Vengeance, sees Liam McIntyre stepping into the role first played by the late Andy Whitfield, and leading his band of rebels and gladiators outside the confines of the House of Batiatus. When the Romans learn of the troubles these rebels are causing, they send Claudius Glaber (Craig Parker), the man responsible for first enslaving Spartacus, and his troops to end the rebellion.

You can check out the 12-minute season preview by clicking on over to the other side now. There is a great deal of violence and some language (they discuss the now-infamous usage of a certain c-word, among other things), so this should be considered NSFW.

It’s been a long road from the first season of the Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, to its second season, Spartacus: Vengeance. A road that saw its very popular star, Andy Whitfield, diagnosed with cancer, his eventual replacement with Liam McIntyre, and, ultimately, his heartbreaking death this past September.

A short prequel season, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, was produced while these devastating events put the show’s production on hold, but come January 27th Season 2 will finally arrive.

No, it’s not the longest and best trailer ever released (that will be releasing next week), but Starz has unveiled the very first mini–trailer””more of a TV spot, really””for the upcoming second season of their hit original series, Spartacus, this time dropping the Blood and Sand and going with Spartacus: Vengeance.

According to Entertainment Weekly, show creator Steven DeKnight revealed during the show’s Comic–Con panel that the title is not only about Spartacus’s vengeance, but also that of a few other characters you’ll very much recognize. He also shared that this new season will be huge and that tons of people are going to die (rut-roh!)…especially in one specific episode.

You can see the first TV spot trailer for Spartacus: Vengeance below now!

It’s been a long, long road for the hit Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, after its star, Andy Whitfield, was diagnosed with non–Hodgkin’s lymphoma, forcing the unfortunate–yet–necessary decision to replace him with a new actor.

After a significant amount of time off (the first season’s finale aired on April 16, 2010)””helped along by the 6–episode prequel series, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena“”the actor chosen to replace Mr. Whitfield was revealed to be Liam McIntyre.

That was just the first step toward a second season of the show finally making its way to us, but production is now underway on season 2, which will be called Spartacus: Vengeance, and all signs are that it will arrive in early 2012. To hold us over, Entertainment Weekly has the first official images of McIntyre as Spartacus. You can see them below now, and share your thoughts on how the replacement looks!

The big news that fans of the hit Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, have been following since the first season ended long ago was the loss of star Andy Whitfield after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and his eventual replacement with Liam McIntyre.

What many fans might not be so aware of, is that another popular actor from the first season also departed from the show during the lengthy delay. Lesley-Anne Brandt, who played top slave girl to Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), Naevia, decided during the delay to accept a job on CSI: NY. Now it’s being reported that Starz has found their new Naevia with the casting of Cynthia Addai-Robinson.