'NYPD Blue' star nets a gladiator role in 'Spartacus'

LOS ANGELES -- Best known as Detective Baldwin Jones on ABC's "NYPD Blue," Henry Simmons exchanges his badge and gun for a net and spear to play gladiator slave Draba in USA Network's version of "Spartacus."

"Henry is extremely believable. He was the big surprise to me how well he melted into that old world," said Robert Dornhelm, who directed this adaptation of Howard Fast's novel about a slave revolution against the Roman empire.

"Draba ignites the revolution by his sacrifice," Dornhelm said. "Being able to kill Spartacus but deciding not to -- knowing that it means his own death -- is the ultimate spark."

The title role of the revolutionary leader is played by Goran Visnjic, born in Croatia, not too far distant from Thrace, birthplace of the real Spartacus.

"Goran has that sad, suffering expression, quite useful for a man who has idealism on his side ... but knows it's a no-win situation," said Dornhelm, whose four-hour miniseries airs at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

Visnjic is most familiar to audiences wearing a white coat and stethoscope as Dr. Luka Kovac on NBC's medical drama "ER." Here he wears far less and carries a sword and shield.

"I wish I had the sword. He had the easier time," said Simmons with a laugh, who added it was difficult learning to throw his net without getting it tangled around himself rather than Visnjic.

After rehearsing their climactic fight sequence, Simmons discovered "there is a certain rhythm, a dance to it. It became so much fun after a while. It was like I was a child in makeup and play gear."

Shot in Bulgaria, the lavishly produced miniseries features throngs of extras and co-stars Rhona Mitra as Spartacus' love interest, Varinia, and the late Alan Bates as the world-weary Roman senator Agrippa.

Stanley Kubrick first brought "Spartacus" to the screen in 1960, with Kirk Douglas in the title role.

But Dornhelm said his production is more "in the spirit" of author Fast than Kubrick's "quite melodramatic" interpretation.

"It hits the nerve ... of greed, exploiting your fellow neighbor in order to have a nicer house or whatever," said Dornhelm.