'Spartacus' episodes to air in order

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 24 (UPI) -- U.S. cable network Starz says it will air all 29 episodes of its "Spartacus" series in chronological order for the first time starting next month.

Installments of "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" are to air June 8 and 15; "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" June 22 and 29 and July 6, 13 and 20; and "Spartacus: Vengeance" July 20 and 27 and Aug. 3 and 10.

Episodes of "Blood and Sand," starring Andy Whitfield as the titular gladiator, were the first to air. When Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Starz aired the prequel "Gods of the Arena" without his character and with the hope he could be successfully treated for the disease and return to the series.

However, his health worsened and Liam McIntyre took over the role in "Vengeance," which picked up where "Blood and Sand" ended.

Whitfield died last September. He was 39.