State of the Arts: Showrunner Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus: House of Ashur) with host Des Doyle

In the latest episode of the State of the Arts Podcast, host filmmaker and writer Des Doyle chats with Steven S. DeKnight, acclaimed screenwriter, director, producer, and creator/showrunner behind some of the most influential genre series of the past two decades. Produced in partnership with Film Ireland and supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, the State of the Arts series explores the creative processes, industry challenges, and new opportunities that both Irish and international creatives face in today’s ever-evolving artistic landscapes. In this conversation, DeKnight reflects on his journey breaking into the entertainment industry as a writer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He discusses his work writing, directing, and producing on iconic series such as Angel, Smallville, and Dollhouse, before creating the hit show Spartacus for Starz and showrunning season one of Marvel’s Daredevil. He also talks about making his feature directorial debut with Pacific Rim: Uprising and his return to the Spartacus universe with the upcoming Spartacus: House of Ashur. Chapters: 2:11 – Nerves for “House of Ashur” impending release 09:29 – Inside the Writers’ Room 12:25 – Season Orders & Long-Game Planning 13:32 – How the Strikes Shook Production 15:07 – Showrunner Writing Process Explained 16:46 – Running a Show: LA vs New Zealand 18:58 – Why DeKnight Hasn’t Yet Directed Spartacus 22:35 – 22-Episode TV vs Today’s 10-Episode Sweet Spot 25:19 – Sticking With “House of Ashur” + Other Projects 28:37 – DeKnight’s Comic Book Worlds 36:03 – Working With Comic Artists 37:08 – AI in Entertainment: Hot Takes & Concerns 40:30 – Showrunning in 2025: Budgets & Tech Shift 45:07 – Are Spec Scripts Still Worth It? 48:01 – Top Writing Advice: Passion, Persistence, Failure 51:33 – What Failure Really Looks Like in Hollywood 01:00:52 – Rapid-Fire Favourites: TV, Music & More Follow the journey of State of the Arts here: https://www.instagram.com/sotapod/ Read more about this episode here: www.filmireland.net/state-of-the-arts-podcast-showrunner-steven-s-deknight-spartacus-house-of-ashur-with-host-des-doyle