And suddenly, the world of gladiatorial combat is suddenly very popular again. Ridley Scott’s Gladiator sequel is coming up, and Starz is going back to the popular Spartacus series with Spartacus: House of Ashur. I’m super excited for that one. But Peacock has another show to keep an eye on, and that’s Those About to Die, which has dropped a new teaser featuring the great Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Similar to what Spartacus did (and quite well, I’m a huge fan of it), Those About to Die explores the seedy side of gladiatorial combat as those in power seek to entertain the masses by giving them what they want most: blood.
The series was created by Robert Rodat, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Saving Private Ryan, and has Roland Emmerich aboard as director/producer. Emmerich directs five of the ten total episodes, with Marco Kreuzpaintner on the other half.
Hopkins is joined in the cast by Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, Emilio Sakraya, David Wurawa, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Eneko Sagardoy, and Romana Maggiora Vergano.
Here’s the synopsis: “Those About To Die” is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.
Peacock will drop all ten episodes of Those About to Die on July 18th.
