Summary
Those About to Dieis an upcoming drama series from first-time-TV-director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day,White House Down), andScreen Ranthas a first look at a new teaser. The series stars Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian, and tells a story of gladiators and gamblers in the rich world of Ancient Rome. The teaser will also be shown during the Pereira vs. Procházka 2 UFC fight, which airs June 29.
14 Movies To Watch If You Love The Roman Empire
While some movies about the Roman Empire are prone to historical inaccuracies and boring plots, others have impressed film fans and critics alike.
Screen Rantis happy to present a new teaser forThose About to Die,highlighting some of the fighters in the upcoming drama series. The clip introduces Johannes Johannesson’s Viggo, Moe Hashim’s Kwame, Emilio Sakraya’s Xenon, and Dimitri Leonidas’s Scorpius. In addition to those actors and Hopkins, the series boasts a strong cast that includesGame of Thrones’Iwan Rheon. Take a look at the clip, and get ready to watchThose About to Diewhen it premieres on Peacock on July 18.
How Those About To Die Relates To Today’s Sports Culture
Many TV shows andmovies set in Ancient Romefeature the Colosseum in one way or another, butThose About to Die’s gladiatorial story uses that iconic construction in service of drawing comparisons between modern sports culture and that of Ancient Rome. Just as in the modern era, sports were a major economic factor during the time of Anthony Hopkins’ Emperor Vespasian. Vespasian, notably, was the man who commissioned the building of the Colosseum and spent much of Rome’s money on creating a thriving sports culture.Those About to Diedirector Roland Emmerich reflected on this:
Roland Emmerich: I’ve always been fascinated with the Roman Empire, and I’ve also always wanted to do something with sports because I’m fascinated by why people watch sports.The combination of those things was inspired by Daniel Mannix’s book which gave us a lot of insight into what made the sports business such a big element of the Roman Empire. From what we know, over one-third of all money was spent on sports, so that tells you the importance of it in these ancient times, and the creation of the Colosseum was the culmination of this trend.
While theThose About to Dietrailerteases the series’ intrigue and romance, the show will also focus on sports fandoms and cultural norms like gambling. These conventions predate the Roman Empire, but thanks in part to the cultivation of a sports culture by people like Emperor Vespasian, they were taken to another level, and continue to this day.Those About to Diefocuses in on players, gamblers, and fans alike, painting the picture of a sports economy that should be familiar to most viewers.
Movie fight sceneshave long captivated the minds of audiences worldwide, butThose About to Diespeaks to an even older tradition through its battles. By presenting the above teaser during a UFC fight,Those About to Diedraws a direct line from modern-day sport fighting to its Roman heyday. Combat sports are seeing a surge in popularity similar to how they did during the time of Emperor Vespasian’s reign, andThose About to Dieseemingly aims to make Ancient Roman sports culture more relatable than ever before.
Those About to Diepremieres July 18 on Peacock. The above teaser will also be shown in-arena and on the PPV broadcast of the Pereira vs. Procházka 2 UFC fight on June 29.
Those About To Die
Cast
Set in the year 79 AD in Rome, “Those About to Die” dives into the brutal and complex world of gladiatorial combat. The series explores the dark underbelly of Roman entertainment, where the promise of free food and blood-soaked spectacles keep the restless population in check. The narrative focuses on various characters from all corners of the Roman Empire, whose lives intersect in the grand arena.
