The First Images from Peacock's 'Those About to Die' Bring Ancient Rome to Life

Peacock has released the first images from its upcoming Roman historical epic Those About to Die, a sweeping story of Ancient Rome that boasts an all-star cast and a massive narrative scope. It takes its name from the Latin, "Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant," which translates as "Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you," and, according to Suetonius at least, was the customary salute of gladiators to the emperor before a battle. 

The series stars Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins (Freud's Last Session) as Emperor Vespasian, the founder of the Flavian dynasty who claimed the throne after a year of political chaos that saw Rome embroiled in a civil war and four different men rise to power within the space of 12 months. The ruler who began construction on the famous Roman Colosseum --- it was completed up to the third level by his death in 79 A.D. --- he was a proponent of the idea of "bread and circuses," or, using continuous entertainment and propaganda to distract unruly citizens from their larger complaints and woes. 

An exploration of war, sports, and politics, Those About to Die's sprawling saga features characters based on real historical figures (such as Vespasian and his sons) and some created specifically for the show, whose roles and destinies are a bit more flexible, historically speaking. But its scope encompasses virtually all layers of Roman society, from the ruling Flavian family and the wealthy aristocrats that surround them to the charioteers, gladiators, and slaves who often raced or fought to the death for their enjoyment. 

"Rome is rather like our present situation, total chaos, but chaos has always been part of the human race,” Hopkins tells Entertainment Weekly. “The politicians and the leaders — they're only human after all, and they say they have the answers, but they don't. Politicians are as vulnerable as the rest of us. How can anyone keep their promises when receiving masses of discontent throughout the world as it is now? We've always been chaos because that's the nature of human beings." 

The series also stars Tom Hughes (Victoria) as Flavius's son and eventual successor Titus; Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones) as games master Tenax; Sara Martins (Death in Paradise) as Cala, a woman struggling to rescue her family sold into slavery; Jojo Macari (Sex Education) as Flavius's second son Domitian;  Rupert Penry-Jones (Our House) and Gabriella Pession (Station 19) as Marcus and Antonia a patrician couple who own Tenax's rival chariot team; Dimitri Leonidas (Masters of the Air) as hotshot chariot racer Scorpius; and Eneko Sagardoy (Irati), Pepe Barroso (Gran Turismo), and Gonçalo Almeida (Monte Clerigo) as the Corsi brothers who sell Andalusian horses,

Other cast members include Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Vikings: Valhalla), Romana Maggiora Vergano (There's Still Tomorrow).Emilio Sakraya (Warrior Nun), David Wurawa (Shadow and Bone), and Moe Hashim (Ted Lasso),

Here's the series 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.

Based on Daniel P. Mannix's nonfiction book of the same name, which also reportedly served as one of the inspirations behind the Oscar-winning film Gladiator, Those About to Die was created by Robert Rodat. Blockbuster director Roland Emmerich helms five of the season's ten episodes, with Marco Kreuzpaintner taking on the other half. 

Executive producers include Harold Kloser, Gianni Nunnari, Stuart Ford, Lourdes Diaz, Miguel A. Palos Jr, Herbert G. Kloiber, Martin Moszkowicz, Oliver Berben, Jonas Bauer, Charles Holland, and Namit Malhotra, alongside Emmerich, Rodat, and Kreuzpainter.

All ten episodes of Those About to Die will premiere on Peacock on Thursday, July 18, 2024.