Based on Daniel P. Mannix’s 1958 guide of the identical identify which impressed Gladiator‘s screenplay, Peacock’s Those About To Die<em> </em>is ready in opposition to the backdrop of the legendary Roman Empire of the primary century AD. Picking up from the final weeks of Roman emperor Vespasian’s (Anthony Hopkins) reign, the epic historic drama collection, directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, captures the brewing pressure in Rome throughout a interval of transition. Along with the politics of the occasions, the Peacock collection additionally explores the world of chariot races and gladiator fights that acted as distractions for the plebeians affected by starvation and poverty. While the collection takes important inventive liberties when it comes to including characters and mixing up occasions, it additionally borrows closely from actual historical past to arrange the background for its bloody motion and intense drama. The true story behind the Roman epic drama collection solely provides to the tensions captured in Those About To Die – a title derived from a Latin phrase that interprets to “Hail, Emperor, those that are about to die salute you.”

Those About To Die (2024)

Those About to Die is an epic drama collection set within the brutal world of gladiatorial fight in historical Rome. The collection explores the intersection of sports activities, politics, and dynasties inside the corrupt spectacle-driven society of the Roman Empire. It additionally follows a various forged of characters from numerous corners of the empire, all converging within the Colosseum the place blood and sport reign supreme.

Release Date

July 18, 2024

Cast

Anthony Hopkins , Tom Huges , Sara Martins , Jojo Macari , Gabriella Pession , Dmitri Leonidas , Moe Hashim , Iwan Rheon

Seasons

1

‘Those About To Die’ Explores the History of the Flavian Dynasty

Those About To Die’s Episode 1 takes the viewers instantly to the tenth 12 months of Emperor Vespasian’s reign, solely briefly mentioning the occasions earlier than Vespasian’s rise to energy. Born Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Vespasian was born into an equestrian household. According to Kenneth Scott’s account of Vespasian, the emperor grew to become famend for his army exploits, particularly through the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD and the subjugation of Judaea through the Jewish insurrection of 66 AD. Before Vespasian’s accession to the Roman throne in 69 AD, Romans had suffered rather a lot by the hands of the notorious emperor Nero, who set Rome on fireplace. Nero’s suicide in 68 AD resulted in nice turmoil for Rome as civil wars and battles for succession ensued.

After defeating Galba, Otho, and Vitellius (who all grew to become emperors in fast succession within the Year of the Four Emperors), Vespasian emerged because the victor, bringing stability to Rome for 10 years till his demise and establishing the reign of the Flavian dynasty. As proven within the collection, Vespasian had attention-grabbing ways to appease the lots, akin to utilizing leisure as a distraction. The Flavian dynasty launched a program to rebuild Rome and restore its previous glory. While the Circus Maximus already served as an ideal vacation spot for chariot races and gladiator battles, Vespasian ordered the development of the Flavian amphitheater, now often known as the Colosseum. The amphitheater was funded by the loot from Rome’s siege of Jerusalem – an occasion not directly introduced by way of an act arrange by Domitian (Jojo Macari), considered one of Vespasian’s two sons, in Episode 5 of Those About To Die. In an interview with The Standard, the present’s historic advisor Justin Pollard means that Vespasian’s resolution to construct the Colosseum, in the identical location the place Nero supposed to construct a palace for himself, was a political one.

Did Domitian Really Kill Titus?

Those About To Die solely briefly dwells on the reign of Vespasian, diving proper into his demise in Episode 2. According to Roman historian Suetonius‘ biography of Vespasian, the emperor certainly died standing and suggesting that he was turning into a god. Before dying, Vespasian selected his elder son, Titus Caesar Vespasianus (performed by Tom Hughes in Those About To Die), an astute army commander who had served alongside his father. According to historic accounts, Titus was the primary organic inheritor to develop into Roman emperor. Titus’ reign was marked by relative political peace, however as proven in Episode 6 “Blood Relation,” the well-known eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD occurred throughout his reign. Per the beforehand cited History.com, practically 20,000 folks lived close to the volcano, which continues to be the one lively volcano in mainland Europe.

A hearth and a plague additionally affected Rome throughout Titus’s reign. However, in accordance to Suetonius’ accounts in “The Lives of Twelve Caesars,” Titus managed each tragedies fairly properly, leaving the legacy of an environment friendly administrator earlier than his premature demise due to fever simply two years into his reign in 81 AD. Roman historians, akin to Philostratus, have written about Domitian’s function in his brother’s demise, however there hasn’t been any proof to solidify the declare. However, Those About To Die nonetheless chooses to counsel that Domitian sought the assistance of the betting tavern proprietor Tenax (performed by Game of Thrones‘s Iwan Rheon) to kill Titus and claimed that Titus died of meals poisoning in entrance of the Senate.

‘Those About To Die’ Season 2 May Focus on Domitian’s Reign

The Peacock collection focuses properly on Titus’ rivalry together with his brother Domitian, who was extra of a politician than a soldier. Macari spoke with NBC Insider about how hated Domitian was throughout his time. Particularly, Domitian’s relations with the Senate had been all the time tainted — a sentiment momentarily captured within the last moments of the season. The lack of any credible sources on Domitian’s 15-year reign, the longest since that of Tiberius, has made it all of the tougher to decide the character of the final Flavian emperor of Rome.

According to historians, Domitian displayed sturdy authoritarian tendencies, working the empire as a divine monarchy and brazenly making an attempt to lower the senate’s energy. Domitian was additionally concerned in constructing quite a lot of palaces and monuments, together with the Villa of Domitian and the Stadium of Domitian. According to Suetonius’s accounts, Domitian, aged 44, was assassinated in 96 AD by courtroom officers and the Imperial Roman Praetorian guards. A second season of Those About To Die could discover the complexities arising instantly after Domitian’s ascent to Emperor.

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Which Characters in ‘Those About To Die’ Are Inspired From History?

According to the present’s author, Robert Rodat (through The Standard), solely 4 characters within the present are instantly impressed by actual historic figures. These embody the three Flavian emperors and the Jewish queen Berenice (performed by Lara Wolf), who had fairly an affect on her lover Titus’ reign. The disdain for Jews amongst Romans is highlighted fairly a bit within the present, forcing Titus to take a Roman queen regardless of his love for Berenice, a foreigner.

Although not a direct inspiration, the ace chariot racer Scorpus (Dimitri Leonidas) was an actual chariot racing champion of historical Rome. Much like what’s portrayed within the collection, Scorpus was a celebrated and prized athlete. The different key characters, such because the bold Tenax, the Numidian dealer Cala (Sara Martins), and the senator Marsus Servilius (Rupert Penry-Jones) and his spouse Antonia Servilia (Gabriella Pession) are all unique creations to add drama and complexity to the Rome captured within the present. Only masking occasions up to the accession of Domitian in 81 AD, Those About To Die has quite a lot of actual historical past to discover if it had been to return for an additional season with extra political drama and gladiator motion.

All episodes of Those About To Die can be found to stream on Peacock within the U.S.

Watch on Peacock