Those About to Die

Plot

In 79 AD, Rome is under the leadership of the elderly Emperor Vespasian, along with his sons, Titus and Domitianus. They are working on building the Colosseum to give to the people of Rome. Elsewhere in the city, the criminal Tenax seeks to raise himself to higher status by building a team for the races at the Circus Maximus, aided by the famed racer Scorpus. A woman, Cala, goes to Rome to free her daughters, Aura and Jula, from slavery and her son, Kwame, from certain death as a gladiator. After Vespasian dies and Titus is appointed his successor, Domitianus recruits Tenax to help scheme his way to power.

Cast

Main

Iwan Rheon as Tenax, the owner of Rome's largest betting tavern.

Anthony Hopkins as Vespasianus, Emperor of Rome. Once a renowned military leader, now near the end of his life.

Sara Martins as Cala, a black Numidian trader who follows her children - Kwame, Aura, and Jula - to Rome.

Tom Hughes as Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the emperor's oldest son and a successful general.

Jojo Macari as Titus Flavius Domitianus, the emperor's youngest son. The Games Master, or Aedile Ludi, who organizes Rome's gladiatorial matches and chariot races.

Moe Hashim as Kwame, a hunter who becomes a gladiator in Rome.

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Viggo, a Norse warrior turned gladiator.

Rupert Penry-Jones as Marsus Servillius, a Roman consul and influential member of the Blue Faction.

Gabriella Pession as Antonia Servillia, Marsus's wife, a member of the Blue Faction.

Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus, the most successful and beloved charioteer in Rome, who races for the Blue Faction.

Emilio Sakraya as Xenon, a charioteer for the White Faction and Scorpus' main rival.

David Wurawa as Gavros, an experienced horse trainer and former charioteer.

Pepe Barroso as Fonsoa Corsi, a Hispanic horse breeder; Elia and Andria's brother.

Supporting

Kyshan Wilson and Alicia Edogamhe as Aura and Jula, Cala's daughters, who are enslaved and brought to Rome.

Alessandro Bedetti as Hermes, Domitian's Greek slave and lover.

Martyn Ford as Flamma, a gigantic and fearsome gladiator.

Bruno Bilotta as Atticus, trainer of the gladiators at Circus Maximus.

Felix Lampert as Carpo, trainer of the wild animals at Circus Maximus.

Niccolò Senni as Lentullus, the chariot builder at Circus Maximus.

Jarreth J. Merz and Christian Hillborg as Dacia and Noro, Tenax's henchmen.

Vincent Riotta, Michael Bundred and Marco Gambino as Leto, Torel and Sepulcius, Roman senators who head the White, Red and Green Factions respectively.

Adrian Bouchet as Porto, the Praetorian Prefect under Titus.

Davide Tucci as Manilius, a Praetorian Guard with a love of gambling.

Clélia Zanini as Marcia, Titus' cousin whom he takes as wife and empress.

Alice Lamanna as Cornelia, Antonia and Marsus' daughter who serves as a Vestal Virgin.

Victor von Schirach as Passus, Domitian's extravagant games master.

Meledeen Yacoubi and Francis Thurston-Crees as Sapo and Tarlo, sports enthusiasts who are present for every race and fight.

Production

It was announced in July 2022 that Peacock had issued a series order for the project, written by Robert Rodat and directed by Roland Emmerich. The series has a budget of $140 million.

In January 2023, Anthony Hopkins was cast. Dimitri Leonidas, Gabriella Pession, Lorenzo Richelmy and Tom Hughes were cast in February, with Marco Kreuzpaintner joining Emmerich as a director. Production began at Cinecittà in Rome in March with additional casting announced including Iwan Rheon, who was cast to replace Richelmy.

Reception

The series holds a 47% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The website's critics consensus reads, "Those About to Die doles out enough bread and circuses to state viewers' bloodlust, but its lack of compelling characters and narrative cohesion doesn't quite earn a salute." On Metacritic, the series holds a weighted average score of 49 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.