Those About to Die (TV series)

Based onThose About to Die
by Daniel P. MannixWritten byRobert RodatDirected byStarringCountry of originOriginal languagesNo. of episodes10ProductionExecutive producersCinematographyProduction companiesBudget$140 millionOriginal releaseNetworkReleaseJuly 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)

Those About to Die is an epic historical drama television series developed by Robert Rodat and directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner. The Daniel P. Mannix book-adapted-into-TV series premiered on July 18, 2024, on Peacock with all 10 episodes,^[1] and internationally on Amazon Prime Video on July 19, 2024. The series title references the Latin greeting made to the Emperor at the games, Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant, "Hail Caesar, those about to die salute you".^[2]

The series chronicles the world of the Roman Empire's games, centered around the charioteers, gladiators and politics surrounding the emperor.

• Iwan Rheon as Tenax, an underground crime boss and owner of Rome's largest betting tavern.
• Sara Martins as Cala, a Numidian trader and Kwame, Aura, and Jula's mother.
• Tom Hughes as Titus Flavianus, a famous general and Vespasian's oldest son and designated successor.
• Jojo Macari as Domitianus Flavianus, Vespasian's youngest son, and Aedile Ludi, who organizes Rome's gladiatorial matches and chariot races.
• Moe Hashim as Kwame, a Numidian fighter turned gladiator and Cala's son.
• Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Viggo, a Norse warrior, and Kwame's fellow gladiator.
• Rupert Penry-Jones as Marcus Servillius, a senator of Rome, Antonia's husband, and member of the blue faction.
• Gabriella Pession as Antonia Servillia, Marsus's wife and member of the blue faction.
• Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus, a successful and beloved charioteer and Tenax's friend.
• Emilio Sakraya as Xenon, a charioteer and Scorpus' rival.
• David Wurawa as Gavros, an experienced horse trainer and expert in the gladiatorial games.
• Pepe Barroso as Fonsoa, Elia and Andria's brother.
• Gonçalo Almeida as Elia, Fonsoa and Andria's younger brother, who comes to Rome hoping to sell their stallions.
• Eneko Sagardoy as Andria, Elia and Fonsoa's older brother, who dreams of becoming a charioteer.
• Lara Wolf as Berenice, Titus' Judean mistress, recognized as the "Jewish Queen".
• Romana Maggiora Vergano is Salena, Rufus' wife, who has shares in the Blue faction.
• Angeliqa Devi as Caltonia, the head of the Blue faction.
• Anthony Hopkins as Vespasian, Emperor of Rome at the end of his life.

• Kyshan Wilson as Aura, Cala's oldest daughter.
• Alicia Edogamhe, as Jula, Cala's youngest daughter, turned Antonia and Marsus' slave.
• Alessandro Bedetti as Hermes, Domitian's slave and lover.
• Martyn Ford as Flamma, a feared and monstrous gladiator.
• Jarreth J. Merz as Dacia, Tenax's henchman.
• Vincent Riotta as Leto, a Roman senator and head of the White faction.
• Michael Bundred as Torel, a Roman senator and head of the Red faction.
• Marco Gambino as Sepulcius, a Roman senator and head of the Green faction.
• Adrian Bouchet as Porto, the Praetorian Prefect under Titus.
• Clelia Zanini as Marcia, Titus' new Roman bride.
• Alice Lamanna as Cornelia, Antonia and Marsus' daughter and a Vestal Virgin of Rome.
• Victor von Schirach as Passus, Domitian's extravagant games master.
• Daniel Stisen as Ursus, a mysterious figure from Tenax's past.
• Christian Hillborg as Noro, Tenax's henchman.
• Davide Tucci as Manilius, a Praetorian Guard who makes deals with Tenax and Domitian.
• Michael Maggi as Rufus, Salena's husband and a gambling addict who gambles away his wife's shares in the Blue faction.
• Thomas Hunt as Lucius, head of a group of pickpockets who work for Domitian.
• Christopher Ward as Tiones, a slave dealer.
• Jonathan Harboe as Tuccian
• Hilal Beraki as Seeno
• Hossein Taheri as Abbas
• Mohammad Bakri as Farid
• Eleonora Gaggero as Iris

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by [3]	Written by [4]	Original release date
1	1	"Rise or Die"	Roland Emmerich	Robert Rodat	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
Circus Maximus was an ancient stadium for chariot horse-racing in Rome. After Nero kills himself in 68, a bloody civil war ensues in the Year of the Four Emperors (69). One of the four competing generals named Vespasian of the new Flavian house emerges at the top in 69. Vespasian erects the Flavian Amphitheater for popular entertainment. Vespasian has two sons: Titus is the sensible older one while Domitian is the capricious younger one. It is 79: Titus has brought his Jewish Queen Berenice to Rome.
2	2	"Trust None"	Roland Emmerich	Robert Rodat	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
Domitian owes money to Tenax. Vespasian is the first emperor who is about to have his blood sons—as opposed to adopted sons―succeed him on the curule seat. Kwame wants to kill Domitian.
3	3	"Death's Door"	Roland Emmerich	Robert Rodat	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
Domitian is unhappy with his appointment as the aedile of public games (ludi) because he aspires to be the Roman emperor. Titus is angry because his brother Domitian has taken gold bars from the Imperial Treasury. Flamma is a formidable gladiator. Scorpus is stabbed to death in the streets; so, Xenon is chosen as his replacement in the Blue faction. However, it turns out that Scorpus has survived the stabbing. Vespasian dies in 79.
4	4	"Fool's Bet"	Marco Kreuzpaintner	Charles Holland	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
Titus urges the Roman Senate to deify his father Vespasian like Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Claudius. This will turn his father into a revered Roman god. The Gold Faction is disbanded. Domitian has a male lover.[a] Berenice cautioned the divorced Titus against marrying her on account of xenophobia in Roman society.
5	5	"Betrayal"	Marco Kreuzpaintner	Alex Carmedelle	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
The new emperor Titus has married his cousin Marcia.[b] The episode concludes with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
6	6	"Blood Relation"	Marco Kreuzpaintner	Eva Gonzalez Szigriszt	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
After arresting some Senators and the Consul plotting against him, Titus orders the Inaugural games of the Colosseum in 80.
7	7	"Death's Bed"	Marco Kreuzpaintner	Jill Robi	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
8	8	"All or Nothing"	Marco Kreuzpaintner	Marissa Lestrade	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
9	9	"The Die Is Cast"	Roland Emmerich	Robert Rodat	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
10	10	"Let the Games Begin"	Roland Emmerich	Robert Rodat	July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)

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.^[5]

In January 2023, Anthony Hopkins was cast.^[6] Dimitri Leonidas, Gabriella Pession, Lorenzo Richelmy and Tom Hughes were cast in February, with Marco Kreuzpaintner joining Emmerich as a director.^[7] Production began at Cinecittà in Rome in March with additional casting announced including Iwan Rheon, who was cast to replace Richelmy.^[8]

The series has a 49% approval rating from 41 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 5.3 out of 10.^[9]

• Those About to Die at IMDb
• Peacock TV