It appears streaming operators are going to go all in on fantasy. Variety is reporting that following the hype from HBO’s House Of Dragon and Amazon’s “The Rings Of Power” a new Peacock series based on the book “Those About to Die”, which will bring blockbuster movie director Roland Emmerich to the small screen for the first time, has been announced. The series is billed as a large-scale drama set within the spectacular, complex, and corrupt world of gladiatorial sports in Ancient Rome.
The show is expected to build out an ensemble cast illustrating the lives of the entire range of people living in ancient Rome. The early days of Rome have been depicted a number of times, especially in stories dealing with gladiatorial combat. HBO made waves years ago with “Rome” and of course, Russel Crowe delivered one of his most memorable performances ever as Maximus in Gladiator.
“The powerful Roman Empire has always fascinated me, especially its enormous games which entertained the masses through spectacle at the monumental Colosseum,” Emmerich said. “At its heart, this is a sports epic led by strong and diverse characters who explore paths to glory, falls from grace and a need to belong to something greater than oneself. Sports in these ancient times were as thrilling and massive then as they are today, and I’m excited to collaborate with my partners, Peacock, High End Productions, Hollywood Gang, and AGC Studios, in bringing this rich world of blood, sweat and tears to television.”
