Those About to Die (TV series)

Those About to Die is an epic sword-and-sandal 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, 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 Imperator, morituri te salutant, or "Hail Emperor, those about to die salute you".

Premise
The series chronicles the world of gladiators in Ancient Rome.

Main

 * Iwan Rheon as Tenax, an underground crime boss and owner of Rome's largest betting tavern.
 * Sara Martins-Court as Cala, a Numidian trader and Kwame's, Aura's and Jula's mother.
 * Tom Hughes as Titus Flavianus, a famous general and Vespasian's oldest son and successor.
 * Jojo Macari as Domitian Flavianus, Vespasian's youngest son and Aedile Ludi who organises 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 Marsus Servillius, a senator of Rome, Antonia's husband and member of the blue faction.
 * Gabriella Pession as Antonia Servillius, 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's and Andria's brother.
 * Gonçalo Almeida as Elia, Fonsoa's and Andria's brother who comes to Rome hoping to sell their stallions.
 * Eneko Sagardoy as Andria, Elia's and Fonsoa's brother who dreams of becoming a charioteer.
 * Lara Wolf as Berenice, Titus' Judean mistress, recognized as the "Jewish Queen".
 * Romana Maggiora Vergano as Salena, Rufu's wife who had shares of 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.

Supporting

 * Kyshan Wilson as Aura, Cala's oldest daughter.
 * Alicia Edogamhe as Jula, Cala's youngest daughter turned Antonia's and Marsus' slave.
 * Alessandro Bedetti as Hermes, Domitian's slave and lover.
 * Martyn Ford as Flamma, a feared and monstruous 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 had of the red faction.
 * Marco Gambino as Sepulcius, a Roman senator and head of the green faction.
 * Adrian Bouchet as Porto, Titus' first praetorian guard.
 * Clelia Zanini as Marcia, Titus' new Roman bride.
 * Alice Lamanna as Cornelia, Antonia's 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 sells his wife's shares of the blue section.
 * Thomas Hunt as Lucius, head of a group of pickpockets who work for Domitian.
 * Christopher Ward as Tiones, a slaves dealer.
 * Jonathan Harboe as Tuccian
 * Hilal Beraki as Seeno
 * Hossein Taheri as Abbas
 * Mohammad Bakri as Farid

Production
It was announced in July 2022 that Peacock had issued a series order for the project, which will be written by Robert Rodat and directed by Roland Emmerich. The series has a budget of $140 million, and was expected to begin production in early 2023.

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 has a 59% rating on rotten tomatoes indicating a mixed or average rating.