Summary
Peacock’s newest series, the sword-and-sandal epicThose About to Die, has marathon viewers wondering where the 10-episode gladiator show was filmed. Directed by Hollywood’s so-called “master of disaster” Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) and penned by BAFTA winner Marco Kreuzpaintner (Bodies),Those About to Dieadapts Daniel P. Mannix’s bestselling 1958 book of the same name. Funnily enough, Mannix’sThose About to Dienovel (later retitledThe Way of the Gladiator) was one of the key inspirations for Ridley Scott’sGladiator(2000), which makes the adaptation’s debut mere months beforeGladiator 2a fun bit of serendipity.
Those About to Diechronicles the rather harrowing lives of Ancient Roman gladiators. to fully realize the drama’s historical world,Those About to Die’s cast of characters is stacked with stars, including two-time Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins, who plays Vespasian, one of Rome’s short-lived emperors; Dimitri Leonidas, who takes on the role of legendary charioteer Scorpus; and Tom Hughes, who plays Titus Flavianus, the next in line for the throne. Although themixed reviews ofThose About to Dietell different stories about the series, it clearly captures the brutality of Rome’s storied gladiator trials.
Those About To Die Actually Filmed In Rome
The Gladiator Drama Shot At Rome’s Cinecittà Studios
Set in the year 79 AD, thereal history ofThose About to Die’s Flavian dynastyis as interesting as the invented drama, though all of it feels authentic thanks to the show’s filming location. Not only is the series tasked with bringing the brutal-yet-complicated underbelly of Rome’s gladiators to life, but it’s also tasked with painting a picture of the empire’s bread-and-circus efforts. Put simply, the promise of free food and violent spectacles ensures that everyday Romans are distracted and obedient. As such,the epic gladiator drama’s production took place at Rome’s historic Cinecittà Studios.
The studios' clever nickname stems, in part, from the location’s deep ties to legendary Hollywood flicks, including 1959’s religious epic Ben-Hur…
Often referred to as “Hollywood on the Tiber,” Cinecittà Studios istheplace to film a historical epic in Italy. The studios' clever nickname stems, in part, from the location’s deep ties to legendary Hollywood flicks, including 1959’s religious epicBen-Hur, and its iconic chariot-race scene, and 1963’s sprawling historical dramaCleopatra. Co-production designer Laura Pozzaglio, who calls Rome home,collaborated with Italian museums to create period-accurate replicas of everythingfrom sculptures to furniture. “We always strived to be as accurate as possible,” Pozzaglio toldNBC.
Who Is Gianluca Bombardone? Those About To Die Episode 1’s Dedication Explained
Viewers may have spotted the dedication to a Gianluca Bombardone at the end of Those About to Die episode 1, and there’s a sad story behind it.
Those About To Die Beat Gladiator 2 To Booking Cinecittà Studios
The Peacock Series Relies On Massive Sets & CGI Replicas To Bring Ancient Rome To Life
Able to secure Cinecittà Studios for the length of its production,Those About to Diefavored filming on sets over shooting on location. While that choice is definitely apparent in the show’s CGI-and-soundstage-packed episodes, there’s also a throwback quality to the series' approach to recreating Ancient Rome with elaborate sets. Alreadyreleased in full, Peacock’sThose About to Dieoffers up a solid sword-and-sandals genre fix months beforeGladiator 2. To make matters more interesting,the show actually displaced Ridley Scott’s movie by booking Cinecittà, forcing theGladiatorsequel to shoot outside of Italy.
All 10 episodes ofThose About to Dieseason 1 are now streaming on Peacock.
Those About To Die
Set in the year 79 AD in Rome, “Those About to Die” dives into the brutal and complex world of gladiatorial combat. The series explores the dark underbelly of Roman entertainment, where the promise of free food and blood-soaked spectacles keep the restless population in check. The narrative focuses on various characters from all corners of the Roman Empire, whose lives intersect in the grand arena.
