Amazon Prime is capitalizing on the anticipation for Gladiator 2 by releasing a 10-part series full of arena battles, horse races and intrigue in two weeks’ time: Those About to Die.
While Gladiator 2 is just heating up the anticipation (and salivation) for Ridley Scott’s return to the Roman Empire with its first images, Amazon is already one step ahead: in two weeks, the sandal adventure Those About To Die is coming to Prime Video. The first trailer already promises plenty of arena action, political intrigue and star power.
Before Gladiator 2: Those About to Die takes you to the dangerous corners of Rome on Amazon
In the year 79 AD, the Roman Empire is vast, but comes together in the microsmos of the capital, where hunger, slave labor, the pursuit of profit and political intrigue are all concentrated in one place: the arena. Bread and games are necessary to keep the boiling atmosphere in check. After series such as Rome and Spartacus had already traveled to this era, Amazon is now reviving the time of gladiator battles.
Watch the trailer for Amazon’s Those About to Die here
Those About to Die features a large ensemble of characters with overlapping stories: While Emperor Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins) and his two sons Titus and Domitian reign supreme, the underworld of the arena is ruled by betting shop manager Tenax (Iwan Rheon from Game of Thrones). With the help of the racing car driver Scorpius, he wants to further his social advancement, and the help of three Spanish brothers and horse owners is just what he needs. While the patrician upper class strives for power and prestige in various factions, an African mother tries to free her three enslaved children. But once you’ve stood in the arena as a gladiator, you won’t be leaving any time soon.
Launching on Amazon Prime Video in Germany, the historical series Those About to Die is an international co-production from the USA, Germany and Italy. In addition to Marco Kreuzpaintner (Krabat, Bodies), it also hired German Hollywood disaster film master Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Moonfall) as director. The series creator is Robert Rodat (screenwriter of Saving Private James Ryan). He based his series on the book of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix, which already served as the historical basis for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. This brings us full circle to Gladiator 2.
When does the Gladiator series Those About to Die start on Amazon?
Those About to Die starts on Friday, July 19, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video. All 10 episodes of the sandal epic will then be available at once, so that nothing stands in the way of a weekend binge in the Circus Maximus (or the newly built Colosseum).
