Amazon’s new gladiator series Those About to Die is being watched a lot on Prime right now, but in the end the question is whether we’ll get a season 2. Roland Emmerich is convinced of it
Those About To Die arrived on Amazon Prime Video on July 18, 2024 with all 10 episodes in one go. Anyone who has already finished season 1 of the monumental series set in Ancient Rome will inevitably ask about season 2 – and will get an answer from director Roland Emmerich.
Those About to Die: Roland Emmerich thinks season 2 is a certainty
Those About to Die takes us back to the time of bread and games: Set in the Rome of 79 AD, a large ensemble cast shows us the different facets of the Roman Empire as they meet in the arena with politicians, fighters, racers, slaves and betting champions. Intrigue, career opportunities and struggles for survival seal many a fate here. But will the series return with season 2? In the Bingeworthy podcast, Roland Emmerich, who directed 5 of the 10 episodes alongside Marco Kreuzpaintner, gives a surprisingly clear answer:
(Those About to Die)
I have a big, big movie project. And I don’t know if I should do Season 2 [of Those About to Die] first. Or the movie first and then Season 2, I don’t know yet.
The German Hollywood export and disaster master won’t reveal what new blockbuster Emmerich is working on. He only describes it as “a bit like a sequel to The Day After Tomorrow”, because it is probably also about the consequences of how humans treat the planet.
Interview: Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon on Those About to Die
What is season 2 of Those About to Die about and when is it coming to Amazon
Warning, spoilers for Those About to Die: After season 1, the Amazon series has suffered many losses. In addition to Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins), Rome also lost the imperial successor Titus (Tom Hughes), who was assassinated for the throne by his brother Domitian (Jojo Macari). So season 2 would show us what a reign of villainy looks like. Also, after the death of his two brothers and his revenge killing of chariot racing star Scorpus, will Elijah (Gonçalo Almeida) be able and willing to fill the void?
Gladiator Kwame (Moe Hashim) may have gained his freedom, but he had to kill his friend Viggo to do so. Accordingly, he is likely to want to vent his anger at the Roman Empire and its cruel methods in season 2. While his sisters and mother Cala (Sara Martins) also remain in the city, a series return would surely also explore Cala and Tenax’s (Iwan Rheon) new positions of power, especially as the latter has now risen to become the game master of the newly opened Colosseum. (end of spoiler)
(Tenax is already set for season 2 of Those About to Die)
Since the book Those About to Die by Daniel P. Mannix is more of a picture of the times in non-fiction form, season 2 can draw further inspiration from there without having to work through specific character stories – although characters such as Emperor Vespasian are of course historically authentic and Roman history offers further points of reference.
