Amazon Prime has recently acquired the rights to the upcoming gladiator action series, “Those About To Die,” directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Anthony Hopkins as Roman emperor Vespasian. Inspired by Daniel P. Mannix’s nonfiction book of the same name, this 10-part series has generated significant anticipation.
Amazon has obtained exclusive rights for “Those About To Die” in the five largest territories in Europe, including Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain. Additionally, the series will be available on Amazon Prime in Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Andorra, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Belgium. While Amazon will hold exclusive rights in these territories, free-TV rights will be negotiated separately. In Austria, Servus TV has secured the free TV window for the show, and in the United States, it will be available on NBCUniversal’s streaming platform, Peacock, which has given the show a straight-to-series order.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Rodat, known for his work on “Saving Private Ryan,” has adapted Mannix’s book for the screen. Emmerich, along with Marco Kreuzpaintner, known for his work on Amazon series “Beat,” will direct individual episodes. All three, Emmerich, Rodat, and Kreuzpaintner, are executive producers on the show.
The distribution and financing joint venture between Herbert G. Kloiber and Constantin Film, High End Productions, announced the Amazon deal. High End co-commissioned the series with Peacock and co-financed it alongside Stuart Ford’s AGC International. High End has secured the European distribution rights, while AGC, operating under its AGC Television banner, will control the worldwide rights. The production companies involved in the series include Centropolis Entertainment, Hollywood Gang Productions, and Street Entertainment.
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“Those About To Die” is a 10-episode series set in ancient Rome, delving into the complex and corrupt world of chariot racing and gladiatorial fights. Alongside Anthony Hopkins, the ensemble cast includes Iwan Rheon from “Game of Thrones,” Johannes Haukur Johannesson from “Vikings,” Liraz Charhi from “Tehran,” Rupert Penry-Jones from “MI-5,” Eneko Sagardoy from “Elite,” Tom Hughes from “The English,” Sara Martins from “Death in Paradise,” Gabriella Pession from “Crossing Lines,” Alicia Edogamhe from “Summertime,” Jojo Macari from “Sex Education,” Dimitri Leonidas from “Rosewater,” Moe Hashim from “Ted Lasso,” Gonçalo Almeida from “Amor Amor,” Kyshan Wilson from “Viola,” and Pepe Barroso from the upcoming “Gran Turismo” by Neill Blomkamp.
In addition to Emmerich, Rodat, and Kreuzpaintner, the executive producers on the series include Harald Kloser from Street Entertainment, Gianni Nunnari from Hollywood Gang, Herbert G. Kloiber and Martin Moszkowicz from High End, Oliver Berben and Jonas Bauer from High End, Stuart Ford from AGC, and Chief Creative Officer Lourdes Diaz and Charles Holland from AGC.
With such a star-studded cast and a team of accomplished executive producers, “Those About To Die” promises to captivate audiences with its exploration of the ancient Roman world and the thrilling battles within it. As Amazon Prime secures exclusive rights in Europe and Peacock brings the series to the U.S., viewers around the world eagerly await the release of this highly anticipated gladiator action series.
