Roland Emmerich, the master of the disaster movie, is no stranger to big-budget films with epic scope. But the man behind the likes of “Moonfall,” “2012,” and the “Independence Day” films strikes out for uncharted territory for his next work, his first time directing TV. So, what’s the project? “Those About To Die,” a gladiator epic set during the Ancient Roman empire.
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Variety reports that Peacock gives the film a straight-to-series order, with Emmerich to direct the entire show. Based on Daniel Mannix‘s 1958 nonfiction book of the same name, the series sees Emmerich reunite with screenwriter Robert Rodat, who wrote the script for Emmerich’s 2000 movie, “The Patriot.” Both Emmerich and Rodat also serve as executive producers on the series.
“The powerful Roman Empire has always fascinated me, especially its enormous games which entertained the masses through spectacle at the monumental Colosseum,” Emmerich said in a statement. “At its heart, this is a sports epic led by strong and diverse characters who explore paths to glory, falls from grace and a need to belong to something greater than oneself. Sports in these ancient times were as thrilling and massive then as they are today, and I’m excited to collaborate with my partners, Peacock, High End Productions, Hollywood Gang, and AGC Studios, in bringing this rich world of blood, sweat and tears to television.”
High End Productions, an off-shoot of Constantin Film for premium international fiction series, co-finances “Those About To Die” with Peacock. They also handle the show’s European distribution rights, while AGC International gets worldwide distribution rights.
Is the world ready for Roland Emmerich’s take on Ancient Rome? The director has plenty of period pieces under his belt, including “The Patriot” and 2019’s “Midway” (and 2008’s “10,000 BC,” if that counts). But moviegoers know Emmerich better for his outlandish disaster and sci-fi movies that are all over the place in terms of quality. Will “Those About To Die” be another story Emmerich tells on a grand scale, or will historical realism ground his stylistic proclivities? Whatever happens, a gladiator saga from the guy who made “2012” will be must-see TV.