Amazon Prime Gets Into the Arena With Roland Emmerich’s Gladiator Series ‘Those About to Die’

Scott Roxborough

2 August 2023 at 6:12 am·2-min read

Amazon Prime has given Roland Emmerich’s Those About To Die the thumbs up, taking rights to the upcoming gladiator action series across most of Europe. Anthony Hopkins stars as Roman emperor Vespasian in the 10-part series, inspired by the nonfiction book of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix.

Amazon picked up exclusive rights to Those About To Die for its services in the five largest territories in Europe (Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Spain) as well as in Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Andorra, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Amazon will have exclusive rights for the show in those territories, with free-TV rights negotiated separately. Servus TV has secured the free TV window for Austria for the show, which will go out on Peacock in the U.S.. NBCUniversal’s streaming platform gave a straight-to-series order for the show.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan) adapted Mannix’s book for the screen. Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner (Amazon series Beat) are directing individual episodes. Emmerich, Rodat and Kreuzpainter are all executive producers on the show.

The Amazon deal was announced Wednesday by High End Productions, the distribution and financing joint venture between Herbert G. Kloiber and Constantin Film that co-commissioned the series together with Peacock. High End co-financed the series alongside Stuart Ford’s AGC International, with High End taking European distribution rights and remaining worldwide rights controlled by AGC which is acting as studio under its AGC Television banner. Centropolis Entertainment, Hollywood Gang Productions and Street Entertainment are producing.

The 10-episode Those About To Die is set in the complex and corrupt world of chariot racing and gladiatorial fights in ancient Rome. Alongside Hopkins, the ensemble cast includes Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon, Vikings actor Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Tehran actress Liraz Charhi, Britain’s Rupert Penry-Jones (MI-5), Elite actor Eneko Sagardoy, Tom Hughes (The English), Sara Martins (Death in Paradise), Gabriella Pession (Crossing Lines), Alicia Edogamhe (Summertime), Jojo Macari (Sex Education), Dimitri Leonidas (Rosewater), Moe Hashim (Ted Lasso), Gonçalo Almeida (Amor Amor), Kyshan Wilson (Viola) and Pepe Barroso (Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming Gran Turismo).

Also credited as executive producers on the series are Street Entertainment’s Harald Kloser, Hollywood Gang’s Gianni Nunnari, High End’s Kloiber, Martin Moszkowicz, Oliver Berben and Jonas Bauer, AGC’s Ford and Chief Creative Officer Lourdes Diaz and Charles Holland.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Click here to read the full article.

HuffPost UK
Trevor Phillips Destroys Nigel Farage With One Devastating Question
The Reform UK leader rejected the accusation that his party is a home for racists.
The Telegraph
‘I’m not going to buy electric again – it’s the worst car I’ve ever had’
Ray Bestwick bought an electric car last May in the hope of hassle-free motoring.
The Independent
‘Stanley Johnson caused our flight to be cancelled’ – claim from passengers on BA plane diverted to Heathrow
Exclusive: At one stage airport police were summoned to deal with an altercation, passengers say
Manchester Evening News
Rylan Clark says 'this is what I look like' as he ditches black locks and makeup as fans react
The BBC Radio 2 star has shown fans what he really looks like as he prepared for a 'reset'
Manchester Evening News
The nine Man United players leaving today as Erik ten Hag begins summer transfer plan
With the end of the club's financial year, there is the inevitable goodbyes as players see their contracts expire
Bournemouth Echo UK
UK to be hit by second heatwave in a matter of days from Mediterranean airstream
The UK is set for a second heatwave this summer as weather forecasters suggest Mediterranean airstream will bring hot weather.
OK! Magazine
Amanda Holden proudly poses with lookalike daughter Lexi, 18, as she finishes A-levels
Amanda Holden's lookalike daughter Lexi, 18, has finished her A-levels, with the Britain's Got Talent judge proudly gushing over her 'brilliant, funny, resilient and all grown up' child
Manchester Evening News
Footage shows out-of-control XL Bully being chased by armed cops before being shot dead following horror attack on woman
GMP said the dog had to be destroyed 'as the last possible option'
OK! Magazine
Carol McGiffin's blunt 4-word statement on friends Ruth and Eamonn split
Former Loose Woman Carol McGiffin has opened up with her true thoughts about Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes' split - two people she is friends with and admits she 'loves' equally
The Telegraph
Old, rich and living on benefits: welcome to the state pension capital of Britain
East Preston feels an unlikely stronghold of benefits dependency. The genteel village on the West Sussex coast might be the closest thing that Britain has to a moneyed pensioner utopia.
CNN
Russia wants to confront NATO but dares not fight it on the battlefield – so it’s waging a hybrid war instead
When someone tried – and failed – to burn down a bus garage in Prague earlier this month, the unsuccessful arson attack didn’t draw much attention. Until, that is, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala revealed it was “very likely” that Moscow was behind it.
Manchester Evening News
'I gave up Diet Coke for a month and I couldn't believe how it transformed my life'
Paul Turner was stunned by the results
The Telegraph
Labour vote share falls to lowest in more than two years
Labour’s vote share has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years ahead of the general election, new polling shows.
News Shopper
Busy London station CLOSED with major police presence and cordons in place
A busy central London train station has been closed, with a major police presence at the scene.
The Independent
Led by Donkeys interrupt Nigel Farage speech by lowering huge Putin banner
Nigel Farage was initially unaware that the Russian president was on the poster, with the words ‘I heart Nigel’ written below
The Guardian
London Pride: Sadiq Khan leads 32,000 marchers through capital
Annual LBGTQ+ celebration takes place with march between Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square
The Telegraph
Prince Harry award challenged by family of war hero
The decision to give the Duke of Sussex a sports award named after an American war hero killed in Afghanistan has been criticised by the soldier’s mother.
FTW Outdoors
‘Ever vigilant’ elephant stamps out threat to calf at watering hole
Dramatic footage captured in India shows "what maternal instinct is all about” as crocodile limps away empty-handed.
Hello!
Gary Lineker's pristine £4m London home where he welcomed two refugees
Inside Gary Lineker's house: The former Match of the Day star lives in Banes, London and shares his home with his four sons George, Harry, Tobias and Angus, as well as refugees.
The Telegraph
Can Asda’s new ‘cut-throat’ owners succeed where the Issa brothers failed?
Customers arriving at Asda’s Bournemouth superstore this month would have been forgiven for immediately turning around and going home.

Latest stories