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Exclusive: Germany’s Flute Film will operate as Flimmer going forwards, after Christopher Zwickler reacquired rights to the Flimmer brand. Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, who co-founded Flimmer with Zwickler, have joined its advisory board.

Zwickler, who is Managing Director and producer at Berlin-based Flimmer, bought the rights back from France’s Webedia for an undisclosed fee. He had originally launched Flimmer as a marketing agency and film trailer maker with director Emmerich and Kreuzpaintner.

Flimmer will now unite film and TV production with the marketing and audience engagement operation under one roof. Independence Day director Emmerich and Kreuzpaintner, who recently co-directed Emmerich’s Sky and Peacock Roman Empire drama epic Those About to Die, are rejoining the fray.

Furthermore, Zwickler has hired as filmmaker Solmaz Sohrabi, who spent the past eight years collaborating with Gabriela Sperl, as a producer in the TV and film division. Charlotte Marie-Claire Kretschmer, who...

Roland Emmerich, the US-based German director of The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day,is teaming with The Theory Of Everything and The Two Popes writer Anthony McCarten for what he hopes will be his next feature, Exodus, a Sudan-set action title.

New Zealand-born McCarten’s credits also include Darkest Hour and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Emmerich described Exodus as set in the not-so-distant future where the population is battling climate catastrophe and brutal militia.

“Two fearless kids, armed with a smartphone and unyielding courage, team up with a rogue pilot and a defiant doctor to expose a global conspiracy, racing through...

[This story contains spoilers from Those About to Die season one.]

Roland Emmerich traveled back to 79 Ad for season one of his gladiator drama Those About to Die. For season two, he has dreams of traveling back even earlier.

“We hope to do a little bit what Godfather II did,” Emmerich told The Hollywood Reporter of a potential season two. Emmerich says the show could tell dual stories using a “present timeline” and a “past timeline,” ala 1974’s The Godfather Part II, which explored the rise of Vito Corelione (Robert De Niro) via flashbacks and continued the story of his son Michael Corelione (Al Pacino) in the “present day” story.

In Those About to Die season two, the flashbacks would explore The Year of Four Emperors, which took place 10 years before the events of the show and included seismic moments, such as the suicide of Emperor Nero and the subsequent power grab amongst competing leaders...

Throughout the years, Bill Skarsgrd has been slowly amassing a very impressive filmography. Hollywood has focused mostly on his brother, Alexander, and his father, Stellan. But Bill has become a powerful lead in his own right on some high-profile properties, including the iconic Count Orlok in Robert Eggers upcoming Nosferatu movie.

In 2024, Skarsgrd is making waves once more with the reinterpretation of The Crow. It's not lighting the box office on fire, or wowing critics, but nonetheless, the actor does a commendable job. As usual, he works with the script he has. Still, with that in mind, here is a list of Skarsgrd's best performances.

Bill Skarsgrd Was a Terrifying Anti-Hero in Villains Villains' Mickey Learned About Justice the Hard Way

Title

IMDb Score

Rotten Tomatoes Score

Villains

6.2/10

84%

Bill Skarsgrd played Mickey in Villains, a robber who stumbled upon a dark secret. Mickey and his girlfriend, Jules, became prisoners of...

Based on Daniel P. Mannixs 1958 book of the same name which inspired Gladiator's screenplay, Peacocks Those About To Die is set against the backdrop of the legendary Roman Empire of the first century Ad. Picking up from the last weeks of Roman emperor Vespasians (Anthony Hopkins) reign, the epic historical drama series, directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, captures the brewing tension in Rome during a period of transition. Along with the politics of the times, the Peacock series also explores the world of chariot races and gladiator fights that acted as distractions for the plebeians suffering from hunger and poverty. While the series takes significant creative liberties in terms of adding characters and mixing up events, it also borrows heavily from real history to set up the background for its bloody action and intense drama. The true story behind the Roman epic drama series only adds to...

At the San Diego Comic-Con today, Peacock took attendees behind the scenes of the gladiator epic Those About to Die. All ten episodes of the series are now streaming on Peacock.

The behind-the-scenes video dives into the Roman Empire’s explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties, as featured in Those About to Die. You can watch the video here.

If you are at the San Diego Comic-Con, you can immerse yourself in the glory of Ancient Rome with Those About to Die: The Chariot Race. Step inside the betting tavern, join one of the coveted factions and experience the adrenaline thrill of the chariot race itself.

Inspired by the new Original series, Peacock’s in-world activation will bring the ancient “Circus Maximus” to life right in the Gaslamp District. Upon entry, guests will be divided into the 5 factions from the show and given the chance to whip a pair...

Chariot racing was popular in ancient Rome, with charioteers often lower-class Romans driving horses owned by aristocracy. Bestiarii were gladiators who fought animals like lions and tigers in the arena, using different weaponry depending on the beast. Gladiatrices were rare female gladiators who entertained Roman audiences with the same equipment and training as men warriors.

Those About to Die focuses on the charioteers and gladiators of ancient Rome during the Flavian dynasty during the reign of Emperor Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins). Based on Daniel P. Mannix's hugely popular book of the same name, the epic sword-and-sandal TV series is helmed by director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day), Hollywood's so-called "master of disaster," and BAFTA-winner and screenwriter Marco Kreuzpaintner (Bodies). The 10-episode series uses Rome's Colosseum aka the Flavian ampitheater as its backdrop, allowing it to delve into the people who make the city's subsidized (and very bloody) entertainment run.

Aside from...

Lots of things make Ridley Scott grumpy. Critics of "Blade Runner" make him grumpy. All of those millennials not watching "The Last Duel" make him grumpy. The idea of making "wizard films" for Disney makes him grumpy. The world seems like one big inconvenience to the octogenarian, to the extent that it's not really accurate to say these things make him grumpy. Much like Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner in "The Avengers," the secret to Scott's remarkably durable crotchetiness is that he's always grumpy.

None of this, of course, takes away from the man's equally remarkable filmography. While there are several dubious entries on that list, anyone who made "Blade Runner" is, in my opinion, unimpeachably brilliant. Still, I implore you to take a quick peek at Scott's Wikipedia page and marvel at the sheer level of irascibility emanating from his photo in what is surely the most accurate visual...

Iwan Rheon, known for playing the super scary Ramsay Bolton on Game of Thrones, is getting lots of praise for his new character Tenax on the Peacock show Those About to Die. Critics say this might be Rheon’s best role yet, showing a more layered bad guy.

Tenax, who owns a tavern in Ancient Rome, is very different than Ramsay. While both want power, Tenax seems more calculating. He can show mercy and think before acting, unlike the crazy Ramsay. This lets Rheon flex his acting muscles more.

In an interview with Variety, Rheon even compared the two dudes. He thinks Tenax would win in a fight against Ramsay! Tenax stays cool-headed, where Ramsay would just blow it. Rheon added Ramsay is “just an idiot” who’s all psychopath, no feelings. But Tenax has empathy, even if he doesn’t openly show it.

Playing Tenax lets Rheon explore a...

Peacock's new gladiator series Those About to Die has garnered some comparisons to HBO's Game of Thrones. Iwan Rheon, who appears in both shows, has commented on the inevitable comparisons.

Rheon and one of his co-stars, Sara Martins, opened up about Those About to Die in a new interview with Cbr's Kevin Polowy. As Roland Emmerich has also shared with Cbr how Game of Thrones was a big influence, it was only natural for the comparisons to come up. Rheon commented on how one major difference is a lack of dragons on Those About to Die along with how the new Peacock series is more directly inspired by Ancient Rome.

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Related Peacock's Poker Face Gets Exciting Update as Fans Wait for Season 2

Natasha Lyonne's acclaimed Peacock series gets an exciting update.

"There's less dragons in our show, but obviously there's...

Those About to Die, which was filmed in Rome's Cinecitt Studios, offers a gritty look at Ancient Roman gladiators' harsh lives. Producers aimed for authenticity, collaborating with Italian museums to create accurate period replicas. Peacock's epic series displaced Gladiator 2 by booking Cinecitt Studios for its production.

Peacock's newest series, the sword-and-sandal epic Those About to Die, has marathon viewers wondering where the 10-episode gladiator show was filmed. Directed by Hollywood's so-called "master of disaster" Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) and penned by BAFTA winner Marco Kreuzpaintner (Bodies), Those About to Die adapts Daniel P. Mannix's bestselling 1958 book of the same name. Funnily enough, Mannix's Those About to Die novel (later retitled The Way of the Gladiator) was one of the key inspirations for Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000), which makes the adaptation's debut mere months before Gladiator 2 a fun bit of serendipity.

Those About to Die chronicles the rather...

Those About to Die on Peacock explores the shady business of gladiators in Ancient Rome, setting the stage for Gladiator 2's action. The gladiator industry is the focus, showing the political corruption that made violence entertainment in Roman society. While Gladiator 2 promises more spectacle and star power, Those About to Die provides a small-screen substitute with similar themes in the meantime.

A new streaming series set in Ancient Rome, Those About to Die, is the perfect show to watch during the interminable wait for Gladiator 2 to be released in theaters. Those About to Die, which just dropped all 10 of its episodes on Peacock in the U.S. and Amazon Prime internationally, similarly takes place in the swords-and-sandals world of gladiators who fight to the death to entertain the public. Robert Rodat, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind Saving Private Ryan, adapted the epic historical drama series from the book...

Rome is starving. Early into Those About to Die, as the Roman Empire reels from civil war and rebellion in Judea, running its grain stores scarce, the people’s hunger for food swells into an appetite for revolt. Rome’s rulers turn to entertainment to pacify their citizens, eventually enlisting Tenax (Iwan Rheon), the rare self-made man who’s managed to claw his way toward the city’s elite, to orchestrate arena spectacles for the public. “I grew up in those stinking stands. I know what the mob wants to see,” Tenax tells his crew toward the end of the show’s first season. “Remember: Enough is good. More is better. Too much is perfect.”

Tenax’s directive encapsulates the ethos of Those About to Die, which treats viewers to excess and indulgence befitting ancient Rome. Created by Robert Rodat and based on Daniel P. Mannix’s book of the...

Those About to Die explores ancient Rome's brutal gladiatorial world through diverse characters and high production value. The series features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Anthony Hopkins and Iwan Rheon, promising a gripping narrative. Premiering on Peacock, this ten-episode series with a budget of $150+ million will drop all episodes for a binge-worthy experience.

Those About to Die's epic story of blood and sport is fast approaching. Adapted from Daniel P. Mannix's 1958 novel of the same name, the series sets out to uncover ancient Rome's brutal business of gladiatorial competition. Co-directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, Those About to Die will explore this facet of Roman entertainment, which comprises complex notions of sport, politics, and dynasties, through the perspective of characters from all walks of Roman life. The ensemble will feature TV notables, such as Game of Thrones' Iwan Rheon and Vikings: Valhalla's Jhannes Haukur Jhannesson, two-time Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins,...

Peacock invites you to take a behind-the-scenes look at Roland Emmerich’s Those About to Die and an exclusive Sneak-Peek at Atomic Monster’s Teacup to take place during Peacock’s Back-to-Back Panel Block on Thursday, July 25 in Ballroom 20!

Thursday, July 25 – Sunday, July 28:

Those About To Die: The Chariot Race

Immerse yourself in the glory of Ancient Rome at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 with Peacock’s “Those About To Die: The Chariot Race.” Step inside the betting tavern, join one of the coveted factions and experience the adrenaline thrill of the chariot race itself. Inspired by the new Original series, Peacock’s in-world activation will bring the ancient “Circus Maximus” to life right in the Gaslamp District. Upon entry, guests will be divided into the 5 factions from the show and given the chance to whip a pair of reins to power their team’s chariot to victory.

The activation...

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As might be expected at the height of the summer blockbuster season, July brings movie sequels galore. But each sequel is a little different in a batch that includes a long-in-the-works extension of the definitive Eighties action comedy, the third entry in an offbeat horror trilogy, and an action movie that seemingly shares little with its predecessor beyond bad weather. (And be on the lookout for a re-release of The Seven Samurai,...

Take a look at more footage from “Those About To Die”, the 10-episode live-action ‘gladiator’ TV series, directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, starring Anthony Hopkins, Dimitri Leonidas, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Moe Hashim and Tom Hughes, streaming July 18, 2024 on Peacock:

“…the series chronicles daily life…

“….and death, in Ancient Rome…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

International distributor Eccho Rights will be handling first window sales throughout Central and Eastern Europe on the Roland Emmerich-directed ancient Rome series “Those About to Die,” starring Anthony Hopkins as as Emperor Vespasian.

The Stockholm-headquartered Eccho Rights – which is owned by German investment and co-production outfit Night Train Media, headed by Herbert L. Kloiber – will be launching regional sales at the NATPE Budapest market later this month on the hotly anticipated 10-episode gladiator show.

The first season of “Those About to Die” is set to drop July 18 on Peacock in the U.S., as previously announced. The show is a Peacock Original and the streamer’s biggest budget production to date.

Eccho Rights will also be handling second window sales on “Those About to Die” in several unspecified Western European territories, according to a statement. An Eccho rep declined to specify on which Western European territories they have the second window rights.

Peacock has released the official trailer for its original series, “Those About to Die,” an epic sword-and-sandal drama transporting viewers back to the world of Ancient Rome. All 10 episodes of the forthcoming series, developed by Robert Rodat and directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, will debut on the streaming platform on July 18, […]

Peacock Releases Trailer for Roman Epic “Those About to Die”...

Take a look at more footage from “Those About To Die”, the 10-episode live-action ‘gladiator’ TV series, directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, starring Anthony Hopkins, Dimitri Leonidas, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Moe Hashim and Tom Hughes, streaming July 18, 2024 on Peacock:

“…the series chronicles daily life…

“….and death, in Ancient Rome…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Peacock has released the official trailer for their upcoming epic historical series Those About to Die. The trailer showcases Anthony Hopkins' performance as real-life Roman Emperor Vespasian. The show provides Hopkins with a new complicated character that is reminiscent of some of his most memorable roles.

The Those About to Die trailer reveals a closer look at the Anthony Hopkins-led swords and sandals show. The upcoming Peacock series is based on the 1958 Daniel P. Mannix book of the same name, which was also the inspiration for Ridley Scott's Gladiator and the upcoming Gladiator 2. Directors Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner helmed the 10-episode first season of the show, which features an ensemble cast that includes Hopkins, Dimitri Leonidas, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Moe Hashim, and Tom Hughes.

Peacock has now shared the official trailer for Those About to Die. Check it out below:

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Peacock has just released a trailer along with new images and key art for the upcoming series Those About to Die. From Roland Emmerich, the series features two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins.

Consisting of 10 episodes, Those About to Die will start streaming on Peacock on Thursday, July 18, 2024. The new images and trailer include a sneak peek at Hopkins in character along with other members of the ensemble cast. Everyone is all together in the key art, with Hopkins standing at the top, just under the "Rise or Die" tagline. Take a look at the trailer, poster, and new photos below.

Related 'I Have No Say in What Gets Done': Russell Crowe Admits He's 'Slightly Uncomfortable' With Gladiator 2

Russell Crowe addressed the upcoming Gladiator 2 and also expressed his real feelings about it.

Per Peacock, the series is described as an "epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition,...

Peacock has released some first-look images for Those About To Die, Roland Emmerich’s epic drama set in ancient Rome, starring Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins.

Also starring are Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, and Dimitri Leonidas. All 10 episodes of the series drop on Peacock on Thursday, July 18.

Created by Robert Rodat, based on Daniel P. Mannix’s nonfiction classic of the same name, the drama series is set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at theintersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner each direct five episodes,

The series was created by Robert Rodat, who also wrote five episodes.

NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock has revealed the first photos from Roland Emmerich’s epic drama series Those About to Die, set in ancient Rome. Emmerich directs the series and serves as executive producer.

Those About to Die stars two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins and a cast that includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, and Moe Hashim. All ten episodes of the series will launch on July 18.

Those About to Die is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition. It explores a side of ancient Rome never before told—the dirty business of entertaining the masses and giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport.

The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

“I have always been fascinated by the history of the Roman Empire.

Exclusive: Marco Kreuzpaintner has signed with CAA for representation.

Kreuzpaintner began his career in feature films, including the coming-of-age drama Summer Storm, Krabat, The Collini Case, and the Roland Emmerich-produced Trade – Welcome to America, starring Academy Award winner Kevin Kline.

He created and directed the first German original for Amazon Prime Video, Beat, a crime series set in the underground club world of Berlin.

He has directed and executive produced such TV shows as the BAFTA Award-winning series The Lazarus Project for Sky, Soulmates for AMC, and the Netflix/DC Comics limited series Bodies, based on the graphic novel of the same name.

Alongside Roland Emmerich, Kreuzpaintner directed five of the 10 episodes of the upcoming Peacock spectacle Those About to Die, starring Anthony Hopkins and Iwan Rheon.

He continues to be represented in the UK by Alec Drysdale and Olivia Gray at Independent Talent Group, and in Germany by Marie-Luise Schmidt at Die Agenten.

Exclusive: Physician turned #1 Nyt bestselling author Robin Cook is partnering with Euro Gang Entertainment, the entertainment company of Gianni Nunnari and Simon Horsman, on a pair of new projects for film and TV.

The first, Bellevue, will be a feature based on Cook’s forthcoming novel of the same name, which marks a departure for the author as a dark and atmospheric work of horror. Slated for publication in December, the book tells the story of Mitt, a first-year surgical resident at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. Mitt has a long and dark family history: his physicians’ forebears are guilty of grievous sins, extreme instances of medical malpractice committed at the very hospital where he now studies. Set against the gloom of supernatural haunting, and amidst gruesomely accurate surgical imagery, Bellevue is the story of supernatural vengeance for the sins of Mitt’s ancestors.

The second project being developed...

The fourth and final season of “Evil” will premiere Thursday, May 23, on Paramount+, the streamer announced Monday. Production recently began in New York City on the previously announced four bonus episodes. Season 4 will include 14 episodes premiering weekly.

The series is a psychological thriller that investigates the origins of evil and the church’s unexplained mysteries including demonic possession. The official description of the upcoming season reads: “Kristen, David and Ben continue to assess cases that involve wayward technology, possessed pigs, demonic oppression and infestation, a dance muse conjured by alleged witches and an evil relic.”

The series stars Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson, Kurt Fuller, Andrea Martin, Christine Lahti, Brooklyn Shuck, Skylar Gray, Maddy Crocco and Dalya Knapp.

“Evil” is produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions. Robert King, Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, Rockne S. O’Bannon and Sam Hoffman serve as executive producers.

Watch the official trailer below.

Those who know who Roland Emmerich is will probably know that the director is known for his epic films, a lot of which are also major disaster films. Some of these major titles include Universal Soldier (1992), Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996) and its sequel Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), Godzilla (1998), The Patriot (2000), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 10,000 BC (2008), 2012 (2009), White House Down (2013), Midway (2019), and Moonfall (2022). But, Emmerich is now shifting to television, as his new project is about to be released on Peacock this summer. Ahead of the premiere, a teaser trailer has been released.

The project in question is the epic sword-and-sandal series Those About to Die, which is set in Ancient Rome. The series will be based on the book of the same name by writer and journalist Daniel P. Mannix; interesting enough, the same book served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s epic classic, Gladiator.

The series will star acting legend...

A new Roman drama on Peacock, Those About to Die starring Anthony Hopkins, explores the world of gladiatorial competition. The show features a cast that includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, and Tom Hughes, set in a corrupt ancient Rome. The show is closely tied to Ridley Scott's Gladiator, sharing historical focus and is adapted from the book that inspired the original Gladiator draft.

A new trailer for Peacock’s upcoming Roman drama Those About to Die helps ease the wait for viewers eager for Gladiator 2’s violent return to the arena. Set to star Anthony Hopkins as the Roman Emperor Vespasian, the 10-episode historical drama was created by Saving Private Ryan screenwriter Robert Rodat, based on the 1958 book of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix. Directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner, the series is slated to make its streaming debut on July 18, 2024.

During Sundays’ WrestleMania Xl,...

Anthony Hopkins will soon be seen in his next role, starring in Peacock's upcoming series Those About to Die. On Sunday, the streamer shared the first official teaser trailer for the series along with a premiere date, announcing that the show will drop all ten episodes on Thursday, July 18, 2024.

This will be the first major role in a series since Hopkins was featured as one of the stars of HBO's Westworld. The actor, who also won an Oscar for his role in The Father, has since had roles in the movies The Son, Freud's Last Session, and Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon. For a look at the 86-year-old in his newest role, the trailer for Those About to Die can be viewed below.

Related Anthony Hopkins Set to Star in New Adaptation of The Island of Dr. Moreau Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins will next in a new film based on H.G. Wells...

NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock revealed the teaser for Those About to Die during WWE WrestleMania Xl and announced a July 18 premiere date. Roland Emmerich directs the series and serves as executive producer.

Those About to Die stars two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins alongside a cast that includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, and Moe Hashim.

Those About to Die is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport.

The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

All ten episodes of Those About to Die launch July 18, just in time for viewers to also watch the 2024 Paris Olympics.

2024 is shaping up to be an embarrassment of riches for Roman history buffs, with projects as varied as Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator 2” and Francis Ford Coppola’s Rome-inspired sci-fi epic “Megalopolis” expected to hit theaters later this year. The era will also be well-represented on television thanks to Roland Emmerich’s upcoming Peacock series “Those About to Die.”

The 10-episode series, which stars Anthony Hopkins as Roman Emperor Vespasian, is set in the world of gladiatorial combat. Adapted from Daniel P. Mannix’s nonfiction book of the same name, the show was developed by Robert Rodat and directed by Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner. In addition to Hopkins, the ensemble cast includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, and Moe Hashim.

“I have always been fascinated by the history of the Roman Empire,” Emmerich said in a statement announcing the series. “So much still seems relevant for our...

Peacock has set the premiere date and released the first trailer for gladiator epic Those About To Die, starring Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins. All ten episodes of the series will drop Thursday, July 18 on the streamer.

Written by Robert Rodat, based on Daniel P. Mannix’s nonfiction classic of the same name, the series stars Hopkins as Emperor Vaspasian during the height of the Roman Empire. The epic drama is set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

The ensemble cast also includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones,...

Exclusive: Euro Gang Entertainment, the company founded by Gianni Nunnari (300) and Simon Horsman (Legacy: The True Story Of The LA Lakers), has entered into a three picture and series deal with German writer-director Marco Kreuzpaintner who most recently co-directed with Roland Emmerich the big-budget 10-part gladiator series, Those About to Die, with Anthony Hopkins.

Alongside Euro Gang, Kreuzpaintner will produce and direct Drood, a series based on the book of the same name by U.S. author Dan Simmons (The Terror). The story revolves around a sinister and mysterious hunt through Victorian London’s perilous underground for a murderous specter, led by none other than Charles Dickens, and his best friend and fellow author, Wilkie Collins.

The second project, Black Vatican, is a contemporary horror series based on an original story by Andrea Nobile and Maurizio Curcio. Kreuzpaintner will direct the pilot penned by Alex Child, where the Pope, possessed by Satan,...

Netflix has unveiled the official full-length trailer for the upcoming series ‘Bodies,’ based on the mind-bending graphic novel by Si Spencer.

Four detectives. Four timelines. One body. When a body – the same body – is found on Longharvest Lane in London’s East End in 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053, one detective from each period must investigate. As connections are drawn across the decades, the detectives soon discover their investigations are linked, and an enigmatic political leader – Elias Mannix (Stephen Graham) – becomes increasingly central. Did he have a part to play in the murder? Or is something far more sinister at play? To solve the mystery, our four detectives must somehow collaborate and uncover a conspiracy spanning over 150 years.

The episode series is directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner (lead), with further episodes by Haolu Wang with a cast that includes Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Shira Haas, Amaka Okafor, Kyle Soller and Stephen Graham.

Also in trailers – “The past has me in a headlock…...

Exclusive: Roland Emmerich is heading to next month’s Mipcom Cannes to present first-look footage from upcoming Gladiator epic Those About to Die.

AGC Studios and High End Productions will host an invite-only presentation on the first afternoon of the mid-October market, showcasing the footage along with a Q&a with the Godzilla auteur.

The $150M Anthony Hopkins-starring series will launch on Peacock in the U.S. later next year but AGC boss Stuart Ford recently told Deadline the producers eschewed a “worldwide streamer type deal” when putting together the financial package. Prime Video has bought the show in a wealth of European nations and the free TV rights outside the exclusive distribution window are still being negotiated with various licensees across Europe, according to Constantin Film in August. Principal photography is nearly complete at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios and the show, which falls outside of SAG-AFTRA strike restrictions,...

Netflix has launched a teaser trailer for the upcoming series ‘Bodies,’ based on the mind-bending graphic novel by Si Spencer.

Four detectives. Four timelines. One body. When a body – the same body – is found on Longharvest Lane in London’s East End in 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053, one detective from each period must investigate. As connections are drawn across the decades, the detectives soon discover their investigations are linked, and an enigmatic political leader – Elias Mannix (Stephen Graham) – becomes increasingly central. Did he have a part to play in the murder? Or is something far more sinister at play? To solve the mystery, our four detectives must somehow collaborate and uncover a conspiracy spanning over 150 years.

The episode series is directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner (lead), with further episodes by Haolu Wang with a cast that includes Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Shira Haas, Amaka Okafor, Kyle Soller and Stephen Graham.

Also in trailers – “Why don’t you come home with me…...

Roland Emmerich’s gladiator drama “Those About to Die,” which Prime Video has acquired exclusive streaming rights for in several European territories, is an ambitious project creatively, but it also breaks new ground in business terms.

With a budget north of $150 million for a 10-episode first season, it is the most expensive independently produced European series ever. For Emmerich, the German filmmaker best known for blockbuster movies such as “Independence Day,” the show is a new departure as well as it is his first foray into television. He is directing the show, alongside Marco Kreuzpaintner, and is also an executive producer.

The project was initiated by Emmerich’s Centropolis, Harald Kloser’s Street Entertainment and Gianni Nunnari’s Hollywood Gang, along with Bob Rodat, the screenwriter behind films like “Saving Private Ryan” and “The Patriot.” It is inspired by the nonfiction book of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix,...

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.

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan...

Roland Emmerich’s upcoming gladiator series Those About to Die has been picked up by Prime Video across Europe.

High End Productions, a Jv forged by Herbert G. Kloiber and Constantin Film, struck the deal for the show produced by Centropolis, Hollywood Gang and Street Entertainment.

When it becomes available on Prime in Europe, the show will become a rare example of a Peacock series that can be watched on a different streamer in other territories. Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Andorra, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Belgium have all picked up the rights. The free TV rights outside the exclusive distribution window on Prime Video are currently still being negotiated with various licensees across Europe, according to Constantin Film.

The Peacock original stars Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vaspasian during the height of the Roman Empire. The Roman population—bored, restless, and increasingly...

Prime Video has acquired the Ancient Rome gladiator drama series “Those About to Die” in multiple European territories. The show is directed by “Independence Day” helmer Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner.

The 10-episode first season will debut exclusively on Prime Video in Germany, the U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Andorra, Monaco, Luxembourg and Belgium. As previously reported, streaming platform Peacock has secured the U.S. rights.

European rights are being handled by High End Productions, the joint venture set up by Herbert G. Kloiber and Constantin Film. AGC Studios holds rights for the rest of the world.

Servus TV has taken the free TV window for Austria. The free TV rights outside the exclusive distribution window on Prime Video are still being negotiated with various licensees across Europe. Further presales will be announced at a later date.

The show stars Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian,...

Do you like movies about gladiators?

Hollywood is betting you do.

There are a trio of sword-and-sandal epics in the works, including a long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning 2000 movie Gladiator and a reboot of Starz’ groundbreaking TV series Spartacus.

The curious surge of Ancient Rome titles in the pipeline seems to be purely coincidental, but it also makes sense given that studios have been searching for the next genre title that might break out — particularly since the end of HBO’s Game of Thrones — and given the revival of another muscular old-time Hollywood genre, the Western, following the explosive popularity of Yellowstone. Each project has roots in a different take on the material, and two of the projects had major casting news within the past week.

The gladiator genre actually has cinema roots dating all the way back to the 1913 silent film The Last Days of Pompeii. The...

Roland Emmerich’s large-scale gladiator series “Those About to Die,” starring Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian, has started shooting at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios.

Several new cast members have been announced, including “Game of Thrones” alumn Iwan Rheon.

Rheon, who in “Thrones” played the villainous Ramsay Bolton – and can currently be seen in Emmerich-produced film “The Magic Flute” – will replace Lorenzo Richelmy who has exited the Peacock show due to scheduling conflicts.

Also joining the “Those About to Die” cast are Liraz Charhi (“Tehran”) who will play Berenice, Queen of the conquered Judeans; and Rupert Penry-Jones (“The Batman”) as retired general Marsus who aspires to succeed Vespasian on the imperial throne (they are pictured above).

Other new cast additions to the swords and sandals series shot at Cinecittà are Johannes Haukur Johannesson (“Vikings”) as Norse gladiator Viggo; Eneko Sagardoy (“Elite”) as talented chariot driver Andria; Pepe Barroso (“45 rpm”) as Fonsoa...

Gladiators are set to clash, as Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner's latest television show, Those About to Die, began production today at Cinecitta Studios in Italy. Based on screenplays written by Robert Rodat, the series is described as a drama set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties. A display of the intense physicality, danger, and excitement of Rome's culture will be explored within the story of the Peacock show.

Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon is one of nine joining the cast of Peacock’s epic gladiator drama Those About to Die, as principal photography on the Roland Emmerich show kicked off at Rome’s historic Cinecittà Studios.

Rheon, best known as Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones, has has been cast as ambitious crime boss Tenax and will replace Lorenzo Richelmy, who dropped out over scheduling conflicts. Rheon is appearing in The Magic Flute and has appeared in the BAFTA-winner Misfits and Netflix’s The Dirt.

Related: 2023 Peacock Series & Pilot Orders

Also joining the cast are Liraz Charhi, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Kyshan Wilson and Alicia Edogamhe.

Inspired by Daniel Mannix’s nonfiction book, Those About to Die is billed as an epic drama set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition. AGC Television is the studio,...

Roland Emmerich is filling out his Colosseum, with a new troop of actors to complete the cast of Those About to Die, a gladiator action series which the Independence Day director has begun shooting in Rome.

Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon, Vikings actor Johannes Haukur Johannesson and Alicia Edogamhe, best-known for Netflix series Summertime, are among the new additions to the ensemble cast, as well as Tehran actress Liraz Charhi, Britain’s Rupert Penry-Jones (Mi-5), Elite actor Eneko Sagardoy, Gonçalo Almeida (Amor Amor), Kyshan Wilson (Viola) and Pepe Barroso (Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming Gran Turismo).

They join two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins headlines the series as Roman emperor Vespasian. Previously-announced cast include Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, and Moe Hashim.

Rheon has been cast as ambitious crime boss, Tenax. He replaces the previously announced Lorenzo Richelmy, who was unable to participate in the series due to scheduling conflicts.

Roland Emmerich has given the thumbs up for further cast members of his hotly-anticipated Roman gladiators TV series Those About to Die.

AGC Studios and High End Productions, which are producing Those About To Die for Peacock, announced Thursday that Lorenzo Richelmy, Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas and Moe Hashim will join Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins in the new swords-and-sandals series, based on the book of the same name by Daniel Mannix.

German director Marco Kreuzpaintner (Sommer Storm, Beat) has also joined Those About To Die and will direct several episodes of the series alongside Emmerich, from scripts written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot).

Richelmy, best known for his titular performance in Netflix’s Marco Polo, will play Tenax, an ambitious crime boss working his way up in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome, with its spectacle-driven gladiatorial competitions.

Peacock’s upcoming gladiator drama Those About to Die has added seven names to its cast, with Marco Kreuzpaintner (Beat) now signed up as co-director and exec producer.

Lorenzo Richelmy, Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas and Moe Hashim will join Anthony Hopkins in the AGC Television series, which Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) will co-direct with Kreuzpaintner. Robert Rodat is the writer.

The ambitious series, which is inspired by Daniel Mannix’s eponymous nonfiction book, is set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition and features an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire.

Oscar winner Hopkins was last month cast as Vespasian, Roman Emperor and head of the Flavian bloodline.

Hughes (The English, Dancing on the Edge) will play Titus Flavianus, the elder son and of Vespasian and apparent heir to the Imperial throne, and Macari (Sex Education,...

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The Lazarus Project, the time-twisted action and espionage series from Comcast’s European TV giant Sky and starring I May Destroy You‘s Paapa Essiedu in the lead, is set to return for a second stint.

Sky announced Thursday that the drama, written by Joe Barton (Giri/Haji, Netflix’s upcoming Half-Bad) and produced by Urban Myth Films, had been commissioned for a second season, set to air in 2023.

“We are thrilled at the success of series one and at Sky’s recommission,” said Barton. “We have bold and ambitious plans for series two which will reunite all our characters in more thrilling and mind-bending adventures.”

Also starring Charly Clive, Rudi Dharmalingam and Anjli Mohindra — who are all set to return alongside Essiedu — the eight-part first series launched on Sky’s Sky Max channel June 16, reaching a cumulative 28-day audience of 1.7 million, the...

"You can't defend someone like him." Peccadillo Pictures in the UK has unveiled a new official UK trailer for the German legal thriller The Collini Case, from German filmmaker Marco Kreuzpaintner. This originally opened in Germany back in 2019, but is only now getting an official UK release in cinemas this September. Apparently this also opened in the US online last year, but we haven't heard about it until now, time to catch up with it anyway. Based on the international best-seller by Ferdinand von Schirach, The Collini Case is a slick and thrilling courtroom drama inspired by one of the biggest legal scandals in German history. Hoping to launch his career, a rookie defense lawyer takes on a mysterious case of a prominent Italian industrialist who's accused of murdering an old German tycoon, who was a father figure to him. He discovers more while digging into his past to try and understand his motives.