News

City of God: The Fight Rages On is premiering tonight on HBO!

The six-episode original series is set two decades after the events of the 2002 international award-winning film, and premieres at 8:00 p.m. Et on HBO Latino in the U.S. and will be available to stream globally on Max where the platform is available. New episodes will debut Sundays at the same time.

The series includes the return of memorable characters such as Rocket (Wilson), Berenice, Bradock, Cinthia, Barbantinho and Melonhead, as well as new faces, including Jerusa, Lígia and Genivaldo Curió.

Keep reading to find out more…

Stars include Alexandre Rodrigues, Roberta Rodrigues, Thiago Martins, Sabrina Rosa, Kiko Marques, Edson Oliveira, Andréia Horta, Marcos Palmeira, Eli Ferreira, Luellem de Castro, Jefferson Brasil, Otávio Linhares, Rafael Lozano, Leandro Daniel, Luiz Bertazzo and debuting talents from communities in Rio de Janeiro such as Cidade de Deus, Vidigal and Mangueira.

When Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund’s City of God came out in 2002, it was generally acclaimed — countless Top 10 lists, four Oscar nominations, etc. But it did not go without criticism. There were some who found the violent coming-of-age drama to be exploitative, fetishizing poverty and crime in the Brazilian favelas without digging deeper than misery.

In very meta terms, it’s a duality that haunts the lead of HBO Latino and Max’s new spinoff series, City of God: The Fight Rages On. Wilson (Alexandre Rodrigues) grew up in the sprawling lower-income suburbs of Rio de Janeiro and, after watching many of his friends and rivals die in the film’s escalating violence, found his escape through his camera. Though he’s become one of the country’s most famous photojournalists, even he’s exhausted by how much of his success has come from capturing images of death.

Wilson...

It’s been two decades since we first followed the tales from the favela of Cidade de Deus in Fernando Meirelles’ acclaimed film. Now the series gives us a glimpse into how this community and its people have evolved over the years.

Familiar faces return to the neighborhood, though changes are evident both externally and within. We catch up with Rocket, still roaming the streets with camera in hand; his job as a photojournalist is now bringing both opportunity and conflict. While his skills have developed, keeping his lens focused on the area’s challenges proves a difficult line to straddle.

The surrounding buildings crowd closer together amid the favela’s growth. Yet signs of renewed hope also emerge, such as lively games of football in safer pockets of the streets. Yet dangers still lurk around many corners for all who call this place home.

Newcomers now also share stories within these alleys.

Those About to Die takes creative liberties with real history but features historical characters from ancient Rome. The show focuses on the political dynamics of the Flavian dynasty and the struggle for power among family members. Characters like Emperor Vespasian, Domitian Flavianus, Titus Flavianus, Scorpus, Berenice, and Antonia shape the narrative with historical contexts.

Peacock's Those About to Die, based on Daniel P. Mannix's 1958 book of the same name, depends on a certain amount of creative liberties taken with real history but still features several historical characters from ancient Rome. Those About to Die's narrative revolves around the real Flavian dynasty, implying how the actions of the Roman nobles affected the common people through largely fictional characters. While not much is known about specific individuals who would have been Tenax's (Iwan Rheon) or Cala's (Sara Martins) real-life counterparts, the emperor and his sons are documented historical figures.

Some...

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...

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.