Those About to Die: Anthony Hopkins to play Roman Emperor in Peacock’s gladiator series

With the exception of Westworld, Anthony Hopkins hasn’t had a significant television role in quite some time, but that’s all about to change as he’s joined the cast of Those About to Die, a gladiator drama series for Peacock.

Anthony Hopkins will play Emperor Vespasian in Those About to Die. Head of the Flavian bloodline, Vespasian is “battle tested, a rural upstart who claimed his throne after victory in a bloody 10-year civil war. He is aging and is despised by the Patricians jockeying for position in the Empire and looking to supplant his heirs to the throne the first chance they get.” Roland Emmerich (Moonfall) is set to direct the series for Peacock, which has been scripted by Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan). Production will begin at Cinecitta Studios in Rome this March.

Inspired by Daniel Mannix’s non-fiction book of the same name, Those About to Die is a “large-scale drama set within the spectacular, complex and corrupt world of gladiatorial sports in Ancient Rome. It introduces an ensemble of diverse characters across the many layers of Roman society where sports, politics and business intersect and collide.” I’ve been looking for a series to replace HBO’s Rome in my heart since its cancellation over fifteen years ago; will Those About to Die be that series? Too soon to tell, but the addition of Anthony Hopkins is undoubtedly a good start.

Before he heads back in time for Those About to Die, Anthony Hopkins will voice Jimmy in Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon. The upcoming sci-fi, fantasy adventure begins as a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy is threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius. They dispatch a young woman with a mysterious past named Kora to seek out warriors from neighbouring planets to help them take a stand. Hopkin’s character is “an impossibly sentient JC1435 mechanized battle robot and one-time defender of the slain King.” New footage from Rebel Moon was revealed earlier today in a Netflix sizzle reel, which also announced that the film will debut on December 22nd.