Imagine a time of emperors and gladiators, where the roar of the crowd fills a colossal amphitheater. This is the world of ancient Rome, a society both awe-inspiring and brutal. At its heart stands the Colosseum, a grand symbol of both entertainment and power. But was it truly for the people? or a mere tool to distract them from a harsher reality? Sir Anthony Hopkins delves into this very question in his gripping new series, Those About to Die.
The series is based on the eponymous 1958 book by Daniel P Mannix, which previously served as the original inspiration for the Gladiator screenwriter David Franzoni. The series explores the ways in which Vespasian, a former army general, sought to restore order in Rome after the city was nearly reduced to ashes during the deranged and decadent rule of Nero, the final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
“Bread and circuses, hey? Look this way!” says Hopkins. He adds, “It was the same as in today’s political climate, where you have nothing but distractions. The movie industry, the red carpet … entertainment, entertainment, entertainment. You can get too many films now. Fluff! And you are hooked. It takes you away from the pain of living in political chaos.”
Hopkins also expresses admiration for his character, Vespasian, in the series. He jokes that, during his own schooldays, he wasn’t much of a classicist – “I tried to read Gibbon’s Decline and Fall [of the Roman Empire]. Impossible! So I had to get ‘Gibbon for simpletons'” – but he evidently now has a solid grip on his character.
“Vespasian was, I think, a strong soldier, a man of justice determined to make Rome a decent place after Nero had left it in a mess of backstabbing and all of that. Awful. The place was in its death throes. So he came along and said, right, let’s put it back on track. He was a pragmatist. He knuckled down to fiscal reforms and acts of consolidation. He had two sons and told them to behave, to get on with it. But their dynamic was always going to unleash the scorpions of jealousy,” shares Hopkins.
Sir Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of the complex emperor Vespasian promises a nuanced exploration of this fascinating period. From the political machinations to the bloody spectacles in the arena, Those About to Die promises to be a must-watch for history buffs and fans of epic dramas alike. Directed by Roland Emmerich, the Roman drama stars Anthony Hopkins, Iwan Rheon, Rupert Penry-Jones, and Sara Martins, who will bring this bygone era to life on Prime Video in India, starting July 19.
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