Summary
Iconic action director Roland Emmerich is behind Peacock’s new swords-and-sandals epic seriesThose About to Die, which introduces a new host of characters vying for position and wealth in ancient Rome. The stand-alone historical drama is based on Daniel P. Mannix’s 1958 bookThose About to Die, and is set during the reign of the real Roman Emperor Vespasian circa 79 AD. The series focuses on the seedy underworld of crime surrounding theRoman Empire’s sports industry, and how that world impacted the political dealings of the Emperor and his sons.
The cast is led by Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins, who plays Emperor Vespasian himself at the end of his life. The cast includes many relative newcomers, but also features several recognizable faces from shows likeGame of ThronesandTed Lasso.Those About to Diealready has a Rotten Tomatoes score, and now that it is streaming on Peacock a greater audience can enjoy the talented cast in an intriguing political drama with plenty of action.
Sir Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian
Date of Birth: December 31st, 1937
Actor:Sir Anthony Hopkins is one of the most storied and famous actors in the history of stage and screen. He first broke out movies like The Lion in Winter (1968) andA Bridge Too Far(1977), buthe became a household name after winning an Academy Award for his portrayal of serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 1991’sThe Silence of the Lambs. Over his long career, he has received six Academy Award nominations in addition to a slew of other high-profile award nominations and wins.
Legends of the Fall(1994)
The Father(2020)
Anthony Evans
Character:Sir Anthony Hopkins, who was born in Port Talbot, Wales, plays Emperor Vespasian, the emperor of Rome from 69 to 79 AD. InThose About to Die, Vespasian is at the end of his life, and is all too aware that both of his sons, Titus and Domitian Flavianus, are angling to secure their own position after his death. Vespasian is no figurehead, however; he’s a smart, experienced leader who knows how to manipulate as well as any of those who would seek power in Rome.
Iwan Rheon as Tenax
Date of Birth: May 13th, 1985
Actor:Iwan Rheon is a Welsh actor who has been active for more than two decades. He first broke out in the British comedy-drama seriesMisfits, buthe gained world-wide recognition as the devious and cruel Ramsay Bolton in HBO’sGame of Thrones. Prior toThose About to Die, Rheon starred in the short-lived Marvel TV showInhumansand Netflix’s hit biographical comedy-dramaThe Dirt, in which Rheon played Motley Crüe drummer Mick Mars.
Game of Thrones (2013-2016)
Inhumans (2017)
Maximus
Character:InThose About to Die, Rheon plays Tenax, a low-born man who scratched and clawed his way to becoming one of the most powerful crime bosses of the Roman underworld. He is a brilliant schemer who maintains power through intimidation and manipulation, and controls the profitable (and occasionally corrupt) gambling industry that drives gladiatorial games. Tenax is one of the most influential characters on the show despite his common upbringing.
Jojo Macari as Domitian Flavianus
Date of Birth: December 30th, 1996
Actor:Jojo Macari is an English actor from London whofirst broke out in the BBC seriesHard Sunin 2018. Since then he has earned recurring roles in a number of high-profile TV shows, including Netflix’s popular comedySex Educationand British crime dramaThe Irregulars. Prior to Those About to Die, Macari made brief appearances in the Sony Marvel movieMorbiusand the Apple TV+ prestige dramaMasters of the Air.
Masters of the Air (2024)
Capt. Oran Petrich
Character:Jojo Macari plays the intense younger son of Emperor Vespasian, Domitian. As the younger son, Domitian is not named as Vespasian’s heir upon his death, but that only leads to a vicious rivalry with his older brother, Titus. Domitian understands the value of gladiatorial games, unlike his soldier brother, who sees them as wasteful. As a result, Domitian is well-versed in the gambling underworld, and aligns himself with Tenax in an effort to further his wealth and power.
Tom Hughes as Titus Flavianus
Date of Birth: April 18th, 1985
Actor:Tom Hughes is an English actor who has starred largely in British TV series and movies thus far in his career.He broke out in 2010 in the British biographical dramaSex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, in which he played English songwriter Chaz Yankel alongside Andy Serkis in the lead role. Since then he has earned main roles in a number of TV series, most recently including the Amazon Prime seriesThe Englishand the Apple TV+ historical drama seriesFranklin. He is set to star as Hal Jordan in the upcoming seriesGreen Lantern, based on the DC Comics character.
The English (2022)
Thomas Trafford
Character:Tom Hughes plays the eldest son of Emperor Vespasian, Titus Flavius. Titus is a stern, stubborn military man who finds the gladiatorial games distasteful and unnecessary, and matches his brother’s scheming with his own practicality. As his brother works to undermine his authority, Titus works to hold on to the power he has, which grows limited as a result of Domitian’s schemes.
Sara Martins as Cala
Date of Birth: August 19th, 1977
Actor:Sara Martins is a French actress who has largely appeared in French television throughout her career. Her international breakout came in2011 when she was cast in the BBC comedy-drama seriesDeath in Paradise. Since then she has continued to appear in French movies and TV series, although she’s had one-off appearances in more well-known series, including the Amazon Prime seriesCitadel.
Coup de Chance(2024)
Julia
Character:Sara Martins plays Cala, the Numidian trader and mother who uses her intelligence and determination to manipulate those around her and improve her station. Her ultimate goal is to earn enough money, influence, or both to free her three children from Roman slavery. Cala proves to be an extremely useful asset to Tenax, and continues to maneuver her way around those in power throughout the series, never losing sight of her ultimate goal.
Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus
Date of Birth: November 14th, 1987
Actor:Dimitri Leonidas was born in London to a Greek father and an English mother, and had a number of small film and TV roles early in his career.His breakout came in 2013, when he was cast in both George Clooney’s WWII filmThe Monuments Menand Jon Stewart’s political dramaRosewater. Like his co-star Jojo Macari, Leonidas also appeared briefly in the Apple TV+ prestige dramaMasters of the Airin 2024.
Character:InThose About to Die, Leonidas plays Scorpus, the celebrated and beloved charioteer who was a real-life celebrity in Vespasian’s Rome who won over 2,000 races. Scorpus likes to enjoy the perks of his celebrity and position, although he is still at the mercy of those with true power. He’s a friend to Tenax, yet he isn’t afraid to change allegiances if the price is right.
Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Viggo
Date of Birth: February 26th, 1980
Actor:Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson was born in Iceland, and his origins have played a role in the type of roles he’s been able to earn.His breakout role was a two-episode arc onGame of Thrones, in which he played the corrupt peacekeeper Lem Lemoncloak. Since then he has had starring and guest-starring roles in several high-profile TV shows, includingThe Last Kingdom,Vikings: ValhallaandSuccession.
Vikings: Valhalla (2022)
Olaf “The Holy” Haraldsson
Character:Jóhannesson’s character inThose About to Dieis Viggo, a Norse warrior who is an expert in gladiatorial weaponry and the games themselves. Viggo forms a bond with Kwame as he enters his gladiator training, going so far as to help him stay alive in the arena, and appears to be an honorable man even though he is part of the gambling/sports underworld.
Moe Hashim as Kwame
Date of Birth: Unlisted
Actor:There is limited information available about Moe Hashim, as his acting career is only just beginning.His breakout role came in 2022 as Moe Bumbercatch, the Swiss footballer who played for Richmond F.C. in Apple TV+’s Emmy Award-winning seriesTed Lasso.Those About to Dierepresents his most significant role to date.
Broke(2022)
Moe
Character:Kwame is a Numidian warrior who was captured and forced into gladiatorial training after displaying his skills as a fighter in front of Roman soldiers. A former lion hunter, Kwame has a connection with animals that comes in handy in the arena, where animals are often used as part of the spectacle. He is the son of Cala, who is constantly looking for ways to free Kwame and his sisters, Aura and Jula, from the yoke of Roman slavery.
Rupert Penry-Jones as Consul Marsus
Date of Birth: September 22nd, 1970
Actor:Rupert Penry-Jones is an English actor from London,whose breakout came in 2003 when he earned a leading role in the BAFTA-winning spy drama seriesSpooks. Since then he has had steady work both in leading and guest roles in both TV and movies, starring in series such asWhitechapel,Silk, and the American horror dramaThe Strainon FX. He was most recently seen in Matt Reeves’The Batman, in which he played Mayor Don Mitchell.
The Strain(2014-2017)
Mr. Quinlan
Character:Rupert Penry-Jones plays the scheming Consul Marsus inThose About to Die, the local politician who aims at the highest authority in the Roman Empire. Together with his wife Antonia, Marsus works to harness and manipulate the very power of the gods to remove the Flavianus dynasty from the throne.
Gabriella Pession as Antonia
Date of Birth: November 2nd, 1977
Actor:Gabriella Pession was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, but she has spent much of her life working and living in Italy. After a long and successful career in Italy,Pession broke out internationally in 2013 in the lead role ofCrossing Linesopposite William Fichtner. She recently made a guest appearance on the ABD dramaStation 19, and she will have a key role in the upcoming adaptation ofThe Count of Monte Cristo, which will star Sam Claflin.
Station 19(2021)
Dr. Gabriella Aurora
Character:Antonia is the shrewd and sly wife of Consul Marsus, and is his equal when it comes to conspiracy. Antonia carries on an illicit relationship with the charioteer Scorpus, with her husband’s knowledge. Marsus may be the one taking action, but it’s Antonia who has true influence over him and dictates many of his machinations.
Those About To Die Supporting Cast & Characters
Lara Wolf as Berenice: Lara Wolf plays Berenice, the Judean mistress of Titus, who is recognized as the “Jewish Queen” by the Romans who look down on her. The Persian-Swiss actress and singer has had a number of small roles over her career, but North American audiences will recognize her from the seriesQuanticoand the Steve Coogan comedy dramaHot Air.
David Wurawa as Gavros: David Wurawa plays Gavros, an experienced horse trainer and expert in the gladiatorial games, especially chariot-racing. Wurawa has most recently been seen in the Netflix fantasy seriesShadow and Bone, and another drama series set in Ancient Rome, the Netflix seriesBarbarians.
Kyshan Wilson as Aura: Kyshan Wilson plays Aura, the older daughter of Cala who winds up in Roman slavery, and is purchased by Tenax. Wilson has a short filmography having just started acting within the last couple of years, but she has had roles in the seriesViolaandThe Sea Beyond, and the feature filmUnder the Amalfi Sun.
Alicia Edogamhe as Jula: Alicia Edogamhe plays Jula, the younger daughter of Cala who is also sold into Roman slavery, and is purchased by Marsus and Antonia at a high price due to her virginity.Those About to Dieis Eogamhe’s first acting role.
Martyn Ford as Flamma: Martyn Ford plays Flamma, the tattooed and monstrous gladiator who acts as Kwame’s first opponent in the arena. Given his large stature, Ford has appeared in a number of major films in small roles, includingThe Machine,F9: The Fast Saga, andKingsman: The Golden Circle.
Those About To Die
Cast
Set in the year 79 AD in Rome, “Those About to Die” dives into the brutal and complex world of gladiatorial combat. The series explores the dark underbelly of Roman entertainment, where the promise of free food and blood-soaked spectacles keep the restless population in check. The narrative focuses on various characters from all corners of the Roman Empire, whose lives intersect in the grand arena.
