Prime Video’s new historical epic series has a huge connection to Gladiator

Stephen Porzio

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The connections between the two projects run much deeper than both just being set in Ancient Rome.

With the release of the trailer for Gladiator II and the release of Prime Video’s new historical epic series Those About to Die, all those men who think often about Ancient Rome are in luck.

Directed by Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day) and featuring amongst its cast two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, Those About to Die explores the complex and corrupt world of chariot racing and gladiatorial fights in 79 A.D. Rome through several characters from all corners of the empire.

Both the Prime Video series and the original Gladiator from 2000 – which won the Best Picture Oscar – feature plot lines about people being kidnapped as slaves who are forced to fight for the masses entertainment and wind up rising up through the ranks of the arena.

But the connections between the two projects run deeper. For one, Those About to Die is based on the 1958 non-fiction book of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix – which Gladiator co-writer David Franzoni has cited has a strong influence on his screenplay.

Also, when speaking to JOE about the new show, director Emmerich revealed not only that the look of the 2000 movie inspired his series – but also that he read the original Gladiator screenplay because he once wanted to make the film.

When we asked Emmerich, how much of the original Gladiator from 2000 was an inspiration, he responded:

“Yeah, totally. I mean, it’s a great movie. It has more of a revenge theme. It’s about revenge which I kind of stayed away from just because of obvious reasons but yeah.

“Also, the look and everything. I mean naturally it’s slightly now dated but nevertheless, all the Roman shots look a little bit blue and very dreary. It didn’t look that dreary anyhow [he says laughing].

“But yeah, I also read the script because I wanted to do the movie.”

When we asked to clarify if he meant he read the Gladiator script, he responded: “Yeah”.

You can watch a clip of Emmerich making the comments below. Those About to Die launches on Prime Video in Ireland and the UK on Friday, 19 July.

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