Director/producer Roland Emmerich (“Midway”) and Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins (“Silence of The Lambs”) have teamed up with AGC Studios to bring the Roman Empire to the small screen as Peacock has released a first-look trailer for the upcoming series “Those About To Die.” The new show premiering this summer is set to explore the world of gladiators, which has been iconically portrayed in the Ridley Scott action-drama “Gladiator.” Taking a page from history, “Those About To Die” sees Hopkins lead as the real-life Emperor Vespasian in the show focusing on the seedy and corrupt world of the blood sport.
A synopsis of the new show provided by Peacock reads as follows: 
“Those About To Die” is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.
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Emmerich directs the first three episodes with a total episode count of five, and Marco Kreuzpaintner (“Bodies”) handles the other half. Joining Hopkins in the talented ensemble cast includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, Emilio Sakraya, David Wurawa, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Eneko Sagardoy, and Romana Maggiora Vergano.
“Those About To Die” has a producing team that consists of Emmerich, Harald Kloser, Gianni Nunnari, Stuart Ford, Lourdes Diaz, Miguel A. Palos Jr., Kreuzpaintner, Robert Rodat, Herbert G. Kloiber, Martin Moszkowicz, Oliver Berben, Jonas Bauer, Charles Holland, and Namit Malhotra.
All ten episodes of “Those About To Die” drop exclusively this July 18 on Peacock. Watch the first teaser trailer below.