(ANSA) - ROME, MARCH 20 - First clapperboard at Cinecittà for Those todie (Those who are about to die): the epic of gladiators that convinced Roland Emmerich, the German director of IndendenceDay, Godzilla, Il Patriota and the recent Moonfall to debut in a TV series.
Produced by AGC Studios, with Emmerich executive producing with Gianni Nunnari and Harald Kloser, Those to die in the historic studios of Cinecittà is an epic drama set in the complex and corrupt world of gladiatorial competition in ancient Rome.
The series introduces a cast of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide in the explosive mix of sports, politics and dynasties.
Directed by Emmerich with Marco Kreuzpaintner, it is written by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Robert Rodat and inspired by Daniel Mannix's 1958 non-fiction classic little man.
Starring as Vespasian, the emperor of Rome and head of the Flavian line, is two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins.
Tom Hughes plays Titus Flavianus, Vespasian's eldest son and heir candidate to the imperial throne;
Portuguese Sara Martins was cast as Cala, a formidable, ruthless and fiercely intelligent merchant; Jojo Macari (Sex Education) plays Vespasian's ambitious younger son Domitian, Titus' rival for the throne;
Gabriella Pession is Antonia, a skilful politician and ruthless patrician; Dimitri Leonidas will be Scorpus, the most important charioteer of the time;
and Moe Hashim (seen in Ted Lasso) is the son of Cala, Kwame, a lion hunter and a fast and skilled fighter.
The producers have announced that Iwan Rheon, Liraz Charhi, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Kyshan Wilson (the Kubra of MareFuori 3) and Alicia Ann Edogam will join the cast.
(HANDLE).
