Those About to Die is an epic historical drama television series developed by Robert Rodat and directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner based on Daniel P. Mannix book. It premiered on July 18, 2024, on Peacock and internationally on Amazon Prime Video the next day. The series title references the Latin gladiatorial greeting made to the Emperor at the games "Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant (Hail Caesar, those about to die salute you)".
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Plot
In 79 AD, Rome is under the leadership of the elderly Emperor Vespasian, along with his sons, Titus and Domitianus. They are working on building the Colosseum to give to the people of Rome. Elsewhere in the city, the criminal Tenax seeks to raise himself to higher status by building a team for the races at the Circus Maximus, aided by the famed racer Scorpus. A woman, Cala, goes to Rome to free her daughters, Aura and Jula, from slavery and her son, Kwame, from certain death as a gladiator. After Vespasian dies and Titus is appointed his successor, Domitianus recruits Tenax to help scheme his way to power.
