Roland Emmerich, the director behind catastrophe films corresponding to Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and Moonfall, is making a “gladiatorial epic” sequence for NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock. The present, which can be titled These About to Die, relies on the e-book of the identical identify by Daniel Mannix (which, by the way, beforehand served because the inspiration for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator). The sequence is about to be written by Robert Rodat, whose earlier work contains Saving Non-public Ryan.
These About to Die is the primary TV present created by Emmerich. Though he beforehand directed 2012 TV film Darkish Horse, the director’s profession has in any other case been centered on the large display, with a filmography full of summer time blockbusters. It sounds just like the goal is to protect these large display sensibilities regardless of the present being destined for streamers. Right here’s how Peacock’s announcement put up describes it:
These About to Die is a large-scale drama set throughout the spectacular, advanced, and corrupt world of gladiatorial sports activities in Historical Rome. The sequence introduces an ensemble of various characters throughout the various layers of Roman society the place sports activities, politics, and enterprise intersect and collide.
And don’t fear, in addition to gladiatorial battles, These About to Die can even function the spectacle of chariot racing, in line with NBCUniversal tv and streaming’s president of scripted content material Lisa Katz. Deadline experiences that the finances for the sequence sits at round $140 million and that manufacturing is because of kick off early subsequent 12 months in Italy.