How to watch 'Those About to Die' online — Anthony Hopkins Roman gladiator drama
Vespasian casts Rome under the potent spell of the Colosseum
The most lavish ancient Roman production since "Gladiator", Sir Anthony Hopkins and Iwan Rheon lead an ensemble cast in "Those About to Die", a 10-part drama set at a time of prosperity during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. Life wasn't quite so sweet for the plebs, but at least they weren't slaves or gladiators.
"Those About to Die" premieres in the U.S. on Thursday, July 18, and in the U.K., Canada and Australia on Friday, July 19 — and viewers abroad can watch it from anywhere with a VPN.
"Those About to Die" premieres Thursday, July 18, 2024.
• U.S. — Watch on Peacock
• U.K., CAN, AUS — Amazon Prime Video
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free
Satisfied at having steadied the ship and subjugated threats both at home and at the fringes of the empire, Vespasian (Hopkins) is making the most of his twilight years by immersing himself in the mother of all vanity projects: the Colosseum.
For distracting the masses and staving off civil unrest, there's nothing quite like bloody gladiatorial games and crummy bread handouts. One plebeian, however, isn't content with his lot. Tenax (Rheon) is prepared to tread on anyone and anything in order to climb the ladder of society, and his shrewd instincts and ruthless streak have earned him serious pulling power.
He's still a world away from the status of renowned charioteer Scorpus (Dimitri Leonidas) though, whose success at the Circus Maximus have won him fame and untold riches, the likes of which gladiators Viggo (Johannes Haukur Johannesson) and Kwame (Moe Hashim) would die for.
Read our guide below for how to watch "Those About to Die" online and from anywhere in the world.
Watch 'Those About to Die' in the U.S.
Viewers in the U.S. can watch "Those About to Die" exclusively on Peacock. All 10 episodes of the series will drop on Thursday, July 18.
Peacock TV starts at $5.99 a month for a standard membership. But if you'd like the ad-free experience, you’ll want Peacock Premium Plus, which costs $11.99 a month.
Not only is Peacock one of the best streaming services, but it's available on most of the best streaming devices.
Peacock is the home of the vast NBCUniversal library, including every episode of The Office (here's our in-depth list of the best Peacock shows to watch). Subscribers can also watch live NFL and EPL action, and episodes of current NBC series.
How to watch 'Those About to Die' from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the show on your usual subscription?
You can still watch "Those About to Die" thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:
There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 5,000 servers, across 60 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.K. and want to view a U.S. service, you'd select U.S. from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Fire up your usual website or streaming service and tune in as if you were back in your home country.
Watch 'Those About to Die' in the U.K., Canada, Australia
Viewers based in the U.K., Canada and Australia can watch “Those About to Die” on Amazon Prime Video from Friday, July 19.
If you don’t have Prime, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial. This will let you watch “Those About to Die” and other shows or movies for free, but you must cancel the subscription before you’re charged.
Interested in more Prime benefits? Get an all-inclusive subscription to gain access to quick shipping, special deals on your favorite products, and of course, Prime Video. The current cost for membership is £8.99 / CA$9.99 / AU$6.99 a month or £95.00 / CA$99 / AU$59 a year.
'Those About to Die' cast
- Anthony Hopkins as Vespasian
- Tom Hughes as Titus
- Jojo Macari as Domitian
- Iwan Rheon as Tenax
- Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus
- Moe Hashim as Kwame
- Johannes Haukur Johannesson as Viggo
- Rupert Penry-Jones as Marsus
- Gabriella Pession as Antonia
- Sara Martins-Court as Cala
Where was 'Those About to Die' filmed?
Many of the scenes were filmed in Rome, Italy, at Cinecittà Studios, which translates as 'Cinema City Studios'.
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Aatif is a freelance journalist and copywriter based in the UK. He’s written about technology, sport and politics for a wide range of publications including TechRadar, What Hi-Fi?, The Independent, Trusted Reviews, and Newsweek. These days, he focuses mainly on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: live TV and penny-pinching. When he's not attending a top-flight English soccer match, you can find him perfecting his table tennis skills.