Anthony Hopkins to play Roman emperor in 'Those About to Die'

WASHINGTON [US]: Veteran actor Anthony Hopkins has joined the star cast of Roland Emmerich's 'Those About to Die' gladiator series.

According to Variety, a US-based news outlet, the Oscar winner will play Emperor Vespasian in the Peacock drama, which is being produced by AGC Television and is written by Oscar-nominated 'Saving Private Ryan' writer Robert Rodat.

'Those About to Die' received a straight-to-series order from Peacock last summer. The show follows a cast of individuals from various facets of Roman life as they clash in the arena, which is set in the "complex and corrupt" realm of gladiatorial competition.

The project's first significant cast member to be revealed is Hopkins. He will play Vespasian, a Roman emperor and outlaw from the countryside who ascended to the throne following victory in a violent 10-year civil war.

According an official synopsis, the elderly Vespasian is "despised by the Patricians jockeying for position in the Empire and looking to supplant his heirs to the throne the first chance they get." In addition to directing, "Moonfall" filmmaker Emmerich will also executive produce alongside Rodat.

In addition, Herbert G. Kloiber, Martin Moszkowicz, Oliver Berben, and Jonas Bauer of High End will executive produce with Gianni Nunnari of Hollywood Gang and Harald Kloser of Street Entertainment. Lourdes Diaz, the chief content officer at AGC, and CEO Stuart Ford both executive produce.

Hopkins previously won the Academy Award for best actor for his role in "Silence of the Lambs" and won an Oscar in 2021 for his work in "The Father." For his performances in "The Remains of the Day," "Nixon," "The Two Popes," and "Amistad," he also received an Oscar nomination.