A sudden resurgence for a modern gladiator drama
When Those About to Die premiered on July 18, 2024, it arrived as the first major gladiator-themed series on television in more than a decade. Built for Peacock and spearheaded by Iwan Rheon, the sprawling historical drama quickly expanded beyond its original home, going global on Prime Video and generating widespread conversation about Roman power, spectacle, and class. Two years on, the series is showing renewed momentum — this time on a platform long associated with another landmark gladiator show.
How the series tapped into a public appetite for Roman epics
Before Those About to Die, the last time television had given audiences a sustained, ambitious gladiator epic was with Spartacus in 2010. That Starz series set the template for serialized, brutal, character-driven tales set in ancient Rome, while films such as Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000) shaped the wider cultural appetite for the era. Those About to Die picked up that baton in 2024, offering an ensemble-driven look at life in Rome that focused as much on the politics and aristocratic machinations as it did on the gladiatorial arenas themselves.
The show follows characters from different strata of Roman society who converge on the city — hopefuls, schemers, entertainers and the enslaved — and dramatizes the gulf between ordinary residents and the ruling elite. Its mix of political intrigue, spectacle and intimate human stories helped it quickly become a talking point when it launched.
Streaming performance: Peacock launch, Prime Video expansion, Starz rebound
Originally produced for Peacock, Those About to Die broadened its audience when it was distributed internationally on Prime Video. That global rollout helped the show become one of 2024’s most-discussed series in many territories.
More recently, streaming-tracking service FlixPatrol has registered renewed interest for the series on Starz — a notable development given Starz’s history with Spartacus and its association with high-profile Roman drama. FlixPatrol’s data suggests the series has been attracting viewers on Starz in a number of markets, including significant viewership in Arabic-speaking countries and a top-ten placement on Amazon in Nigeria. These pockets of interest underscore the show’s international appeal and indicate that demand for gladiatorial storytelling remains strong across diverse audiences.
Creative future: the show remains in limbo but creators have ideas
Despite healthy viewership spikes and continued cultural conversation, Those About to Die has not been officially renewed or cancelled as of two years after its debut. Director and executive producer Roland Emmerich has publicly voiced interest in continuing the story, outlining a potential approach that would mirror the structure of The Godfather Part II: interweaving a forward-moving narrative with flashbacks that explain key origins and motivations.
Emmerich has described the plan as a way to explore how certain figures rose to power and how those decisions ripple into the next generation, teasing story beats without revealing specific spoilers. That openness from the creative team suggests additional seasons are creatively possible, but no formal green light has been announced.
The wider gladiator TV ecosystem: Spartacus spinoff finds success
Parallel to Those About to Die’s story, the Spartacus universe has also seen new life. An offshoot titled Spartacus: House of Ashur — an alternate-history imagining in which the character Ashur survives and rises to become the Dominus of his own house — recently completed its first season. The spin-off has impressed critics, earning a 91% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it has performed well on streaming charts in key markets.
The success of House of Ashur reinforces the ongoing market for Roman-set dramas and creates a natural point of comparison and cross-interest for fans who discovered Those About to Die on Peacock, Prime Video, or now via Starz.
Cast and production highlights
Those About to Die is led by Iwan Rheon and features a broad ensemble cast. Industry databases and listings have also highlighted established names associated with the production, underlining the show’s mix of rising talent and veteran performers. Roland Emmerich’s involvement as a director and executive producer lent the series a cinematic scale that helped it stand out in the crowded streaming field.
Where to watch
- Those About to Die originally debuted on Peacock and is available internationally on Prime Video in many territories. FlixPatrol reports indicate the series is seeing renewed interest on Starz.
- Spartacus: House of Ashur is currently available on Starz and has been receiving strong critical attention.
Why it matters
The evolving fortunes of Those About to Die illustrate how streaming windows, international distribution, and fan appetite can extend a series’ lifespan well beyond its premiere. While the show remains in creative limbo — neither cancelled nor renewed — continued audience engagement across platforms keeps the door open for future seasons. At the same time, the success of related projects in the gladiator subgenre demonstrates that ancient Rome still provides fertile ground for serialized drama, combining spectacle, political machination, and character-driven storytelling that resonates with global audiences.