Those About to Die, Peacock’s latest extravaganza, has a stacked cast led by none other than the legendary Anthony Hopkins, along with Iwan Rheon (who played the infamous Ramsay Bolton in HBO’s Game of Thrones). The sword and sandal epic pits its colorful characters against each other, with them having different sets of ambitions and motives. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the cast and the characters they’re playing.
Vespasian
Hopkins plays the ailing emperor Vespasian with all his charisma. He doesn’t have much to do other than waving at the crowd, announcing the commencement of the games, and showing his disappointment at the state of Rome. The most important thing he does in the show is choose his successor, which happens to be his elder son, Titus. Vespasian’s death comes sooner than you expect, which only means Hopkins’ screen time is very limited.
Domitian
Easily the most fascinating character of the show, the younger son of Emperor Vespasian is the brain behind the horse races and gladiator matches. At the start of the show, he’s holding the title “Aedile Ludi” (chief of games). He’s also the political advisor of Vespasian. Early on in the show, when the people of Rome are starving for grain and the state is facing a shortage, it is Domitian who comes up with the idea of arranging an impromptu race in order to divert the public. His plan not only works; it also propels the narrative in a chaotic direction. As the story progresses, Domitian’s true nature—a vile politician who would crush everyone in his path—becomes more evident, and you can’t help but despise him. However, it is also true that Domitian never received appreciation from his father, and he was bullied by his elder brother Titus when he was a child, which scarred him for life with so much trauma. The season ends with Domitian finally testing his power when he takes the throne. English actor Jojo Macari plays the part, and even with Hopkins and Rheon in the cast, he manages to shine bright.
Titus
If Domitian is the brains, Titus has to be the brawn. Unlike his brother, he’s moralistic and wants to do things in a proper way. Titus is not too fond of the games but pragmatic enough to understand their importance. He’s the very obvious (and deserving) candidate to sit on his father’s throne, and after Vespasian’s death, that’s what happens. This also ensures Titus’ own death at the hands of his own brother (well, not literally, but Domitian is the one responsible for it). Titus is played by Tom Hughes, who is pretty much a recognizable face for his work in many British shows like Victoria (2016–19) and The Game (2014).
Tenax
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Iwan Rheon’s Tenax is the de facto main character of the show. He’s an outsider who is aiming for a rags-to-riches transformation, and he does a lot of terrible things in order to get what he wants. Tenax runs a betting tavern and comes from the streets of Rome, but his intelligence and ambition take him higher up the ladder. Once he manages to establish a new faction, it becomes easier for him to run the show. He finds an ally in Domitian, and it is Tenax who kills Titus with a wet cloth, thanks to which Domitian gets away with the murder. Rheon is fantastic in the role, which is no surprise given that we all know what the actor is capable of.
Scorpus
Actor Dimitri Leonidas, whom you have seen in George Clooney’s World War II drama The Monuments Men (his most notable work), plays flamboyant and charismatic chariot rider Scorpus. He’s a friend of Tenax, and the two of them open their own faction, adding lots of drama to the horse racing. At the start of the show, he’s riding for the Blue faction, though, until he breaks out of that. Scorpus has to be the greatest rider all of Rome has ever seen, and his death during a race is certainly a surprise, but also quite fitting.
Kwame
Those About to Die doesn’t have a hero, but Kwame has to be the closest there is to it. The man from Africa arrives in Rome as a captive of the state. Despite his physical appearance being relatively small, Kwame gets to be a gladiator thanks to his skill and agility. Of course, his goal is freedom for himself and for both his sisters, who have been taken as slaves. Kwame finds a friend in fellow gladiator Viggo, whom he has to kill by the end of this season, in a heartbreaking turn of events. However, Kwame does manage to get the wooden sword (his freedom) and do justice as a lion-killer when he kills the white lion in the end. Kwame is played by actor Moe Hashim.
Viggo
The Norse gladiator Viggo is played by actor Johannes Haukur Johannesson. Viggo is first introduced at the pit, and he’s paired with Kwame. The two become really good friends over time. Sadly, Viggo has to fight Kwame in order to save his son from getting beheaded (Kwame also has to save his sister Jula from the same) in the end. He loses the battle and fails to save his son, which has to be the biggest tragedy of the show.
Cala
Kwame’s mother, Cala, is played by French actress Sarah Martin. Cala’s only goal is to free all three of her children, and she would go any length for that. In Rome, Cala manages to strike an alliance with Tenax when the latter buys Aura, her elder daughter, as a slave. Although Cala betrays Tenax in the end, they decide to stick with each other for the time being.
Aura and Jula
Aura and Jula, who are Cala’s daughters and Kwame’s sisters, are played by Kyshan Wilson and Alicia Edogamhe, respectively. They get captured by the Romans, rather unfortunately, for killing a legionary (it was his fault only for getting drunk and harassing them). From there on, it is a struggle for the sisters until the very end. Jula, however, finds love with Elia, an Andalusian young man out in Rome for a living.
The Corsi Brothers
The three Corsi brothers, Andrea, Fonsoa, and Elia (played by Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, and Goncalo Almeida), come to Rome from Andalusia to sell horses and make money. But they stay on, thanks to Tenax buying their horses for the gold faction and Andrea joining the faction as a rider along with the legendary Scorpus. Sadly, both Andrea and Fonsoa die during races, leaving Elia as the only Corsi.
Consul Marsus and Antonia
Scheming politician Marsus and his shrewd wife Antonia are played by Rupert Penry-Jones and Gabriella Pesson. They own the blue falcon, while Antonia has an affair with the charioteer Scorpus. She is the one who’s mainly running the show, giving Marsus many ideas to uproot the Flavian dynasty from the throne. They’re also the ones who buy Jula as their slave.
Bernice
Judean Princess Bernice is Titus’ mistress. The Romans are not too fond of the Jewish woman, but Titus is deeply in love with her and wants to spend his life with her only. Sadly, though, Bernice dies in Domitian’s coup against his own brother, thanks to her being on the losing side. Lara Wolf plays the part. Additionally, Garvos the horse trainer and Flamma, a giant gladiator whom Kwama beats in his first game, are played by David Wurawa and Martyn Ford.