Master disaster filmmaker Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day,” “2012,” “The Day After Tomorrow”) is coming to television for the first time to do a gladiator epic.
Peacock has reportedly handed out a straight-to-series order for an adaptation of Daniel Mannix’s 1958 nonfiction book “Those About To Die”. Set in Ancient Rome, the project will reunite Emmerich with his “The Patriot” screenwriter Robert Rodat with both to executive produce.
High End Productions will co-finance the series which Emmerich says “at its heart, this is a sports epic led by strong and diverse characters who explore paths to glory, falls from grace and a need to belong to something greater than oneself.”
Hollywood Gang, and AGC Studios are also backing the series with Emmerich set to direct the entire run.
Source: TV Line
