Amazon’s gladiator return is very likely and this could be what it’s about

Those About To Die arrived on Amazon Prime Video on July 18, 2024 with all 10 episodes in one go. Anyone who has already finished season 1 of the monumental series set in ancient Rome will inevitably ask about season 2 – and will receive an answer from director Roland Emmerich.

Those About to Die: Roland Emmerich thinks season 2 is safe

Those About to Die takes us to the time of bread and games: In Rome in the year 79 AD, a large ensemble shows us the different facets of the Roman Empire, which meet in the arena with politicians, fighters, racing drivers, slaves and betting masters. Intrigues, career opportunities and battles for survival seal many a fate here. But will the series return for season 2? In the Bingeworthy podcast, Roland Emmerich, who directed 5 of the 10 episodes alongside Marco Kreuzpaintner, answers this question surprisingly clearly:

I have a big, big film project. And I don’t know if I will watch the second season [von Those About to Die] should do first. Or the movie first and then season 2. I don’t know yet.

The German Hollywood export and disaster master does not reveal which new blockbuster Emmerich is talking about. He only describes it as “a bit like a sequel to The Day After Tomorrow”because it also seems to be about the consequences of how people treat the planet.

What is Season 2 of Those About to Die about and when is it coming to Amazon?

Warning, there are spoilers for Those About to Die: After season 1, the Amazon series has suffered many losses. In addition to Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins), Rome has also lost the imperial successor Titus (Tom Hughes), who was murdered for the throne by his brother Domitian (Jojo Macari). Season 2 would therefore show us what a villain’s reign looks like. Will Elia (Gonçalo Almeida) be able and willing to fill the void after the death of his two brothers and his revenge murder of chariot racing star Scorpus?

Gladiator Kwame (Moe Hashim) may have gained his freedom, but he had to kill his friend Viggo to do so. Accordingly, he will want to act out his anger at the Roman Empire and its cruel methods in the second season. While his sisters and mother Cala (Sara Martins) will also remain in the city, a return to the series would certainly also explore Cala and Tenax’s (Iwan Rheon) new positions of power, especially since the latter has now risen to become the game master of the newly opened Colosseum. (Spoiler end)

Since the book Those About to Die * by Daniel P. Mannix is ​​more of a contemporary picture in non-fiction form, Season 2 can draw further inspiration from it without having to work on concrete character stories – although characters like Emperor Vespasian are of course historically authentic and Roman history offers further points of contact.

Since the production of the first season took almost two years from script to implementation, a return of Those About to Die to Amazon Prime * is probably 2026 at the earliest probably.

Podcast with Those About to Die: The 15 best series launches in July on Netflix, Amazon and Co.

Do you need more fresh streaming tips? We present the most exciting series in July that Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and Co. have to offer in the monthly overview:

The 15 series highlights in July include gladiator fights on Amazon Prime as well as Netflix’s hotly anticipated return of the final season of Cobra Kai. Natalie Portman is also getting her own series and Grey’s Anatomy is back.

*The links to Amazon’s offers are so-called affiliate links. If you make a purchase via these links, we receive a commission.