Those About to Die is a series set in ancient Rome that explores the brutal and corrupt world of gladiator combat. The action takes place in 79 AD, at a time when Rome was the richest city in the world. The series follows the lives of various characters from different social classes, where sports, politics and business often intersect. The series debuts today on Prime Video. Below is my conversation with Iwan Rheon, who plays Tenax.
“Those About to Die” could be considered a cross between “Gladiator” and “Game of Thrones.” Is that why you were intrigued by the project and wanted to be a part of it?
Yes, the story itself is very interesting and I don’t think anyone has seen Rome in this way before. This is probably the first time that the doors are being opened to such inner circles of this world. It’s really cool that we see the city in this light. I was drawn to the idea itself and when you find out who is going to direct the series and that Anthony Hopkins is in it, it’s a no-brainer.
Everyone working on a series has their own goals, they want to achieve something. What was a challenge for you, what did you strive for?
In ancient Rome we had plebeians and patricians, you couldn’t step outside of that, and that’s a lot of fun to play, to say, “I can do this.” It’s good to play a character who has so much going on around them, who’s always busy with something and trying to fix everything, and who’s also so ambitious and ruthless.
Is he in something similar to you? Are you a “fixer” too?
Not like that, that kind of life would be too stressful for me, no way. I’m not that much like him. Tenax can handle those kinds of stressful situations and I think I can too. You want a guy like that on your side in a crisis. He definitely won’t panic, I like to think I won’t either, but I don’t envy his life, it’s too stressful.
And getting back to Roland Emmerich and Anthony Hopkins – what was it like working with them? What was the atmosphere like on set?
If you want to do spectacular chariot racing scenes, Roland Emmerich is a natural choice. Marco (Kreuzpaintner), the second director, was also great. Roland has a lot of experience, he can trust the cast, whose members he chose for a reason. He knows that he doesn’t have to worry about your performance. On the set you try to keep up with him, he’s really fast – he thinks fast, he talks fast. It’s really an experience to work with him, he has an incredible vision, attention to detail. Unfortunately, Anthony Hopkins is probably the only actor I haven’t had a scene with. Jojo (Macari) and Tom (Hughes) worked with him a lot, I experienced it through them – I’ve heard a lot of stories, they had a great time with him. And his presence on the set adds prestige to the production, I would watch anything he’s in, so I hope it translates into a big viewership for the series.
What emotions did you experience when you were handed the script? What did you feel when you read the first scenes?
I was really excited. The first episode is incredibly fast-paced. It’s like someone opened a door and threw you right in. That’s the feeling I got when I read the script, there’s so much going on so quickly, you meet so many new people and find out who they are. The story of ancient Rome has been told many times, but not like this, you’re watching from the inside how it all works, how the machinery that carries this huge city works. It’s really cool to see that on the pages of the script and in the show itself.
You’ve had the opportunity to act in so many different productions: Damned, Game of Thrones, Inhumans, Barbarians. What changes in the business over the years have struck you the most? What were you able to learn?
Everything you do gives you experience and you take it with you to help you with your next project. It’s about preparation, coming up with an idea, but not clinging to it if you can’t adapt properly. What I liked about this show was the challenge of being a lead. The cast is phenomenal and I get to set a lot of the mood for everyone. It’s really important to be polite, to be cooperative and not be difficult to work with, to be open.
How much did you improvise in your role? How often did you stick to the script? Have you seen the finished episodes, have you seen scenes where you added something of your own?
We didn’t stray from the script very often. It’s the little things you add, the little details like a look, the way you say things to other people. Some of the scenes that give me the most joy are the ones where I don’t say anything – it’s about being there. Sometimes some words have changed, but it’s important to stick to that structure, I don’t think there’s too much improvisation.
Thank you very much for the interview!
Thank you!
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