Independence Day director Roland Emmerich has told RTÉ Entertainment that the lure of Ancient Rome was impossible to resist for his TV series debut, Prime Video's Those About to Die.
Inspired by the nonfiction book of the same name by Daniel P Mannix, the Anthony Hopkins-starring Those About to Die takes viewers into the power plays, chariot races, and gladiator fights of Rome in 79AD with Emmerich behind the lens.
"I always wanted to do something about Rome, because I'm fascinated by it," the veteran filmmaker told RTÉ Entertainment.
"I read a lot of books about Ancient Rome - novels, non-fiction, historical biographies - but it needed the 'trigger' of Those About to Die as a book, which kind of told me the potential it has [as a series].
"A friend gave it to me and I kind of said, 'Oh my God, this is really cool. Maybe we should do a show...'
When asked why it had taken him so long to direct a series, Emmerich replied laughing: "Because the technology was not there!"
"Normally, I have, like, 140-150 million for a movie, but this was, like, 10 shows. so I had to figure out how to do that!"
With all episodes of Those About to Die available now on Prime Video, viewers can decide if it's a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down.
