Where was Those About to Die filmed? All shooting locations explored

Those About to Die is a historical drama by Peacock, released on July 18, 2024. The series is a combined effort of several writers and directors, inspired by a novel by Daniel P. Mannix. The show is directed by Roland Emmerich, known for Godzilla (1998), and Marco Kreuzpaintner, known for The Lazarus Project (2022-2023).

Individual episodes of the series are written by several writers, including Robert Rodat, known for The Patriot (2000), Charles Holland, known for New York Undercover (1994-1999), Alex Carmedelle, Eva Gonzalez Szigriszt, Jill Robi, and Marissa Lestrade.

Those About to Die revolves around the lives of the gladiators in ancient Rome, featuring stars like Anthony Hopkins as Vespasian, Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus, and Jojo Macari as Domitian Flavianus. The series is filmed at Cinecittà Studios, which is the largest studio in Europe.

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Those About to Die was filmed at Cinecittà Studios

Those About to Die was filmed at the largest studio in Europe to authentically recreate the beautiful and haunted atmosphere of ancient Rome. The filming of the series was done at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Italy, ensuring a realistic portrayal. To achieve this, the makers collaborated with the Italian museums, which helped them create a replica of that era.

Those About to Die is set in 79 AD and replicates the infrastructure and aesthetics of Rome during that period. In an interview with NBC, the co-production designer of the series said, "We always strived to be as accurate as possible," highlighting the importance of the surroundings and ambiance, which are as important as a good storyline and acting for a successful and great series.

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The history of Cinecittà Studios

Cinecittà Studios was founded in 1937 by Italian dictator Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini in Rome, Italy. The studios were established to revive the legacy of Italian cinema, with a slogan that translated to "Cinema is the most powerful weapon."

Since its inception, the studios have been the site of production for many globally celebrated movies and television shows. Over 3000 films and numerous television shows have been shot at Cinecittà Studios.

The studios cover an area of 400,000 square meters (99 acres), making them the largest studio in Europe and a hub for Italian cinema. During World War II, the studios were bombed and destroyed by the Allied forces. During this period, it was used as a refugee camp for more than 3,000 people seeking shelter.

After the war ended and things got back to normal, the studios witnessed the production of many Italian as well as Hollywood films. Famous movies such as Ben-Hur (1959), Romeo and Juliet (1968), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), and television shows like the HBO series Rome, The Young Pope, and The New Pope were all shot at Cinecittà Studios.

In 1997, the Italian government sold the 80% stake in the studio, privatizing it as the studios were about to go bankrupt. The studios have faced several incidents over the years, including a fire on August 9, 2007, which destroyed 32,000 sq. ft. of the area, followed by another fire in July 2012 and a third in August 2022.

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Fans in the United States can watch Those About to Die on Peacock, while viewers in other countries can stream it on Amazon Prime Video.