Daniel P Mannix's 1958 book Those About To Die provided the creative inspiration for Ridley Scott's Oscar-winning 2000 film Gladiator. The same tome is brought vividly to life in a lavish 10-part sword and sandals epic directed by Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner. In 79 AD Rome, ageing Emperor Vespasian (Sir Anthony Hopkins) makes preparations to hand over this throne to one of his sons, Titus Flavanius (Tom Hughes) and Domitian (Jojo Macari). Sibling rivalry epitomises tensions at the beating heart of the Roman Empire, where chariot races and gladiator fights at Circus Maximus sate the bloodlust of a restless and increasingly violent population. To appease the people, Vespasian presides over the construction of a gargantuan new stadium, the Colosseum, specially designed for gladiatorial and animal combat. Thousands of slave labourers toil to build the behemoth in a city riddled with greed and corruption