The roar of a crowd. A sound that countless gladiators heard as they walked out onto the sands of the Roman arena. A sound that you can still hear today in stadiums around the world, where athletes compete for wealth and for glory. On Episode 5 of Rise or Die, host Dana Schwartz (Noble Blood) wanted to explore how the creative team behind Those About To Die explored the similarities between the spectacle of the Roman arena and modern sports. She speaks with historical consultant Justin Pollard about the bread and circuses and his feeling that F1 racing is the modern incarnation of the Circus Maixmus. This episode also features interviews with actors Dimitri Leonidas and Gabriella Pession, costume designer Gianni Calanuovo, director Marco Kreuspaintner, and director and executive producer Roland Emmerich. Check out Those About To Die after the episode, streaming only on Peacock.

It’s hard enough to write a character people connect with. But what about one based off of a real person, who lived nearly 2000 years ago in one of the most well-documented time periods in history? There’s just a staggering amount to get wrong. But there’s also so much to get right… to take what we know and build off of it. On Episode 4 of Rise or Die, host Dana Swartz (Noble Blood) talks to series creator and executive producer Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan). They talk about power and ambition, giving your characters life-and-death stakes, and how family dynamics are essential to the drama in Those About To Die. This episode also features a conversation with actors Joco Macari and Tom Hughes about working with actor Anthony Hopkins, who plays their father, and historical consultant Justin Pollard. Check out Those About To Die after the episode, streaming only on Peacock.

In a period piece like Those About to Die, or “sword and sandal epics” as they are sometimes called, audiences have high expectations for the costumes. And what the character is wearing doesn’t just say something about them—it says something about the world they inhabit. Creating the costumes for Those About to Die, and helping create the world of the show, required rigorous research and a heroic creative team. On Episode 3 of Rise or Die, host Dana Schwartz (Noble Blood) talks about how some of the tactile details on set—like the costumes, the props, even the texture of the dust—allowed the Roman Underbelly to come to life. She speaks to costume designer Gianni Casalnuovo, actors Iwan Rheon and Sara Martins, and historical consultant Justin Pollard about bringing authenticity to a part of Roman life is that sometimes overlooked. Check out Those About To Die after the episode, streaming only on Peacock.