The Peacock released some photos from the upcoming TV series “They About to Die”which will premiere on July 18. Roland Emmerich (“The Day After Tomorrow,” “Independence Day”) is directing the series and executive producing.

The series stars the two-time Oscar-winning actor, Anthony Hopkinsand the cast is completed by Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari and Moe Hashim.

Based on the book of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix, the epic series takes place “in the corrupt world of dueling competitions aimed at spectacle. The series features a diverse cast of characters from all parts of Roman society, clashing at the intersection of sports, politics and dynasty of the ancient world,” according to the official synopsis.

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“I have always been fascinated by the history of the Roman Empire,” Roland Emmerich recently stated. “Much remains important to our society today—from the intertwining of politics and sports to the trials of competition, which, too, have not changed much in the last 2,000 years. The most electrifying crowd-pleasing spectacles still involve two men in an arena, hitting each other, and today’s chariots are called racing cars, the drivers of which still collide and often pay with their lives.’

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