“American Gladiators” aside, gladiators don’t have an extensive TV history. They’re a risky subject matter for studios to spend a lot of money on. Ancient Roman historical dramas aren’t as popular as more established television genres like fantasy or sci-fi, but require a similarly epic scale, with grand sets, large casts and extensive special effects. You can count who’s tried sword-and-sandals on one severed hand: HBO in 2005 with “Rome” and Starz in 2011 with “Spartacus.” And even in the free-spending years since “Spartacus” ended in 2013, no streaming service has attempted a gladiator series — until now.
Peacock’s “Those About to Die” is entering the streaming colosseum, kicking off the gladiator wave of 2024-25 (“Gladiator II” and a “Spartacus” revival series will follow).