New Delhi: What if Ramsay Bolton of “Game of Thrones” and Anthony Hopkins’ Dr. Hannibal Lecter of “The Silence of the Lambs” crossed paths? Iwan Rheon, who plays Bolton, says they probably wouldn’t get along.
Both Welsh actors are currently starring in the historical drama “Those About to Die,” with Hopkins playing the Roman emperor Vespasian and Ron playing Tenex, an ambitious man who comes from nothing.
Hopkins’ appearance was one of the aspects that attracted Rheon to the 10-episode series streaming on Prime Video.
When asked about a possible crossover between two of popular culture’s most famous rivals, Rheon told PTI in an interview: “If you put Ramsay Bolton and Hannibal Lecter together it would be a very interesting show. I don’t think they would get along.”
Hopkins, 86, won a best actor Oscar for his role as Lecter (a cannibalistic serial killer who is also a brilliant psychiatrist) in the 1991 film “The Silence of the Lambs.”
Ron said Hopkins had been his childhood hero.
“Thank you for putting me in the same category as Sir Anthony Hopkins or any of his characters… he’s an absolute god in my opinion. As a Welsh actor he’s obviously been a hero growing up. For me, hopefully it’s a long journey and it’s an honour to look up to someone like him,” said Ron.
The 39-year-old actor said he was also looking forward to working on the show directed by Roland Emmerich of “Independence Day” fame.
“Those About to Die” takes place in the first century A.D., where Emperor Vespasian must choose between his two sons to inherit the throne, a woman seeks to free her three children from slavery, and a speculator attempts to rise in society.
Ron said when he read the script he was surprised by how “fast-paced” the story was, as it delved into ancient Roman society, covering everything from the emperor to the lowest level stable workers, slaves and gladiators.
The actor, who is also a musician and has recently finished recording an album, said he has always been interested in history and the show has given him a unique opportunity.
He said, “Who wouldn’t want to be involved in an ancient Roman epic?”
To prepare for the role of Tenex, the actor listened to Mike Duncan’s “The History of Rome” podcast, which helped him understand the progression of his character.
“It helped me understand where my character fits in the context of time and everything that has happened before…
“Understanding the turmoil and the reign of Nero, and then the years of the four emperors, and then, of course, Vespasian and 10 years of relative peace… but in times of peace, historically, Rome always found itself under attack. That’s always been very interesting to me,” he said.
The series will see the actor play the grey role of Tenax, a street kid who grows up to become the owner of Rome’s biggest bookmaking house, while Vespasian is attempting to build the Colosseum for the entertainment of the masses.
Rheon praised the writing styles of both shows, saying that the Tenex are “morally questionable, but not monsters like the Boltons of ‘Game of Thrones’.”
He said, “The characters are so well crafted on the page. You rarely find a character who is as ruthless but jovial as Ramsay. That’s something we’re doing in ‘Those About to Die’. He’s a really calculating, ruthless gangster. But he has a heart and compassion.”
“Those About to Die” arrives at a time when there’s a lot of interest in ancient Rome in Hollywood, whether it’s Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to his 2000 film “Gladiator” or Francis Ford Coppola’s passion project “Megalopolis,” which is set in a futuristic America but has references to ancient Rome throughout its story.
Asked what might be causing the resurgence of stories about Rome, Rion said the Italian capital’s history “shaped the Western world”.
He said, “You can trace a lot of things that happened there, and the geography and the boundaries and, and things like that. For us, it’s fixed in our ancient memory, but at the same time, when you talk about the United States, it’s a republic, and they looked to the Roman Republic as a kind of model. It’s so deeply rooted in our cultural memory that we’re completely influenced by it.”
Although he is open to interesting characters no matter where they come from, Rion said he would like to play a “detective or spy” next time.
In addition to Hopkins and Ron, “Those About to Die” also stars Rupert Penry-Jones and Sara Martins.
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