Tom Hiddleston, known for his role as Marvel's Loki, is stepping into ancient history with the new National Geographic documentary series, "Pompeii: Out of Time." The series, which premiered on July 22, merges Hiddleston's academic background in Classics with his acting career to explore the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
The documentary draws inspiration from a scene in the Marvel series "Loki," where Hiddleston's character and Owen Wilson's Mobius travel to the eve of the Vesuvius eruption. This connection served as a conceptual precursor to the docuseries, which Hiddleston developed with executive producer Kevin R. Wright.
"Pompeii: Out of Time" employs a blend of scripted dramatic elements and investigative documentary storytelling. The series aims to present new evidence and personal stories that challenge existing assumptions about Pompeii and the final moments of its inhabitants. A team of archaeologists, historians, geologists, and disaster experts guides the narrative.
All three episodes of the docuseries aired back-to-back on July 22, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on National Geographic. For viewers without cable, the series is available to stream via live TV services offering National Geographic, such as DIRECTV, which provides a free trial. The full series will also be available on Disney+ and Hulu starting July 23.
The three episodes focus on different aspects of the disaster: "Tremors" examines the initial warning signs and the human tendency to ignore them, following two real Roman figures. "Eruption" delves into the chaos of the main event, tracking individuals attempting to escape and introducing a mysterious Praetorian Guard. "Survival" investigates the aftermath and the meaning of survival, using new evidence to re-examine the fate of Pompeii's residents.