Anthony Hopkins stars in the ten episode series as Emperor Vaspasian during the height of the Roman Empire when the population - bored, restless, and increasingly violent - is kept in line mainly by two things: free food and spectacular entertainment, in the form of chariot racing and gladiator fights. The races at Circus Maximus are controlled by four Patrician-owned corporations, the Blue, Red, White, and Green factions, and shares in the four factions are the most valuable things in Rome. Tom Hughes, Rupert Penry Jones, Iwan Rheon also star in the $150 million series.