Tom Hiddleston has expressed hope that he has 'honoured' the people of Pompeii through his new National Geographic documentary series. The actor, widely recognised for his role as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has ventured into ancient Rome for an immersive three-part programme titled Pompeii: Out Of Time With Tom Hiddleston.
Documentary Explores Vesuvius Eruption
The series examines the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which wiped out the ancient city of Pompeii. Hiddleston, 45, appears as himself—the series presenter—marking a first for the Hollywood star. This choice was driven by his deep passion for classics, which he studied at the University of Cambridge. He first visited Pompeii in 1998 at age 17.
Speaking at the premiere held at the British Museum, Hiddleston told the Press Association: 'Curiosity can take you to places which will change your life, and that’s what it did to me. I’ve always loved the classics. It was my degree at university.'
Connecting Past and Present
Hiddleston emphasised the importance of understanding history: 'We need, somehow, to know who we were, to gain a better understanding of who we are. I find it very reassuring to think of the deep past, the ancient world. It’s a safe place to ask big questions, important questions, about who we are and where we’re going.'
The documentary blends investigative storytelling with scripted drama. Hiddleston appears in cinematic sequences recounting the lives of real Romans caught in the disaster, including a teenage apprentice, a businesswoman, and a Praetorian guard. He hopes the series makes audiences 'feel something' and that he has 'honoured the lives' of Pompeii's people.
'They were ordinary people, like us, they were families, and fishermen, and business owners, and soldiers, and friends, and lovers, and mothers and sons, they weren’t people who expected their lives to be remembered, so I hope I’ve honoured their humanity and their courage,' he said.
Teaming Up with Experts
Hiddleston collaborated with historians, archaeologists, geologists, and disaster experts to unpack the lives of those in the countdown to Vesuvius’s eruption. He noted the unique preservation of Pompeii: 'It feels like you can travel back in time, because the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the pyroclastic flow of pumice and volcanic ash and superheated rock, has preserved this ancient city of 20,000 people for all of time, which means you can walk through the past and feel the memories of our ancestors in the walls of those buildings.'
The actor also reunited with Loki executive producer Kevin R. Wright for the series. Pompeii: Out Of Time With Tom Hiddleston will be available to watch on Disney+ and National Geographic from July 23.
