National Geographic has officially revealed the trailer and premiere date for Pompeii: Out of Time With Tom Hiddleston. Produced by Plimsoll Productions, the highly anticipated three episode docudrama will debut on National Geographic on July 22 at 9/8c. The show will then become available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day on July 23.
The project reunites the Golden Globe winning actor with his Loki executive producer Kevin R. Wright. Together, they deliver a unique fusion of cinematic scripted drama and investigative documentary storytelling. The series transports audiences back to ancient Rome during the crucial hours before and during the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Guided by a dedicated team of archaeologists, historians, geologists, and disaster experts, Hiddleston uncovers remarkable evidence. The findings challenge long held assumptions about the final hours of Pompeii, revealing that many individuals caught in the disaster actually possessed a genuine chance to survive.
A Cinematic Race Against the Clock
Throughout the visually immersive series, Hiddleston steps directly into cinematic scripted sequences that follow the lives of real Romans situated in the path of the volcano. The narrative closely tracks a teenage apprentice, a powerful businesswoman, and a mysterious Praetorian Guard. Hiddleston pieces together how each person confronted impossible choices as the looming catastrophe approached. As Mount Vesuvius awakens, the evidence converges in a gripping race against time to discover who perished, who survived, and what ultimately determined their fate.
Hiddleston expressed his lifelong fascination with the ancient world, calling classical antiquity the cornerstone of Western culture. The actor explained that visiting Pompeii compresses the two thousand years between the past and the present, making history feel tangible and completely real. He considers Pompeii a gateway to understanding human identity, noting that it is a profound honor to revisit the final hours of ordinary people caught in an extraordinary moment.
Bringing History to Modern Audiences
Executive producer Kevin R. Wright utilizes his bold cinematic vision to reimagine how history translates to the screen for modern viewers. By blending cutting edge archaeological discoveries with expert analysis and deeply personal storytelling, the series reframes Pompeii. Instead of a simple tale of destruction, the show presents a human drama centered on resilience, sacrifice, and survival.
Tom McDonald, the Executive Vice President of Content for National Geographic, praised the collaborative effort. McDonald noted that working with Hiddleston, Wright, and the Plimsoll Productions team led by showrunner Tom Barbor Might resulted in an entirely new genre of history programming. He described the final product as a distinctive experience that brings evidence and imagination together perfectly.
Exclusive Content and Soundtrack Releases
Fans can dive deeper into Roman history ahead of the television premiere. On July 21, the National Geographic website will publish a major feature regarding three Roman cities buried by Mount Vesuvius in the year 79. The story will also appear in the August issue of National Geographic magazine. Researchers utilized artificial intelligence and advanced DNA analysis to uncover new insights into ancient Roman life. The fascinating findings include class dynamics at Oplontis, previously unreadable lost writings from the carbonized scrolls of Herculaneum, and details regarding diet and disease from a Pompeii latrine.
Additionally, Hollywood Records will release the original series soundtrack on July 24, 2026. The album features a beautiful score by composer Aisling Brouwer and will be available on all major music streaming platforms.
Pompeii: Out of Time With Tom Hiddleston is produced by Plimsoll Productions. Tom Barbor Might serves as both showrunner and director. Jessica Ruston and Mark Ravenhill serve as writers, with additional writing contributions from Kevin R. Wright and Tom Barbor Might. The executive production team includes Grant Mansfield, Helen Flint, Alan Eyres, Carolyn Payne, Charlie Parsons, and Bengt Anderson.