A teenager experienced something shocking while traveling overseas alone thirty years ago – he stumbled upon a place that had been utterly devastated.
When Tom Hiddleston visited Pompeii and saw the casts made from the victims of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, he wasn’t simply shocked – he found himself strangely captivated and energized. Surrounded by reminders of such a tragic event, it felt as though history was coming to life.
He explained that before this project, Pompeii had only existed for him in textbooks. But working on his new series, “Pompeii: Out of Time With Tom Hiddleston,” felt like stepping back in time. The show combines travel documentary elements with detailed dramatic recreations, and even plays with the idea of how we understand history.
I remember being absolutely blown away when I first visited as a teenager – the way everything was preserved was incredible. It wasn’t just looking at old stones; you could feel the history. The frescoes, the mosaics, even the furniture… they all held the whispers of the people who lived there. It was like stepping back in time and having 2,000 years suddenly feel present. Honestly, it felt like magic.
Tom Hiddleston really brings a certain flair to roles involving magic and messing with time – and it makes perfect sense when you learn his background! After a classic education at Cambridge, he landed the part of Loki in the Marvel universe, and honestly, he owns that role. Loki’s always been a trickster, someone who bends the rules, and now, in the ‘Loki’ series, we see him dealing with the consequences of his actions as he gets pulled through different points in time. It’s fascinating to watch him confront his past while literally traveling all over the timeline.
Let me tell you, one of the coolest things about filming Loki involved Tom Hiddleston being on a Pompeii set – though surprisingly built in Atlanta! He actually got to deliver lines in Latin, which really resonated with him. As he put it, it felt like all his interests just collided at once. It was fascinating to hear him talk about how the experience connected him back to things he’d loved for years.
Tom Hiddleston shared his interest in ancient history with producer Kevin R. Wright. After seeing Hiddleston’s work in a historical drama set in Pompeii, Wright began developing “Out of Time,” which he co-wrote and helped produce. The series premieres Wednesday on National Geographic, and Thursday on Hulu and Disney+.
In the show, Hiddleston visits Pompeii and the volcano itself, talking with historians, volcanologists, and a disaster survival expert. He hopes to understand how people reacted during the eruption. As he explained, the goal is to collect insights from various fields to piece together a complete picture of what happened.
It was clear throughout our conversation how excited Hiddleston was about this project. He answered every question with detailed, passionate explanations – often lasting five minutes or more. What stood out was his ability to speak clearly and thoughtfully without rambling. He even shared interesting insights, like the origins of words such as “democrat” and “republican,” connections between classical architecture and buildings like the New York Stock Exchange and British Museum, and how Christopher Nolan’s film relates to Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
Under the volcano, a city converses with its past in the haunting ‘Pompei: Below the Clouds’
Director Gianfranco Rosi creates a close-up and personal look at life in Naples, showing how people navigate their daily routines against the backdrop of the city’s long history and past disasters.
So, I asked him what he thought was the main point of the series – was it about getting the historical facts right, using stories to help us connect with the people who lived in Pompeii, or showing how the past still matters today? Here’s a bit of what he said in response to that first question.
I envisioned a show with a unique energy, something that would fully draw viewers in and move them emotionally. My goal was to retell the story of Pompeii and its inhabitants in a fresh and inventive way, recreating the powerful feeling I experienced when I first visited the city.
During my time at university, I learned from teachers who encouraged me to embrace uncertainty and see history as a conversation between the past and present. They showed me that when we study the past, our current perspective inevitably shapes how we interpret it. Ultimately, storytelling helps us understand ourselves; knowing where we’ve been is essential for understanding who we are today.
Archeologist and historian Darius Arya stands with Tom Hiddleston amidst the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum. This photo was taken by Paolo Verzone for National Geographic.
As a lifelong movie buff, I was deeply affected by the images coming out of Pompeii – specifically, the discovery of human remains inside what used to be boat sheds. These weren’t just archaeological finds; they were people who desperately sought shelter there when Mount Vesuvius erupted, and tragically never escaped. Seeing those photos (taken by Paolo Verzone for National Geographic) really brought home the personal cost of that ancient disaster.
My main motivation came from wanting to understand the lives of the people who died in Pompeii. I hoped that by collecting enough evidence – even small pieces of information – we could piece together a picture of their daily lives and truly connect with them. I wanted us to feel compassion for what they went through, recognize our shared humanity, and see how they reacted to crisis, helping each other when faced with the unimaginable. Ultimately, I believed this would create a powerful connection across time, reminding us of those experiencing similar tragedies today.
We strongly believe in telling the truth. When writing history, it’s crucial to be thorough and rely on solid evidence. That evidence should always be used to correct any personal opinions or assumptions.
The available information isn’t complete, so eventually we all have to make an informed guess, use our intuition. The past influences the present, but it will always remain partly unknown, and that’s okay – there’s a certain beauty in not having all the answers.
The publicist tried to end the interview, but Hiddleston kept answering questions, extending the allotted time by almost double. He seemed genuinely excited to discuss how the past relates to the present.
Contrary to popular belief that Pompeii’s entire population perished, most people actually managed to escape. Recent research has even uncovered the identities and stories of hundreds who survived. As Hiddleston points out, Pompeii offers a unique window into Roman life because they didn’t use paper – instead, they wrote everything on walls, columns, houses, and public buildings: from legal documents and business deals to everyday advertisements and casual doodles.
The series follows three characters – a teenage boy, a businesswoman, and a soldier from the town of Herculaneum – and uses a large cast and impressive visual effects to tell their stories. The creators wanted to honor these individuals, believing, as Pliny the Younger wrote, that their lives deserved to be remembered.
Although many documentaries about Pompeii already exist, Tom Hiddleston believed he could bring a unique perspective to the subject, leveraging his experience as an actor.
I start with a piece of writing and a character—whether based on a real person or entirely fictional—and then immerse myself in research. After that, I focus on truly understanding the character and bringing them to life. Even when portraying someone who actually lived, there’s always a point where the historical record runs out. At that moment, you have to rely on empathy, compassion, and your general understanding of what it means to be human, drawing on shared experiences to create a believable inner world with complexity and nuance.
Hiddleston aimed to do the same for the people of Pompeii, believing they were fully realized individuals with complex lives. He explains that they piece together what they can from the available evidence, then strive to portray these people with understanding and kindness.
2026-07-21 13:33