National Geographic Sets Premiere for Pompeii Docudrama

National Geographic has released a trailer and set a premiere date for a new three-part docudrama series, "Pompeii Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston." The series, which blends scripted drama with documentary investigation, will premiere on the National Geographic channel on July 22, 2026, and begin streaming on Disney and Hulu the following day.

The project reunites host and actor Tom Hiddleston with Kevin R. Wright, an executive producer on Hiddleston's Marvel series "Loki." The series aims to transport viewers to ancient Rome in the hours before and during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Rather than focusing solely on the destruction, the program seeks to challenge long-held assumptions by uncovering evidence of survival.

Guided by a team of archaeologists, historians, geologists, and disaster experts, Hiddleston traces the stories of real individuals caught in the disaster. The narrative follows three specific Romans: a teenage apprentice, a businesswoman, and a Praetorian Guard. By examining the ruins and historical clues, the series posits that many residents had a full day to escape the advancing ash, framing the event as a human drama of resilience and...