Pompeii Out of Time series premieres on Nat Geo July 22

Actor Tom Hiddleston is bringing his lifelong passion for the ancient world to a new documentary series that re-examines the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. "Pompeii Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston," a three-part docudrama, premieres on National Geographic on July 22, 2026, and will be available for streaming on Disney and Hulu on July 23.

The series moves beyond the well-known narrative of destruction to investigate a central question: did anyone survive? Hiddleston, who first visited the ruins as a 17-year-old in 1998, serves as host and executive producer, guiding viewers through a forensic investigation that blends dramatic reenactments with expert analysis. The project is influenced by his role as the time-hopping Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, employing a playful, investigative style to explore the past.

"Pompeii isn't just a place, it's the people," Hiddleston said, summarizing the series' focus on human stories. The documentary traces the final day of the eruption through the lives of three individuals: a teenage blacksmith's apprentice named Avianius Felicio, a businesswoman named Julia Felix who owned a bathhouse, and an unnamed Praetorian...