Hiddleston Unearths Pompeii's Secrets for Nat Geo

Tom Hiddleston executive produces and hosts "Pompeii: Out of Time," a new National Geographic series premiering on July 22. Hiddleston dismisses notions that the series is a Loki-level strategy, explaining that his interest in Pompeii stems from a profound personal experience. During a 1998 trip at age 17, Hiddleston visited the excavated remnants of Pompeii and Herculaneum, sites that profoundly impacted his view of history and ultimately his career path.

His academic pursuits at the University of Cambridge, where he majored in Classics, further solidified his connection to the ancient world. Hiddleston's early fascination with Pompeii, including brushing up on Latin, foreshadowed his involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He suggested the Pompeii scene for the "Loki" series, which later became a creative jumping-off point for his National Geographic project.

Inspired by Chris Hemsworth's National Geographic series, "Limitless," Hiddleston saw the potential for "Pompeii: Out of Time" to be an "exciting expansion" of his craft. The docudrama reconstructs the final 24 hours of Mount Vesuvius' eruption, focusing on the fates of three individuals: a blacksmith apprentice, a businesswoman, and a Praetorian guard. Hiddleston collaborates with scholars and archaeologists, using both evidence and imagination to fill historical gaps, similar to how he approaches his acting.

The production company behind the series is Ithaca, co-founded by Hiddleston and his "Loki" collaborator Kevin R. Wright. The company's name reflects Hiddleston's thematic focus on "being careful at the finish line." Hiddleston is also set to reprise his role as Loki in "Avengers: Doomsday" in December, with Loki's character development from "Loki" season two serving as a strong foundation for his next appearance.