Nat Geo Unveils Trailer For Tom Hiddleston-Hosted Docudrama ‘Pompeii

National Geographic has unveiled the first trailer for Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston, a three-part docudrama hosted by the Loki star that will premiere July 22 on the network at 9/8c and July 23 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Billed as an investigation into the fallen Roman city’s final hours, the project reunites the MCU actor with Loki executive producer Kevin R. Wright.

The clip features Hiddleston playing detective in what is described as a “fusion of cinematic scripted drama and investigative documentary storytelling.” The series — which aims to reframe the tragedy as a story of human resilience and survival — transports viewers to the critical hours before and during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Guided by a team of archaeologists, historians, geologists and disaster experts, Hiddleston pours over remarkable evidence that challenges long-held assumptions about the cataclysmic event, uncovering that many encountered the chance to survive.

The Golden Globe and Olivier-winning Hiddleston, who studied Classics at Cambridge University, journeys back in time with a twist of his hand, stepping into scripted sequences tracing the lives of real Romans caught in the volcano’s explosive path. He follows a teenage apprentice, powerful businesswoman and mysterious Praetorian Guard, piecing together how each confronted impossible choices as disaster loomed.

“National Geographic has spent more than a century bringing the past to life through groundbreaking discoveries, exploration and world-class storytelling,” said Tom McDonald, EVP of Content at National Geographic, in a statement. “Working with Tom and Kevin, alongside the team at Plimsoll led by showrunner Tom Barbor-Might, has been a process of inventing an entirely new genre of history programming — one which brings evidence and imagination together in a way which feels distinctive.”

Preceding the series, on July 21, natgeo.com will publish a major story on three Roman cities buried by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, which will be featured in the August issue of its flagship magazine. The original series soundtrack, featuring a score by composer Aisling Brouwer, will be released through Hollywood Records July 24.

Pompeii: Out of Time is produced by Plimsoll Productions. For Plimsoll, Tom Barbor-Might serves as showrunner and director; Jessica Ruston and Mark Ravenhill are writers with additional writing by Wright and Barbor-Might. In addition to Wright, Grant Mansfield, Helen Flint and Alan Eyres are executive producers. For National Geographic, Carolyn Payne is the executive producer, Charlie Parsons is senior vice president of Development, Bengt Anderson is senior vice president of Unscripted Production and Tom McDonald is executive vice president of National Geographic Content.