France TV Distribution has picked up international rights to “Apocalypse Civilizations: Rome,” a first new installment of the high-rating, worldwide-sold historical historical doc franchise, written and directed by Thomas Marlier (“Sardinia, the Mysterious Civilization of the Nuraghi,” “Science Grand Format”).

“We are really excited about this reboot of Apocalypse. Since the first series launched in 2013, the ‘Apocalypse’ collection – with its innovative approach of colorization of archives – became the strongest French documentary brand in terms of ratings in France and also in terms of international distribution. Since then, it has been aired in over 180 countries,” said Julia Schulte, SVP international sales at France TV Distribution.

“With a full immersion in Roman times made possible by outstanding research and with the help of AI, the new chapter of ‘Apocalypse Civilizations’ will bring a new entertaining approach to high end documentaries for wide audiences,” Schulte added.

The new installment of the hit documentary series highlights the Battle of Actium (Sept. 2, 31 BC), where Julius Caesar’s adopted son Octavian (later known as Augustus) defeats the combined fleets of Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra. This important victory marked the end of the Republic and gave rise to the Roman Empire.

“After a century of civil wars that deeply divided Rome, the Battle of Actium, in 31 BC, allowed Octavian to defeat Mark Antony and Cleopatra and establish himself as the sole ruler of the Roman world. After his victory, he brought an end to the Republic and founded the Empire by establishing the Principate, a system that paradoxically brought a new period of political stability,” director Thomas Marlier told Variety.

“The Mediterranean then came under Roman domination, opening a prosperous period known as the Pax Romana. Trade and cultural exchanges became more fluid, encouraging the emergence of a Mediterranean civilization at the crossroads of West and East. The influence of this civilization can still be seen today,” Marlier continued.

“Apocalypse Civilizations: Rome” is produced by Élodie Polo-Ackermann for Imagissime, part of the Mediawan group, and by Mediawan Kids & Family. It will be distributed worldwide by France TV Distribution.

Variety caught up briefly with director Thomas Marlier and producer Élodie Polo-Ackermann to talk about “Rome:” Here are the highlights:

Can you elaborate on how you used AI in the documentary?

Thomas Marlier: In keeping with the DNA of Apocalypse, which brought archival images back to life in order to illuminate the present through the lens of the past, the series ‘Apocalypse Civilizations’ asks an essential question: what would these great battles have looked like if cinema had existed at the time? 
 
Today, it is becoming possible to answer this question thanks to close collaboration between the finest researchers, historians and experts in Antiquity and the tools provided by Artificial Intelligence. ‘Apocalypse Civilizations’ thus seeks to give visual form to these events, imagining them not as simple illustrations of the past, but as genuine news images from Antiquity. From now on, what historians once formulated as hypotheses can be tested, visualized, and sometimes even reassessed through AI.
 
Élodie Polo-Ackermann: This production is still built on research, writing, directing, editing, sound, rhythm, and craftsmanship. AI simply amplifies the visual and immersive scale of the content we want to bring to our audience. Through this concept, we demonstrate an integration of scientific research and documentary production—where AI doesn’t replace the process, but helps us create a world that feels distinctive.
 
Did you face any major hurdles in making this documentary? 
 
Polo-Ackermann: The concept took one year to develop at Mediawan (Imagissime + Mediawan Kids & Family) and France Télévisions. Besides the writing, the real challenge was building the right workflow: structure for control, flexibility for creativity.

We tested multiple approaches before landing on a truly compelling artistic result. Now we’re in an intensive documentary research phase with a 10-strong team compiling scientific material and building a visual bible for precise AI image generation. The hardest part: Aligning the artistic direction with the technical process—where AI can amplify, not replace. There’s a misconception that AI automatically means faster and cheaper. It doesn’t. AI pushes the craft further, but it demands the same rigor: strong writing, a clear artistic vision, and real expertise.
 
Can you share any interesting historical facts about Rome that surprised you?

Marlier: During our research, what first struck us was the extent to which the clichés surrounding the great figures of Antiquity have often distorted our perception of these historical characters. Cleopatra is one of the clearest examples: far from the reductive, often sexist representations conveyed by cinema, she was above all a great political strategist, a cultivated ruler, and a leading intellectual who wrote scientific works. We were also struck by the immense number of questions raised by this period — not only about major historical events, but also about the daily lives of the women and men who lived at that time in Rome, Alexandria, and many other places around the Mediterranean basin.