Tom Hiddleston takes you to the heart of the Pompeii eruption – and makes a lot of it

Tom Hiddleston, known for his role as Loki in the Marvel universe, takes viewers back in time as the guide in National Geographic's new three-part documentary series, "Pompéi." Available on Disney+, the series delves into the final hours of the ancient Roman city before Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried it in 79 AD.

While the destruction of Pompeii and the iconic ash-molded bodies are well-known, Hiddleston, who was deeply affected by a visit to the site at age 17, suggests there is another story to tell: one of survival. He highlights that the volcano took a full day to engulf the city, providing a window of opportunity for some inhabitants to escape.

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And what if there was another story to tell, a story of survival?

The documentary focuses on three real Romans – a young blacksmith, a bathhouse owner, and a retired soldier – who experienced the catastrophe firsthand. Their stories serve as a narrative thread, illustrating the different phases of the eruption, from the initial earthquakes to the devastating pyroclastic flows that superheated the air and vaporized blood.

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It will take a day for the volcano to bury the city: enough time to give the inhabitants a chance to flee.