National Geographic's new docuseries, "Pompeii: Out of Time," uses actor Tom Hiddleston as a "time detective" to explore the final 24 hours of the Roman city.

The series blends historical facts with dramatic storytelling, focusing on three individuals—a teenage boy, a businesswoman, and a Praetorian guard—to humanize the ancient tragedy. Hiddleston, who studied classics and visited Pompeii as a teen, brings a unique passion to the narrative, aiming to engage audiences beyond traditional documentary viewers.

Geologist Chris Jackson clarifies misconceptions about the eruption, explaining that devastating pyroclastic flows, not lava, were the primary cause of destruction, traveling at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. The series also highlights the merging of historical fact with imagination, a concept Hiddleston helped pioneer, with executive producer Kevin Wright drawing on his experience from projects like Marvel's "Loki" to achieve a cinematic feel with a smaller footprint.