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Netflix canceled Marco Polo season 3 despite a five-season arc planned by creator John Fusco, leaving fans disappointed and hopeful for a revival. The original cast, including Benedict Wong and Joan Chen, would likely have reprised their roles if Marco Polo returned for a third season. Netflix turned down a pitch for a movie to close out the show.

After Marco Polo season 2 ended with many loose ends, fans waited for Marco Polo season 3 for years. The historical drama series created by John Fusco premiered on Netflix in December 2014. Set in the 13th century, the show chronicles the adventures of the Venetian merchant Marco Polo (Lorenzo Richelmy) in the court of Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong). Despite being one of Netflix's best period dramas with its rich historical backdrop, compelling characters, and lavish production, the series struggled to find a sustainable audience.

Without a steady audience, it was hard for Netflix to justify keeping the series going.

Hip hip hooray! This year, an underrated Netflix original series will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Can you guess what show it is? I'll give you a hint. The show's title shares the same exact name of a game you play with friends in a pool. Drum roll, please. It's none other than the period drama, Marco Polo!

The first season was released on Netflix on Dec. 12, 2014. This means that on Dec. 12, 2024, the period drama will be turning 10. Naturally, it would make sense to rewatch the series to celebrate its upcoming anniversary, and that's exactly what we're going to do. You should as well!

Created by John Fusco, Marco Polo is loosely based on the adventures of the real-life Venetian explorer Marco Polo. The story takes place during the 13th century and focuses on Marco Polo's time in the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongolian emperor, to whom he becomes a trusted advisor and friend.

Those About to Die is an epic sword-and-sandal historical drama series created by Robert Rodat. Based on the 1958 novel of the same name by author Daniel P. Mannix, the Peacock series revolves around the lives of the gladiators and citizens of the Roman Empire in Ancient Rome, where violence, greed, and lust run rampant. Those About to Die stars Anthony Hopkins, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins-Court, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, and Emilio Sakraya. So, if you loved the epic fights, brutal violence, and historical drama in Those About to Die here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Rome (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Rome is a historical drama series created by John Milius, William J. MacDonald, and Bruno Heller. The HBO series is set in the 1st century BC during Ancient Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire,...

The 25-time Emmy-nominated Shgun is an old-fashioned historical epic that outshines shows like Marco Polo, which tried to have a similar scope. Although the two series share thematic and narrative similarities, Shgun is the far superior series, besting Marco Polo in many ways. Shgun centers on its Japanese characters more than the source material does, all while prizing authenticity and detail.

The Emmy-nominated FX series Shgun is not only an incredible series, but a massive improvement over Marco Polo, Netflix's historical epic from 10 years ago. Although the series trace vastly different historical moments in their respective settings, both Shgun and Marco Polo are large-scale dramas that pit ambitious men against ech other one an outsider and one entrenched in the ongoing upheaval. With a staggering 25 Emmy nominations under its belt, the Japanese-language Shgun has made TV history. However, the series made its mark before the awards season as, arguably,...

Marco Polo was Netflix's costly answer to Game of Thrones, but it failed to make a cultural impact. Despite a high budget, Marco Polo was poorly received by critics and ultimately canceled after two seasons. Netflix's model shifted after Marco Polo's failure, opting for smaller shows and established IP over big-budget epics.

Marco Polo was initially billed as the next Game of Thrones, but sank after just two seasons. The show was created by John Fusco and debuted on Netflix in 2014. The streamer's historical epic quickly became one of the most expensive TV shows of all time. A truly massive series that was largely filmed on location with elaborate sets, huge casts, and impressive fight scenes, the series was designed to compete directly with HBO's Game of Thrones, which at the time was at the height of the show's cultural impact. On paper, the concept seemed like a hit for Netflix.

Into the Badlands is “a high-octane sci-fi martial arts series” created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The AMC series is set in a dystopian future with humanity in ruins because of wars, and it follows the story of Sunny, a fierce warrior who rescues a teenager with a bounty on his head. They both journey through a dangerous territory known as the Badlands to survive. Into the Badlands stars Daniel Wu in the lead role, with Orla Brady, Sarah Bolger, Aramis Knight, Emily Beecham, Oliver Stark, Madeleine Mantock, Ally Ioannides, Marton Csokas, and Nick Frost starring in supporting roles. Into the Badlands is a unique series with a unique setting, and that’s why it is hard to find a series with a similar setting and story elements, but we have tried very hard to find shows with similar story elements and many high-octane action sequences.

Warrior Credit – Max...

Marco Polo was a short-lived TV series that aired on Netflix between 2014 and 2016, and despite the fact it only had two seasons, the show cost Netflix a whopping $200 million. While Marco Polo was met with relatively positive reviews, critics panned the performance of Italian lead actor Lorenzo Richelmy, with others calling the story dull and unimaginative.

Poor performances from the cast weren't the only reasons the show was canceled back in 2016, with other reasons being that it was too expensive for the small amount of success it was experiencing, in addition to the fact it had boring writing, convoluted story arcs, and was not accurate enough to be called historical television. Marco Polo was an unfortunate series that didn't quite know what it was or who it was appealing to.

Updated March 2, 2024 by Joshua M. Patton: This article has been updated to comport to Cbr's current formatting standards.

The Netflix...

Shōgun is one of the best beautiful and intense action drama series ever. Based on a 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, the FX series is adapted for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks. Set in the year 1600 in Japan, the historical series follows the story of Lord Yoshii Toranaga as enemies unite and come to take his life, but he sees an opportunity when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a village nearby. Shōgun has a brilliant ensemble cast including Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Néstor Carbonell, and Fumi Nikaido. So, if you loved the beautiful imagery and ruthless action of Shōgun, then you should check out these shows next.

Medici: Masters of Florence (Netflix) Credit – Rai

Medici: Masters of Florence is not big on action but if you loved all the politics and scheming in Shōgun, then it might be right up your alley.

U.S. actor Elena Kampouris (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3”) is set to star in the Sicily-set “Here Now,” a romantic thriller marking Italian director Gabriele Muccino’s return to English-language filmmaking. Muccino’s Hollywood credits include the Will Smith-starrer “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

Kampouris’ recent efforts comprise Netflix series “Jupiter’s Legacy” and the 2020 remake of “Children of the Corn.” In “Here Now” she plays Sophie, a young Californian who is traveling in Italy with her sister. During her last day of vacation in Palermo, Sicily, Sophie meets a boy named Giulio and his group of friends with whom she winds up spending “the most unpredictable, crazy, shocking, exciting, romantic and terrifying night of her life,” according to the film’s provided synopsis.

The movie’s other cast members include Saul Nanni, who starred in Netflix Italian original “Love & Gelato”; Lorenzo Richelmy, who toplined Netflix’s “Marco Polo...

Prime Video is serving up drama this week when the new British series “Fifteen-Love” makes its debut on the streamer. Starring Ella Lily Hyland and Aidan Turner, the six-parter follows former tennis prodigy Justine Pearce who makes an allegation against her former coach five years after an injury puts a stop to her career. All six episodes of “Fifteen-Love” will premiere on Prime Video globally on Friday, July 21. You can watch Fifteen-Love: Season 1 with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video.

How to Watch ‘Fifteen-Love’ Series Premiere When: Friday, July 21, 2023 Where: Amazon Prime Video Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video. 30-Day Free Trial$8.99 / month amazon.com About ‘Fifteen-Love’ Series Premiere

The new drama portrays Justine Pearce, a one-time former rising tennis star whose sudden success at 17 took her and her coach, Glenn Lapthorn, to the quarterfinals ofthe French Open.

Now, five years after an...

"All it takes is one person to believe her." Amazon has unveiled a first look trailer for a new British crime drama series titled Fifteen-Love, without a streaming date announced yet. This seems to be a response to Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, which just got its own trailer yesterday, another romantic drama involving a young woman who's a tennis prodigy. Is this meant to be counter-programming? Or just another tennis-based story? Set in the world of elite tennis, the drama portrays Justine as a one-time rising star whose sudden success at 17 took her and her coach Glenn Lapthorn to the quarterfinals of the French Open. The former tennis prodigy makes an allegation against her former coach five years after an injury puts a stop to her career. Ella Lily Hyland stars as Justine, with Aidan Turner as her coach, plus Anna Chancellor, Jessica Darrow, Tom Varey, Lorenzo Richelmy, Manon Azem,...

Roland Emmerich’s large-scale gladiator series “Those About to Die,” starring Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian, has started shooting at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios.

Several new cast members have been announced, including “Game of Thrones” alumn Iwan Rheon.

Rheon, who in “Thrones” played the villainous Ramsay Bolton – and can currently be seen in Emmerich-produced film “The Magic Flute” – will replace Lorenzo Richelmy who has exited the Peacock show due to scheduling conflicts.

Also joining the “Those About to Die” cast are Liraz Charhi (“Tehran”) who will play Berenice, Queen of the conquered Judeans; and Rupert Penry-Jones (“The Batman”) as retired general Marsus who aspires to succeed Vespasian on the imperial throne (they are pictured above).

Other new cast additions to the swords and sandals series shot at Cinecittà are Johannes Haukur Johannesson (“Vikings”) as Norse gladiator Viggo; Eneko Sagardoy (“Elite”) as talented chariot driver Andria; Pepe Barroso (“45 rpm”) as Fonsoa...

Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon is one of nine joining the cast of Peacock’s epic gladiator drama Those About to Die, as principal photography on the Roland Emmerich show kicked off at Rome’s historic Cinecittà Studios.

Rheon, best known as Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones, has has been cast as ambitious crime boss Tenax and will replace Lorenzo Richelmy, who dropped out over scheduling conflicts. Rheon is appearing in The Magic Flute and has appeared in the BAFTA-winner Misfits and Netflix’s The Dirt.

Related: 2023 Peacock Series & Pilot Orders

Also joining the cast are Liraz Charhi, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Kyshan Wilson and Alicia Edogamhe.

Inspired by Daniel Mannix’s nonfiction book, Those About to Die is billed as an epic drama set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition. AGC Television is the studio,...

Roland Emmerich is filling out his Colosseum, with a new troop of actors to complete the cast of Those About to Die, a gladiator action series which the Independence Day director has begun shooting in Rome.

Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon, Vikings actor Johannes Haukur Johannesson and Alicia Edogamhe, best-known for Netflix series Summertime, are among the new additions to the ensemble cast, as well as Tehran actress Liraz Charhi, Britain’s Rupert Penry-Jones (Mi-5), Elite actor Eneko Sagardoy, Gonçalo Almeida (Amor Amor), Kyshan Wilson (Viola) and Pepe Barroso (Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming Gran Turismo).

They join two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins headlines the series as Roman emperor Vespasian. Previously-announced cast include Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, and Moe Hashim.

Rheon has been cast as ambitious crime boss, Tenax. He replaces the previously announced Lorenzo Richelmy, who was unable to participate in the series due to scheduling conflicts.

Roland Emmerich has given the thumbs up for further cast members of his hotly-anticipated Roman gladiators TV series Those About to Die.

AGC Studios and High End Productions, which are producing Those About To Die for Peacock, announced Thursday that Lorenzo Richelmy, Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas and Moe Hashim will join Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins in the new swords-and-sandals series, based on the book of the same name by Daniel Mannix.

German director Marco Kreuzpaintner (Sommer Storm, Beat) has also joined Those About To Die and will direct several episodes of the series alongside Emmerich, from scripts written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot).

Richelmy, best known for his titular performance in Netflix’s Marco Polo, will play Tenax, an ambitious crime boss working his way up in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome, with its spectacle-driven gladiatorial competitions.

Peacock’s upcoming gladiator drama Those About to Die has added seven names to its cast, with Marco Kreuzpaintner (Beat) now signed up as co-director and exec producer.

Lorenzo Richelmy, Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas and Moe Hashim will join Anthony Hopkins in the AGC Television series, which Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) will co-direct with Kreuzpaintner. Robert Rodat is the writer.

The ambitious series, which is inspired by Daniel Mannix’s eponymous nonfiction book, is set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition and features an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire.

Oscar winner Hopkins was last month cast as Vespasian, Roman Emperor and head of the Flavian bloodline.

Hughes (The English, Dancing on the Edge) will play Titus Flavianus, the elder son and of Vespasian and apparent heir to the Imperial throne, and Macari (Sex Education,...

“Poldark’s” Aidan Turner will star as a maverick coach guiding an up-and-coming tennis player (Ella Lily Hyland) to stardom in Amazon Prime Video’s new U.K. drama “Fifteen-Love.”

Created by Hania Elkington, “Fifteen-Love” explores the fictional story of Justine Pearce (Hyland), a young sports prodigy, who enjoyed a meteoric rise in the world of Grand Slam Tennis, aided by her coach Glenn Lapthorn (Turner), with whom she shared an intense rapport.

Together they reached the semi-final of the French Open but Justine’s dream was cut brutally short by a devastating injury and the end of her professional career. Five years on, now aged 22, Justine has a new life as a therapist at her old tennis academy Longwood, but when she makes an explosive allegation against her former coach, everyone is forced to reconsider what they thought they knew about Justine and Glenn’s past success.

Alongside Turner and Hyland,...

A steady drip of deals keeps coming out of MIPCOM as the Cannes-set global television market begins to wind down.

Among the notable series deals have been pre-sales of the PBS/ITV upstairs/downstairs drama Hotel Portofino, which Beta Film has sold to public broadcasters across the Nordic territories and to the Netherlands. Natascha McElhone (Californication, Designated Survivor) stars in the period drama focused on a British family who emigrate to open a high-end hotel in Italy in 1920, just as Benito Mussolini’s Fascists are on the rise. Mark Umbers and Anna Chancellor co-star alongside Italian talents Daniele Pecci, Lorenzo Richelmy and Rocco Fasano....

A steady drip of deals keeps coming out of MIPCOM as the Cannes-set global television market begins to wind down.

Among the notable series deals have been pre-sales of the PBS/ITV upstairs/downstairs drama Hotel Portofino, which Beta Film has sold to public broadcasters across the Nordic territories and to the Netherlands. Natascha McElhone (Californication, Designated Survivor) stars in the period drama focused on a British family who emigrate to open a high-end hotel in Italy in 1920, just as Benito Mussolini’s Fascists are on the rise. Mark Umbers and Anna Chancellor co-star alongside Italian talents Daniele Pecci, Lorenzo Richelmy and Rocco Fasano....

Jan Mojto’s Munich-based sales and production powerhouse Beta Film, whose Mipcom slate includes “Sisi” and “La Fortuna,” has closed pre-sales across the Nordic Region and in the Netherlands’ for the PBS-ITV period drama series “Hotel Portofino.” The British show, created and written by Matt Baker, stars Natascha McElhone, whose credits include “Ronin,” “Californication” and “Designated Survivor.”

“Hotel Portofino” has been acquired by Dr for Denmark, Svt for Sweden, Nrk for Norway, Yle for Finland and Syn for Iceland, as well as Dutch national broadcaster Npo. Further negotiations with several international broadcasters are underway.

In previously announced deals, ITV, BritBox, Sky Italia and Foxtel in Australia joined the drama, produced by Eagle Eye in association with Beta Film, while PBS Distribution took North American rights.

The six-hour series, centered around a British family who emigrate to open a high-end hotel in Italy, captures the long-established literary tradition of...

Documentary

In a recent study conducted by Sky marking the one-year anniversary Sky Documentaries, two in five Brits admit to watching more documentaries over the last 12 months than ever before. With those numbers in mind, the broadcaster has unveiled five new original commissions and released a first trailer for its highly anticipated upcoming docuseries “Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie,” announcing that the series will premiere on Sky Crime and streaming service Now on Sunday, June 20.

“Murder at the Cottage” is produced, directed and features six-time Oscar nominated director Jim Sheridan, who spent more than a decade documenting the 25-year-old case of French film and TV producer Sophie Toscan Du Plantier, wife of filmmaker Daniel Toscan du Plantier, who was murdered at her holiday home in Schull, West Cork.

New documentaries announced by Sky include:

“Mother Teresa: For the Love of God?”, a look at the...

Ronin and Californication star Natascha McElhone is to headline a period drama set on the Italian Riviera, which has pre-sold to ITV/BritBox (UK), Sky Italia (Italy), and Foxtel (Australia). Titled Hotel Portofino, PBS Distribution has taken North American rights.

Eagle Eye Drama, founded by the team behind foreign-language streamer Walter Presents, houses the project. Production has commenced in Italy and Croatia on the show, which also stars Mark Umbers (Home Fires) and Anna Chancellor (Four Weddings and a Funeral).

Hotel Portofino features McElhone as Bella Ainsworth, the daughter of a wealthy industrialist who moves to Italy to set up a quintessentially British hotel in the town of Portofino. Umbers plays her charming but dangerous husband, Cecil, while Chancellor stars as Lady Latchmere, the hotel’s most influential but hard-to-please guest.

Created and written by former ViacomCBS international comms chief Matt Baker (Before We Die), the series features a classic ‘whodunit’ mystery woven throughout,...

Based on his novel of the same name, the film will be shot mainly in Trentino with actors Lorenzo Richelmy, Fabrizio Ferracane and Fabrizio Rongione. Writer Massimo Donati makes his feature film directorial debut with Diario di Spezie, adapted from his own 2013 novel of the same name and which started filming a few days ago. Already behind the camera for Fuoriscena, a documentary about the Accademia Teatro alla Scala co-directed with Alessandro Leone, Donati is directing in this new film Lorenzo Richelmy, Fabrizio Ferracane and Fabrizio Rongione. The film is produced by Master Five Cinematografica with Rai Cinema and Rodeo Drive, with the support of the Trentino Film Commission. Written for the big screen by Donati himself, Diario di spezie is...

ABC will not be braving the Bermuda Triangle after all.

Commissioned nearly eight months ago, the pilot for the sci-fi drama Triangle has been officially passed on by the network, our sister site Deadline reports, following a late, international shoot and special effects work that took post-production into late August.

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Penned by Jon Feldman (Blood & Oil,...

Exclusive: After a lengthy search, Australian actress Pallavi Sharda (Pulse) has been tapped as the female lead opposite Mike Vogel in ABC drama pilot Triangle, from Jon Harmon Feldman and Jennifer Gwartz’s Random Hill and ABC Studios.

Written by Feldman and Sonny Postiglione and directed by McG, Triangle poses the question, what if the Bermuda Triangle was not a watery grave in the middle of the ocean but a land lost in time that has trapped travelers over the course of human history? When a family is shipwrecked in this strange land, they must band together with a group of like-minded inhabitants — from throughout history — to survive and somehow find a way home.

Sharda will play Alex, David’s (Vogel) girlfriend who is trying to connect with his teen daughter Natalie (Sarah Catherine Hook). Matt Passmore, Edwin Hodge, Mallory Jansen, Lorenzo Richelmy, Amit Shah and Diana Bermudez co-star

Feldman,...

Exclusive: Italian actor Lorenzo Richelmy, who played the title role in the Netflix series Marco Polo, is returning to American television with a lead role opposite Mike Vogel in Triangle, ABC’s drama pilot from Jon Feldman and Jennifer Gwartz’s Random Hill and ABC Studios.

Written by Feldman and Sonny Postiglione and directed by McG, Triangle poses the question: What if the Bermuda Triangle was not a watery grave in the middle of the ocean but a land lost in time that has trapped travelers over the course of human history? When a family is shipwrecked in this strange land, they must band together with a group of like-minded inhabitants — from throughout history — to survive and somehow find a way home.

Lorenzo will play Ham, one of the residents of the Triangle, a former pirate and a rogue who is skeptical of newcomers.

Triangle has assembled a formidable core...

Ana de Armas says she’s still trying to find the right words to describe her latest project, a cinematic collaboration with Italian liqueur brand Campari that has catapulted the Cuban-born actress into a conversation about diversity, creativity, and taking risks.

“I don’t think I can even describe the feeling,” De Armas says of becoming the first Latin American-born ambassador to star in Campari’s “Red Diaries” series of short films. “It’s amazing to have even been in the conversation, when they had the whole world to choose from, and I feel honored, humbled, and emotional, because I know what it represents.”

As announced this week, the “Blade Runner 2049” actress is the face of “Entering Red,” a short film helmed by Cannes prize-winning director Matteo Garrone. Set in the streets of Milan, the birthplace of Campari, the 12-minute film follows de Armas’ eponymous character as she explores...

Amazon Studios has acquired North American, U.K., and Indian rights to “Rainbow – A Private Affair,” the last work co-directed by Italy’s revered Taviani brothers.

Amazon’s purchase from Paris-based Pyramide Intl. of those streaming rights follows Vittorio Taviani’s death in May, at 88, and comes as the film goes on theatrical release via Pyramide in France. The directing duo’s surviving member, Paolo Taviani, who is 86, told the French newspaper Le Monde last week that he would keep working even without his brother, with whom he made movies all his life, “until my devastated country rises from its ruins,” an apparent reference to Italy under its new populist government.

“Rainbow – A Private Affair,” which launched last year from Toronto, is an adaptation of a short novel written by Italian author Beppe Fenoglio and set during Italy’s mid-1940s civil war, when partisans and fascists engaged in battles of attrition.

Last year, Netflix premiered a bevy of new original programming, including shows like “Stranger Things,” “Love,” “The Crown,” “The Oa” and more. As of 2017, the streaming service has a vast backlog of programming, so much that someone could likely binge on it all for months and months. But in case you wanna take a break from simply watching shows to play a video game based on those shows, Netflix has something special just for you: an 8-bit side-scroller video game called “Netflix Infinity Runner” where you can play as characters from Netflix’s original series.

Read More: Timothy Olyphant Gets Meaty In New Teaser for Netflix Cannibal Comedy ‘Santa Clarita Diet’

In the game, you can play as Mike Wheeler from “Stranger Things” (played by Finn Wolfhard in the series), Piper Chapman from “Orange Is the New Black” (Taylor Schilling), Pablo Escobar from “Narcos” (Wagner Moura) and Marco Polo from...

No wonder Netflix cancelled Marco Polo. FierceCable reports the streaming platform lost $200 million on the recently axed TV series.Netflix cancelled the historical drama earlier this month after only two seasons. The show chronicled the early days of the infamous explorer as he traveled through the Mongol Empire. The cast included Lorenzo Richelmy, Rick Yune, Benedict Wong, Claudia Kim, Remy Hii, Olivia Cheng, Mahesh Jadu, Tom Wu, Gabriel Byrne, and Michelle Yeoh.Read More…...

The journey has ended. If you haven't heard the news, has cancelled Marco Polo after only two seasons of 10 episodes each. All of the second season episodes (including the defacto series finale) were released on July 1, 2016. A Christmas special aired last year.The historical drama, which was initially developed for , follows the early years of the famous 13th-century explorer as he travels through the Mongol Empire. The cast includes Lorenzo Richelmy, Rick Yune, Benedict Wong, Claudia Kim, Remy Hii, Olivia Cheng, Mahesh Jadu, Tom Wu, Gabriel Byrne, and Michelle Yeoh.Read More…...

Rob Leane Dec 14, 2016

Marco Polo will not return for a third season, as Netflix pulls the plug on its historical epic...

Here's a surprising one: Netflix has pulled the plug on Marco Polo, opting to end the historical drama series after two seasons rather than renewing it for a third run.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, as well as revealing that Netflix and the show's producers The Weinstein Company had until the end of the year to make a decision, before their options on the cast's contracts would expire. THR also cites a staggering figure from an unnamed source: Marco Polo purportedly lost Netflix $200 million.

Marco Polo - which starred Lorenzo Richelmy and Benedict Wong - began in 2014 and consisted of 20 full episodes and one half-length Christmas special.

Netflix's original content chief Cindy Holland said this in a statement:

"We want to thank and are grateful to our...

“Marco Polo” has been canceled by Netflix after just two seasons. The historical series produced by The Weinstein Company premiered in 2014, with Season 2 hitting the streaming service on July 1, 2016. The 10-episode second season included new and returning cast: Lorenzo Richelmy (Marco Polo), Michelle Yeoh (the Handmaiden), Joan Chen (Empress Chabi), Zhu Zhu (Kokachin), Tom Wu (Hundred Eyes), Olivia Cheng (Mei Lin), Claudia Kim (Khutulun), Rick Yune (Kaidu), Remy Hii (Prince Jingim), Mahesh Jadu (Ahmad) and Uli Latukefu (Byamba), among others. Also Read: 'Marco Polo' Fact Check: The Story of the Real Ahmad Fanakati, Kublai Khan's Finance Minister “Marco Polo” was based on.

Marco Polo‘s voyages have ended: Netflix has cancelled the globe-spanning drama after two seasons.

The Hollywood Reporter first reported the cancellation, which makes Polo the first Netflix original series not to reach a third season. Lorenzo Richelmy starred as the legendary merchant who travelled from Italy to China and eventually served in the court of the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong).

RelatedCable/Streaming Renewal Scorecard 2016: What’s Coming Back? What’s Cancelled? What’s On the Bubble?

Marco Polo debuted in 2014, and had a reported budget of $90 million for its first season, rivaling HBO’s Game of Thrones.

This Marco has found his Polo - or his calling in life as an actor, that is. Lorenzo Richelmy, who stars on the Netflix original series Marco Polo, says he was "on my couch chilling in my panties" just six months before the online streaming service offered him his first American project. "Netflix had the bravery to pick me knowing I spoke little to no English, and then to be the lead actor of one of the biggest shows ever . . . it's a dream," the Italian actor, 26, tells People exclusively. "I was suddenly down the halls surrounded by hundreds of extras fighting,...

This Marco has found his Polo – or his calling in life as an actor, that is.

Lorenzo Richelmy, who stars on the Netflix original series Marco Polo, says he was "on my couch chilling in my panties" just six months before the online streaming service offered him his first American project.

"Netflix had the bravery to pick me knowing I spoke little to no English, and then to be the lead actor of one of the biggest shows ever . . . it's a dream," the Italian actor, 26, tells People exclusively.

"I was suddenly down the halls surrounded by hundreds of extras fighting,...

This Marco has found his Polo - or his calling in life as an actor, that is. Lorenzo Richelmy, who stars on the Netflix original series Marco Polo, says he was "on my couch chilling in my panties" just six months before the online streaming service offered him his first American project. "Netflix had the bravery to pick me knowing I spoke little to no English, and then to be the lead actor of one of the biggest shows ever . . . it's a dream," the Italian actor, 26, tells People exclusively. "I was suddenly down the halls surrounded by hundreds of extras fighting,...

An empire will burn. Below, Watch the Marco Polo TV show's season two featurette from Netflix. The ten-episode second season of Marco Polo drops tomorrow, Friday, July 1, 2016. The historical drama follows 13th century explorer Marco Polo during his adventures along the Silk Road. In the video, the cast and crew set the scene for Marco Polo, season two, which promises to be much darker, internally as well as externally.Featured in the video are Creator Ep John Fusco, Lorenzo Richelmy (Marco Polo), Rick Yune (Kaidu), Benedict Wong (Kublai Khan), Claudia Kim (Khutlun), Remy Hii (Prince Jingim), Olivia Cheng (Mei Lin), Ep Patrick MacManus, Mahesh Jadu (Ahmad), Tom Wu (Hundred Eyes), Gabriel Byrne (Pope Gregory X), Michelle Yeoh (Handmaiden/Lotus) and Brett Chan (Stunt Coordinator).Read More…...

Four episodes were provided prior to broadcast.

It’s been 18 months since Marco Polo debuted its first season on Netflix, and even though it hit with a bit of a resounding dud, the show had its apologists, and I was one of them. A lot didn’t work (it’s hard to overstate that), including thin characterization, thinner world building and clunky, utterly un-bingeable plotting. But the show had style, with neat action set pieces and an unpretentious tackling of the medieval-sex-and-gore genre – which feels all but necessitated by every network thanks to Game of Thrones – resulting in a show that was palatable for me, despite being somewhat of an overall mess.

Cut to today, and it’s been a year-and-a-half since I was entrenched in all of the political turmoil between the the great Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong, still fascinating when the script lets him be) and his nemesis chancellor Jia Sidao,...

Probably the greatest Asian-themed show on TV at the moment just added a star in an already great cast. Michelle Yeoh will play a mysterious figure from Hundred Eyes’ past.

The series is based on the famous 13th Century explorer, following his adventures in the Court of Kublai Han, among greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and violent rivalry.

John Fusco, creator of the series and executive producer and showrunner along with Dan Minahan stated:

“Michelle Yeoh is not only a screen legend and one of the greatest international action stars of all time, she’s one of the best actors of her generation. So we are thrilled to have her join one of the most diverse ensembles in television and bring her unique talents to Marco Polo.

Her role in the second season is one that’s going to add even more intrigue, mystery, and Asian martial arts to our rich story world.

"I will be emperor of the world." Netflix has released a new preview for season two of Marco Polo.

The historical series follows the adventures of the 13th-century explorer Marco Polo (Lorenzo Richelmy) as he travels along the Silk Road to the court of the great Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong). The cast also includes Amr Waked, Remy Hii, Zhu Zhu, and Tom Wu.

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Thanks in large part to the superhero fandom that continues to grip Hollywood, much of the praise that is directed at Netflix’s slate of original series often involves the company’s partnership with Marvel – be that in the form of Daredevil or Jessica Jones.

But there’s a whole host of greatness scattered right across the Netflix library (not to mention spooky ’80s series Stranger Things) particularly now that the online giant is ramping up its output to encompass high-profile feature films. Circling back to those early years, however, and one series that struck a chord with subscribers is Marco Polo – with its compelling cast and lush rendition of 13th Century China – which is now primed to return on July 1.

In anticipation of its imminent premiere, Netflix has now rolled out an all-new trailer for the original drama, welcoming back Lorenzo Richelmy in the title role. There’s a new nemesis to confront,...

Getting a longer than normal eighteen month break between seasons, Netflix has finally dropped the trailer for the second season of its lavishly produced if critically dismissed historical drama "Marco Polo".

Lorenzo Richelmy, Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh, and Joan Chen are joined by Gabriel Byrne in the new season which sees Kublai Khan's empire expanding. The entire new season will hit the service on July 1st.

Netflix’s first “Marco Polo” Season 2 trailer teases that alliances will be tested as the Mongol empire is on the brink of war. In the trailer, Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong) laments all he has had to do in order to maintain his power. But his trials are not over yet, as threats from without and within would claim leadership of his empire for themselves. The 10 episode second season includes new and returning cast: Lorenzo Richelmy (Marco Polo), Michelle Yeoh (the Handmaiden), Joan Chen (Empress Chabi), Zhu Zhu (Kokachin), Tom Wu (Hundred Eyes), Olivia Cheng (Mei Lin), Claudia Kim (Khutulun), Rick.

The battle for the Mongol empire ignites with the release of the official trailer and poster for Marco Polo season 2, which you can check out below.

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In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, Marco Polo is based on the famed explorer's adventures in Kublai Khan's court in 13th Century China, and the dark and tempestuous battle for the expanding Mongol empire.

John Fusco, who wrote the Academy-Award nominated feature Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is executive producer and showrunner along with Dan Minahan, whose previous work includes Homeland and Game of Thrones, with Patrick Macmanus, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein and Elizabeth Sarnoff as executive producers.

The 10 episode second season includes new and returning cast: Lorenzo Richelmy (Marco Polo), Michelle Yeoh...

An empire will burn. Below, watch the fiery Netflix announcement that the ten-episode second season of its Marco Polo TV series premieres globally, July 1, 2016. Per Netflix, the series will be available in 4K. The Marco Polo launch date was revealed during the streaming outlet's press conference held in Paris, today.

Marco Polo stars Lorenzo Richelmy as Marco Polo and Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan. Also starring are Michelle Yeoh, Joan Chen, Zhu Zhu, Tom Wu, Olivia Cheng, Claudia Kim, Rick Yune, Remy Hii, Mahesh Jadu, and Uli Latukefu. The series is written by creator John Fusco, who executive produces with Dan Minahan. Patrick Macmanus, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, and Elizabeth Sarnoff are also executive producing season two.

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Netflix has released 2 new date announcement trailers for their original series The Crown and Marco Polo Season 2 and a full trailer for Bloodline Season 2. In addition Netflix has also released a cast shot from their upcoming new series Marseille, starring Gérard Depardieu.

You can check out the trailers and photo below.

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The Crown

The Crown, the highly anticipated, new original series will premiere on Netflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, to a global audience on Friday, November 4, 2016. The 10-episode series will be available in 4K.

The Crown reunites acclaimed writer Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) with director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) and producer Andy Harries (The Queen). Based on the award-winning play, The Audience, The Crown tells the inside story...

It has been a long journey, but at long last we have a return date for Marco Polo.

Netflix has announced that Season 2 of the adventure drama will release globally on July 1. The cast for the 10-episode sophomore run includes Lorenzo Richelmy (as Marco Polo), Michelle Yeoh (the Handmaiden), Benedict Wong (Kublai Khan), Joan Chen (Empress Chabi), Zhu Zhu (Kokachin), Tom Wu (Hundred Eyes), Olivia Cheng (Mei Lin), Claudia Kim (Khutulun), Rick Yune (Kaidu), Remy Hii (Prince Jingim), Mahesh Jadu (Ahmad) and Uli Latukefu (Byamba), among others.

Netflix also has released a teaser that touts a November 4 global release date for The Crown,...

Michelle Yeoh has joiend the cast of the second season of Netflix's original drama series "Marco Polo".

Lorenzo Richelmy returns as the famed 13th Century explorer as he fights greed, betrayal and rivalries in Kublai Khan's court. Yeoh will play a mysterious figure from the past of Hundred Eyes (Tom Wu).

John Fusco ("Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron"), created the series and is executive producer and showrunner along with Dan Minahan. The second season launches on the service in 2016.

Source: Deadline...

The second season of the Netflix original series Marco Polo, created by John Fusco, adds actress Michelle Yeoh to its dynamic cast. In the upcoming season, Michelle Yeoh’s character plays a mysterious figure from Hundred Eyes' (Tom Wu) past.

Fusco said:

"Michelle Yeoh is not only a screen legend and one of the greatest international action stars of all time, she's one of the best actors of her generation. So we are thrilled to have her join one of the most diverse ensembles in television and bring her unique talents to Marco Polo. Her role in the second season is one that's going to add even more intrigue, mystery, and Asian martial arts to our rich story world.”

Internationally acclaimed actress and producer Michelle Yeoh has starred in more than thirty films including global hits James Bond's “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Sunshine,...