AMC's INTO THE BADLANDS To Premiere With AMC FIGHTFEST In November!

Actor Daniel Wu took to this year's installment of the Television Critics Association with fellow film and production partner, Stephen Fung to discuss their latest endeavors this week. Front and center, of course, was the upcoming martial arts action fantasy series, Into The Badlands, with Wu leading the cast for a story that takes an edgy approach to Chinese folklore via steampunk and high-flying kung fu action.

Alas, the series will be making its way to AMC Television on November 15, which will accompany the launch of the two-week martial arts network feature block, AMC FightFest, for martial arts action fans. This is obviously good, good news for fans of the genre, as well as subscribers what AMC has to offer in its line-up as of late, zombies and all.

Friday's press release has more:

AMC announced today from the Television Critics Association (TCA) Press Tour that its new martial arts drama series “Into the Badlands” will premiere Sunday, November 15th at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.  In a land controlled by feudal barons, “Into the Badlands” tells the story of a ruthless, well-trained warrior named Sunny (Daniel Wu) and a young boy named M.K. (Aramis Knight) who embark on a spiritual journey across a dangerous land. From AMC Studios, the six-part series is created by executive producers/showrunners/writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, “Smallville”), and executive produced by Oscar®-nominated producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg (Pulp Fiction, Contagion), director David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, Shanghai Nights), fight director Stephen Fung (Tai Chi Zero, House of Fury) and Daniel Wu (Tai Chi Zero).

“‘Into The Badlands’ is an exciting moment for us in that martial arts is not only a new genre for an AMC series, but also one that has been largely absent from television for 15 years,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming for AMC and SundanceTV.  “The team behind ‘Into The Badlands,’ led by showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar, is comprised of some of the best martial artists and martial arts filmmakers in the world, and they have crafted a show that over-delivers against two big goals we set for the show: to create a compelling character drama, and to introduce the highest caliber of martial arts filmmaking to a weekly, ongoing series.”

The series premiere will coincide with AMC’s newest movie event, “AMC FightFest,” a two-week martial arts movie marathon beginning Monday, November 2through Friday, November 13. The on-air special event will feature some of the most iconic martial arts films in the history of the genre each weeknight at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

“In the same way AMC has historically engaged fanbases from horror through Westerns, ‘AMC FightFest’ is an opportunity for us to connect with and serve martial arts fans,” said Tom Halleen, executive vice president of programming and scheduling for AMC and SundanceTV.  “We are building an exciting lineup of films that target their passion for the genre as we prepare them for the amazing debut of ‘Into the Badlands.’”

“Into the Badlands” is set centuries from now, where a feudal society has emerged and the strongest and most brutal rose to wealth and power. This area came to be called the Badlands, and is divided among seven rival Barons who control the resources necessary to daily life and enforce their rule with the aid of loyal armies known as Clippers. Clippers enjoy status and comforts the general population can only dream of, and they are willing to sacrifice their lives in service to their Barons. Few Clippers ever live to see their 30th birthday, but Sunny (Daniel Wu) is no ordinary Clipper. Demonstrating lethal proficiency in martial arts, Sunny rose swiftly through the ranks to become Quinn’s (Marton Csokas) Head Clipper and most trusted advisor.
For decades, Quinn has been unchallenged as the Badlands’ most powerful Baron, but the territory’s newest Baron, The Widow (Emily Beecham), has begun staging brazen attacks on Quinn’s transport vehicles and is testing his appetite for a fight.  One of those attacks leads Sunny to M.K. (Aramis Knight), a teenage boy who has survived a deadly ambush. Sunny soon comes to understand that the teen harbors a dark secret and has a hefty bounty on his head.  As The Widow continues her campaign against Quinn, the destinies of the stoic assassin and the impetuous teenager become intertwined.  In their evolution as teacher and student, each will discover his true purpose; together, they will embark on an odyssey that could mean the difference between chaos and enlightenment for everyone in the Badlands.

“Into the Badlands” stars Daniel Wu (Tai Chi Zero) as Sunny; Marton Csokas (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) as Quinn; Aramis Knight (The Dark Knight Rises) as M.K.;  Oliver Stark (“Luther”) as Ryder; Emily Beecham (28 Weeks Later) as Widow; Orla Brady (“Dr. Who,” “Fringe”) as Lydia; Sarah Bolger (“Once Upon a Time,” “The Tudors”) as Jade; Ally Ioannides (“Parenthood”) as Tilda; and Madeleine Mantock (Edge of Tomorrow) as Veil.

SDCC 2015: Go INTO THE BADLANDS With Daniel Wu In The New Trailer

AMC Television is aiming to help mark a new standard in home entertainment, and as bustling as the industry has been with the incorporation of martial arts action into its formula, the new series Into The Badlands has all the opportunity this Fall to leave an impression. Actor and producer Daniel Wu leads the cast of the new series that combines the mysticism and mythology of Chinese folklore with a dystopian millieu filled and brimming with multiple players, many coming with shades of grey, and sometimes, something sharp and quite deadly!

Into the Badlands is a genre-bending martial arts series very loosely based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West. In a land controlled by feudal barons, Into the Badlands tells the story of a great warrior and a young boy who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment.

Emily Beecham (28 Weeks Later, The Village), Sarah Bolger (The Tudors, In America) and Oliver Stark (The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box, My Hero) also star. The pilot is set to premiere this November as per the brand new trailer unveiled on Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con. Watch it right now!

Daniel Wu Is Ready For A Fight In Two New INTO THE BADLANDS Stills!

A lot is happening on the AMC Television front these days, and regular viewers of the network may be delighted to check out just what is happening for one of its forthcoming shows, Into The Badlands, a new take that spins off of Chinese folklore with actor Daniel Wu leading the cast. As such, we now have two new stills from AMC TV through Twitter showcasing Wu in costume which you can now view below

Into the Badlands is a genre-bending martial arts series very loosely based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West. In a land controlled by feudal barons, Into the Badlands tells the story of a great warrior and a young boy who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment. 

"We’re incredibly excited to blaze the trail, bringing a martial arts drama to television," says writer/co-showrunner Miles Millar.  

The show stars Hong Kong film star and master martial arts filmmaker Daniel Wu (City of Glass, The Heavenly Kings), Emily Beecham (28 Weeks Later, The Village), Sarah Bolger (The Tudors, In America) and Oliver Stark (The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box, My Hero). The project was created by writers/showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, Smallville). They'll serve as Executive Producers alongside Oscar-nominated producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg (Pulp Fiction, Contagion), as well as Stephen Fung and Daniel Wu (Tai Chi Zero).

Six one-hour episodes are set to air later this year with Entertainment One distributing. Stay tuned for more info!

Iron Dragon TV And Well Go USA Are Screening BLADE OF KINGS Next Week!

At some point between the years on both ends of the new millenium, the Hong Kong action genre remained in its prominence with films led by young pop stars. One such title included the modern zany vampire action flick, The Twins Effect, themed around the popularity of Hong Kong singing duo Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung as they were leaving their mark on the big screen as actresses in a few action comedies of their own.

Quirky dialogue and stylish action with some vampiric lore featuring a particularly young cast are the formula here, and it surprisingly led to a sequel a year later which had absolutely nothing to do with it. That one was simply titled The Twins Effect 2 for its release with several of our young actors returning, including our lead actresses, with action legend Corey Yuen and Patrick Leung sharing the directors' hat. These films weren't for everyone as they were mainly for the younger crowd familiar with the cast, and action star legends Donnie Yen and Jackie Chan - both who share a place working on the first and second film.

Alas, the latter finally ended up with a more appropriate title for its DVD release just a few years ago with its acquisition by Well Go USA as Blade Of Kings. Still, for the fans and anyone interested and living in Texas willing to make the trip to Austin, the film is getting a screening on Tuesday, April 21 at 9:00pm at Violet Crown Cinema. The event page is up where tickets are available, and to familiarize yourself, check out the trailer below!

SYNOPSIS:

An ancient land ruled by a cruel empress (Qu Ying), is a place where men are subservient to women.  Despite her ruthlessness, the empress and her chief eunuch, Chiu Ngai (Daniel Wu), live in fear of a prophecy that says a boy shall rise to become emperor, and restore the reign of men.  To prevent this, the empress sends out her warriors to kill any child who fulfils the terms of the prediction… 

Charcoal Head (Jaycee Chan) and his brother Blockhead (Chen Po-lin) perform in a traveling show run by their foster father, Blackwood (Tony Leung Ka-fai). Their friend Tao (Edison Chen) gives them a stone with a treasure map engraved upon it. The pair set out on an epic journey to find fortune and glory. 

They are joined on their odyssey by two fierce warrior women, Blue Bird (Gillian Chung) and 13th Young Master (Charlene Choi), and, together have to survive a series of challenges.  The youngsters meet Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Donnie Yen), a master swordsman intent on overthrowing the empire.  To do so, Lone must first fight the Lord Of Armor (Jackie Chan) in order to gain access to the mysterious treasure. 

Finally, the boy who would be emperor must lead an army against the forces of the empress…

Watch The New Teaser For AMC TV's INTO THE BADLANDS!

AMC Television is currently ramping up a promotional campaign for its 2015 slate, which now officially includes the current preparation and production of the new martial arts series, officially titled Into The Badlands. The show has been picking up steam for many months now since its announcement last July prior to landing international film star, actor Daniel Wu to lead the cast of the new series with The Judge helmer David Dobkin directing.

The network has announcement the official title with a Fall premiere date to accommodate the brand new series teaser which you can now check out at the bottom of the page. Check it out and watch for more news ahead!

Into the Badlands is a genre-bending martial arts series very loosely based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West. In a land controlled by feudal barons, Into the Badlands tells the story of a great warrior and a young boy who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment.

"We’re incredibly excited to blaze the trail, bringing a martial arts drama to television," says writer/co-showrunner Miles Millar. 

The show stars Hong Kong film star and master martial arts filmmaker Daniel Wu (City of Glass, The Heavenly Kings), Emily Beecham (28 Weeks Later, The Village), Sarah Bolger (The Tudors, In America) and Oliver Stark (The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box, My Hero). The project was created by writers/showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, Smallville). They'll serve as Executive Producers alongside Oscar-nominated producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg (Pulp Fiction, Contagion), as well as Stephen Fung and Daniel Wu (Tai Chi Zero).

H/T: AMC TV

Daniel Wu To Chart A Warrior's Course Through BADLANDS For AMC

The second half of 2014 has shown some great progress for the folks over at AMC Studios in lieu of the upcoming fantasy action series, Badlands, loosely based on late author Wu Cheng'en's classic novel, Journey To The West. Veteran film and television producers Al Gough and Miles Millar are boarding the project with notable Asian cinema favorites Stephen Fung and Daniel Wu, and if you're familar with the latter two, then this particular project should draw your attention quite a bit, especially as casting continues.

That said, you may also be familiar with Wu's screen credits, and if not, then it's not too late. He'll be appearing in Universal Pictures's March 11, 2016 release of Warcraft from director Duncan Jones, following a handful of films that have otherwise shown him to be an incredible actor capable of appealing to audiences beyond borders. So if you're tuning in, you'll be delighted to learn that the new family man as of late is long off his hiatus and ready to tackle both sides of the camera, and with the success AMC has had with shows like The Walking Dead and the previous run of Breaking Bad, Wu is sure to set another high mark as his career evolves while putting Badlands on the map.

NEW YORK, NY, December 19, 2014 – AMC has cast Hong Kong film star Daniel Wu as the lead of the network’s martial arts drama “Badlands” (working title). Wu also serves as an executive producer on the series. “Badlands” is a genre-bending martial arts series very loosely based on the classic Chinese tale “Journey to the West.” In a land controlled by feudal barons, “Badlands” tells the story of a ruthless, well-trained warrior named Sunny (Wu) and a young boy who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment.

“After working together with such a talented team of executive producers, writers and executives at AMC, I am excited for the opportunity to bring this character to life‎,” said Wu.

Wu joins previously announced series regulars Emily Beecham (“28 Weeks Later,” “The Village”), Sarah Bolger (“The Tudors,” “In America”) and Oliver Stark (“The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box,” “My Hero”). David Dobkin (“The Judge,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Shanghai Knights”) will be the series director.

Wu is a Hong Kong-based Chinese-American actor, director and producer.  Born in Berkeley, California, Wu was raised in Orinda in a family whose parents were Shanghai natives who were both educated in the States.  After graduating from the University of Oregon, he moved to Hong Kong in 1997. A film buff (and scholar in the Chinese martial arts discipline of wushu), Wu admired both Jackie Chan and Jet Li as a youngster.  He landed his first professional roles in 1998 in a trio of Chinese-language features, most notably in “City of Glass” (Boli zhi cheng). Since then, Wu has been featured in over 60 films.  He won the prestigious Hong Kong prize as Best Director for his 2006 feature, “The Heavenly Kings” (Sei dai tinwong), his directorial debut that also brought him the Chinese Film Media Award as Best Director. In addition to his work in front of the camera, Wu has produced five projects, including “Night Corridor,” “Like A Dream,” “The Heavenly Kings,” “Tai Chi Zero” and “Control.”

AMC has ordered six, one-hour episodes for “Badlands,” with an expected premiere in late 2015 or early 2016. The project was created by writers/showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar (“Shanghai Noon,” “Smallville”). They’ll serve as executive producers along with Dobkin, Oscar-nominated producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg (“Pulp Fiction,” “Contagion”), and Stephen Fung and Wu (“Tai Chi Zero”). 

From AMC Studios, “Badlands” will be distributed internationally by Entertainment One Television (eOne).