The otherwise heartbreaking announcement stemming from last weekend’s cancellation of AMC’s Into The Badlands still adds on hope for a steady and fitting conclusion. The official series finale trailer is online and gearing fans up with what looks to be a spectacular bookend culminating three seasons of harrowing adventure, supernatural mystery, political peril and exhilirating kung fu action.
Midway through its current second season, “Into the Badlands” is averaging 3.6 million viewers per episode, including 2.1 million adults 25-54 in Nielsen Live+3 ratings. In the current television season, the series ranks as the #4 scripted drama on cable and the #4 returning drama, behind “The Walking Dead,” “American Horror Story” and “Fear the Walking Dead.”
Having suffered the lack of access to AMC in the years prior, it was only until its arrival on Netflix this month that I was able to catch all six episodes of the hit series, Into The Badlands from creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. This comes in lieu of a second season which premieres on March 19 and I can honestly say that I really enjoyed what this show has to offer.
“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.
Tai Chi 0 helmer Stephen Fung’s recent departure from the upcoming remake of Kickboxer should provide plenty of time with fellow cohort Daniel Wu to executive produce their latest series endeavor tentatively titled Badlands for AMC. The two are joined by Oscar-nominated Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg, and series creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar who were all announced for the project back in July, which while loosely based on late author Wu Cheng’en’s often film-translated late 16th century tale, “Journey To The West”, centers on a story of a great warrior and a young boy who trek across a dangerous land to find enlightenment.
That said, the series has now nabbed a director in the form of David Dobkin, best known for his work on the 2003 Jackie Chan headliner, Shanghai Knights, and this year’s buzzworthy court drama, The Judge. The series also has its first few young picks lining up the cast which so far includes 28 Weeks Later co-star Emily Beecham as “The Widow”, The Tudors co-star Sarah Bolger as “Jade”, and The Adventurer: The Curse Of The Midas Box co-star Oliver Stark as the warrior’s son, “Ryer”, all of which will be recurring roles for a series that is shaping up to present a spectacular story with a coming-of-age feel to it.
Sure, it’s early and we’re likely to learn there’s more in store for the series, but it is fun to speculate what the sub-plots will be under its references to classic Chinese folk lore. Other than that, Dobkin seems pretty stoked. “I am thrilled to be directing Badlands,” he said. “Aside from the amazing group of people I get to work with – everyone at AMC, plus Stacy and Michael, and Al and Miles for the second time – it’s a brilliant, visionary project that finally gives the fan-boy in me something to dig my teeth into.”
AMC Studios is producing the series with Entertainment One distributing the show globally.
Stick around.
H/T: Deadline
