kingdom

Streaming Sleepers: Shinsuke Sato’s KINGDOM And KINGDOM 2: FAR AND AWAY Charge Into Battle On Netflix!

Any day is a good day when there is Shinsuke Sato-related news to report, and I nearly cried when I learned this. Laugh and judge me as you may, I don’t care. These are the happy tears, buddy… Netflix has just released Sato’s 2019 epic, Kingdom, along with last year’s blockbuster sequel, Kingdom 2: Far And Away, both starring Alice In Borderland’s Kento Yamazaki and based on Yasuhisa Hara’s hit manga. Kingdom sees Yamazaki in the role of Xin, an orphan who vows vengeance after losing a dear friend, striving to become the world’s greatest general. The sequel continues with Xin joining a ragtag infantry to fend off a far-superior invading army. Actors Kanna Hashimoto and Ryo Yoshizawa also return to headline both films, as well as Sato’s trilogical installment, Kingdom 3: Flame Of Destiny. That film opens through Toho in Japan next Friday, stateside Netflix launch pending, fingers crossed […]

Netflix Picks: MMA Drama KINGDOM Lands July 1, LUCIFER Adds Season Six Ahead Of August Season 5 Premiere

Lee B. Golden III

Folks who are keen on streaming their television shows and often frequent Netflix for doing so will be in good company very soon on top of its acquisition of pending series release, Cobra Kai, in addition to Warrior Nun and other amazing shows on the platform. This past week saw Entertainment Weekly break the news on Byran Balasco’s hit MMA drama series, Kingdom, which premiered from 2014 through 2017 for three seasons on DirecTV’s AT&T Audience Network. Set to stream on Netflix beginning July 1, Kingdom, from Endemol Studios, tells of the harrowing interpersonal relationships and family drama centered on Alvey Kulina (Frank Grillo), a fighting legend, and the owner of Venice, CA-based Navy St. MMA gym. Also starring are Kiele Sanchez, Matt Lauria, Jonathan Tucker, Nick Jonas, Joanna Going, Natalie Martinez and Kirk Acevedo. The streamer will also be accomodating a sixth season of tongue-in-cheek hit dark fantasy series, […]

KINGDOM: Joseon Period Zombie Saga Continues On Netflix In March

Lee B. Golden III

I never did get around to finishing season one of Korean period horror, Kingdom, but I know it’s definitely something I’ll be working to prioritize in the near future. The second season was announced this month for a worldwide premiere date on March 13, along with key art which you can view below. Season two was greenlit long before the first season launched last January. An epidemic turns Joseon into hell on earth amid the ravages left by the ever-growing greed of the Cho family. In Kingdom season 2, Crown Prince Lee Chang continues his desperate, bloody struggle, with no one he can trust to help him. Actor Ju Ji-hoon returns to the role of Crown Prince Lee Chang, next to Ryoo Seong-Ryong as Cho Hak-ju, Bae Doo-na as Seo-bi, Kim Sang-ho as Mu-yeong, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong-sin, Jun Suk-ho as Beom-pal, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen, and actor […]

Fantasia Review: Shinsuke Sato’s KINGDOM Is A Soaring, Sweeping Epic That Dares You To Dream

Lee B. Golden III

Following the success of Bleach, I least expected Shinsuke Sato to have directed his latest rags-to-renown action adventure epic, Kingdom – a title in what would be a series of thrilling back-to-back films from a director who first landed on my radar around 2004 with a DVD copy of The Princess Blade from A.D. Vision. Actress Yumiko Shaku starred in that one and showcased key action direction by Donnie Yen, and it aptly invoked Sato in his early growth as a filmmaker who knows action. I still have yet to see all his films, but to date, he’s never let me down; I toiled through the Bleach anime before the film and save for what you can read for yourself, I can easily say it is one of the best films I’ve ever seen, and I’m proud to say I’m not alone in that opinion. Instantaneously, upon seeing the teasers […]

[UPDATED] KINGDOM: ‘Bleach’, ‘Inuyashiki’ Director’s Latest Arrives In North America August 16

Lee B. Golden III

Three years since actor Kento Yamazaki took the spotlight for a ceremonial three-minute short celebrating the hit manga franchise, Kingdom, the JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure star is finally poised for a North American event screening on August 16. Niche distro banner Funimation Films acquired North American theatrical rights a few months ago to the Shinsuke Sato-directed action adventure epic which stars Yamazaki with actor Ryo Yoshizawa, and garnered upward of ¥5 billion after releasing in Japan back in April. Orphaned by war, a young boy and his friend dream of changing their fate and becoming the world’s greatest generals. And after his friend sacrifices himself to protect the future emperor, the young boy’s path to greatness is set in motion. Helping the King reclaim the throne puts the boy’s blade to the ultimate test as they go against deadly assassins, large armies, and the dangerous mountain clan. In a country torn […]

KINGDOM: Take A Look At An Extended SXSW Trailer For Shinsuke Sato’s New Epic

Lee B. Golden III

Call it wishful thinking, but I’m still holding out hope for a Bleach sequel, and anyone familiar with director Shinsuke Sato’s work can, in some capacity, understand why. Granted that this includes folks attending this year’s SXSW where cinephiles can catch the latest glimpse of his new Warring States Period epic, Kingdom, as big a deal in Japan as it is, Sato might make some much-deserved headway here. Kingdom is based on mangaka Yasuhisa Hara’s highly successful and long-running 2006 Weekly Young Jump publication from Shueisha, and subsequent anime series from Pierrot. A live-action adaptation was announced last Spring following a rousing video promo celebrating the manga’s 10th anniversary in 2016. Toho’s new trailer footage further introduces Kento Yamazaki (Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable, The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.) in the role of Shin, and the tragic quandary that prefaces his ill-fated meeting with Eisei (Gintama co-star Ryo […]

Sato Shinsuke’s KINGDOM Unveils Its Brand New Poster

Lee B. Golden III

Moviegoers in Japan may be a ways from the theatrical release of Sato Shinsuke’s latest feature, Kingdom, but they’re not being forgotten in the least. That the campaign just rolled out a brand new poster to further entice the already enticed stipulates this and given the ceremony of the film’s international reception per Sony’s acquisition, one hopes we’ll be obliged here stateside very soon. I know I, myself, want this. Peep it: Set in ancient China during the Warring States Period, the comic ‘KINGDOM’ by Yasuhisa Hara and published by Shueisha tells on a grand scale the tale of a war orphan, Shin who dreams of becoming a great general, and the young king Ei Sei (later the first emperor of Qin) who aims to unite a country. The series began its run within ‘Weekly Young Jump’ magazine in January of 2006 and has since been published into 52 collected […]

The New KINGDOM Trailer Teases A Sweeping, Emotional Period Action Epic!

Lee B. Golden III

Toho is going hard with their latest sell for Sato Shinsuke’s latest, Kingdom. You can tell too, because now they’ve armed up with the sweet musicianship of One Ok Rock to elevate things, and they’re packing on with a fresh new trailer that will get your heart racing. Set in ancient China during the Warring States Period, the comic ‘KINGDOM’ by Yasuhisa Hara and published by Shueisha tells on a grand scale the tale of a war orphan, Shin who dreams of becoming a great general, and the young king Ei Sei (later the first emperor of Qin) who aims to unite a country. The series began its run within ‘Weekly Young Jump’ magazine in January of 2006 and has since been published into 52 collected volumes selling over 38 million copies (as of October 2018). At long last production has begun on KINGDOM, the live-action period spectacle based on […]

KINGDOM: Don’t Miss The International Trailer For Sato Shinsuke’s Explosive Warring States Period Epic

Lee B. Golden III

Anyone who’s been around the last twenty years with a keen eye on Japanese cinema is well aware of director Sato Shinsuke – an artist more than worthy of praise for his efforts in film and television. Last year was a banner year for The Princess Blade and I Am A Hero helmer who drew more appeal with Inuyashiki from Toho, and the Netflix release of Bleach. With Toho further keen on tapping into the fervor with Sato’s latest effort, Kingdom, the studio is ripe for the occasion once more as the film’s April 19 Japan release nears. Set in ancient China during i the Warring States Period, the comic ‘KINGDOM’ by Yasuhisa Hara and published by Shueisha tells on a grand scale the tale of a war orphan, Shin who dreams of becoming a great general, and the young king Ei Sei (later the first emperor of Qin) who […]

FIVE-A-DAY COUNTDOWN: John Wick 3, Kingdom, The Bouncer, Buffalo Boys, Hobbs & Shaw

Lee B. Golden III

For the next four weeks of weekdays, we’re looking toward a raft of at least a hundred films at five titles a day to help ring in the new year. Some of these are in no certain order but I hope you’ll find it useful. John Wick: Parabellum: The fuse is lit once more as Chad Stahelski returns to the helm for what may be the third and final outing of the John Wick franchise before it spins off into Ballerina and upcoming series, The Continental. Keanu Reeves remounts for the title role as a hitman on the run following the events of last year’s hit sequel. May 17, 2019 Kingdom: After blowing our collective brains to smithereens in 2017 with Inuyashiki and Bleach, anyone under the notion that Sato Shinsuke hasn’t been busy can easily be proven sorely mistaken with the most recent teaser footage for Sony’s new, long-awaited […]

KINGDOM: Sato Shinsuke’s Next Big Scale Manga Adaptation Epic Lands A First Trailer And Poster

Lee B. Golden III

You can pretty much call it a banner year for I Am A Hero director Sato Shinsuke now that he’s blown minds from Japan and throughout the relative fandom with his adaptations of Inuyashiki and Bleach. With fans in unison especially calling for a sequel to the latter following its wide platform rollout on Netflix, you can certainly expect the noise to keep going, although tack on something else impressive…say, the latest official teaser trailer for Warring States period drama, Kingdom and you’re pretty much left with your head spinning at this point. Taken from the pages of Hara Yasuhisa’s 2006 Weekly Shonen Jump publication, the film sets actor Yamazaki Kento starring with Yoshizawa Ryo for the Qin Dynasty tale about an orphan whose fateful encounter with the young boy destined to be emperor sees the former becoming his general in their efforts to unify China. Yamazaki, whose recent credits […]

MMA Drama Series KINGDOM Gets Another Round With Season Three

Lee B. Golden III

A lot is happening at the Navy St. gym in the course of AT&T’s and Endemol Shine’s hit Audience network show, Kingdom. Bitter rivalries, sex, controversy and family drama clearly have equal weight in the battles faced outside the MMA ring for our characters since the show took off in 2014 and ran for two seasons. Well, if you’re craving for more then you can thank the latest announcement stating the series’s renewal for a third season. Read it below! EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T AUDIENCE Network® has picked up a 3rd season of the hit show “KINGDOM.” This follows a successful 2nd season of the critically acclaimed drama series. The “KINGDOM” cast features Frank Grillo (“Captain America”), Kiele Sanchez (“The Purge”), Matt Lauria (“Friday Night Lights”), Jonathan Tucker (“Parenthood”), Nick Jonas, Joanna Going (“House of Cards”) and Natalie Martinez (“Secrets and Lies”). Creator, writer and showrunner […]

KINGDOM Gets A Season Two Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

DirecTV’s hit MMA family drama, Kingdom, hit high scores among TV viewers upon the first season last October. Alas, it’s no surprise that fans are delighted for the show’s forthcoming second and third-season run, with an October 14 date for season two pending; Not to mention it gives us martial arts action with intense drama from an amazing cast and newly added Natalie Martinez now in the mix. Consider me sold. SYNOPSIS: The family drama Kingdom is set against the gritty world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Venice, California. Season two finds Alvey’s (Frank Grillo) improved fortunes have led to a bigger gym, but also a bigger appetite for risk. Ryan “The Destroyer” Wheeler (Matt Lauria) defends his title, while Jay (Jonathan Tucker) finds a new obsession. Lisa (Kiele Sanchez) focuses on managing Alicia (Natalie Martinez), an impulsive but skilled female fighter. Nate’s (Nick Jonas) determination to get back in the […]

DirecTV's MMA Drama, KINGDOM, Gets Two More Seasons

Lee B. Golden III

DirecTV’s gritty new original family fight drama, Kingdom, aired last week, and the response from fans and critics have been made quite clear. As such, the new television show has just been greenlit for twenty more new episodes which will begin filming next Spring, with the first ten to air next Fall, followed by the remaining ten for Fall 2016. Eight more episodes are left for this year’s first season of Kingdom, set in Venice, California and centered on actor Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Raid [upcoming]) who plays an MMA fight gym owner struggling to maintain his complicated relationships with his sons. Also starring and returning for next year’s season are actors Jonathan Tucker, Nick Jonas and Matt Lauria, and actresses Kiele Sanchez and Joanna Going. Kingdom currently airs Wednesday nights at 9:00pm Eastern and Pacific on the Audience Network. Check your local listings, or visit […]

DirecTV Unveils New Original Series Trailer For KINGDOM

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Frank Grillo has been prominently making himself known in the action genre with titles like Warrior, this year’s releases of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Purge: Anarchy, and next Spring’s production of The Raid remake. It’s a notable pattern, and one in our favor as action fans as we look toward another effort that now sees the actor in a mentoring role for DirecTV’s gritty new mixed martial arts original series drama, Kingdom. The series was announced officially back in June via press release for a ten-episode program set to air exclusively on October 8, 2014 at 9:00pm EST. for DirecTV’s Audience Channel. The series was created by Bryan Balasco and Endemol Studios, and joins Grillo with actors Matt Lauria, Jonathan Tucker and former boyband member-turned solo artist and actor Nick Jonas, and actresses Kiele Sanchez and Joanna Going. Kingdom” is a story about family, loyalty, ambition, […]