#FIRSTLOOK: NETFLIX’S “MARCO POLO” RENEWED FOR SECOND SEASON | ADDITIONAL SERIES PREMIERE DATES ANNOUNCED INCLUDING “DAREDEVIL”

It was only a matter of time before we got a confirmation. Fans across the Internet are loving Netflix‘s MARCO POLO and the leading Internet Streaming Service has just given the green light for a second season, comprised of 10 episodes. If you haven’t had a chance to enjoy it, yet you can now stream it. If you already are loving it, read our Chat with Star Olivia Cheng and Producer Patrick MacManus here!

 

Premiere streaming dates for some other upcoming Series have just been announced below:

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Friday, March 6, 2015

From creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, this half-hour single-camera comedy series stars Ellie Kemper as Kimmy, who escapes a doomsday cult and decides to reclaim her life and start over in New York City. Armed with just a backpack, light-up sneakers, and a couple of way-past-due library books, Kimmy’s ready to take on a world she didn’t even think existed anymore. Wide-eyed but resilient, nothing is going to stand in her way. The 13-episode series, produced by Universal Television, also stars Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane and more. Fey and Carlock serve as executive producers, along with David Miner and Jeff Richmond.

Bloodline – Friday, March 20, 2015

When the eldest brother and black sheep of the Rayburn family returns home, he exposes the emotional demons that lie at the core of the family, threatening to tear them apart. With a stellar cast headlined by Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz, Jacinda Barrett, Jamie McShane, Enrique Murciano, Sissy Spacek, and Sam Shepard, the 13-episode series is from executive producers Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman and Glenn Kessler (Damages), and produced by Sony Pictures Television.

Marvel’s Daredevil – Friday, April 10, 2015

Blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the Super Hero “Daredevil” in modern day Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Produced by Marvel Television and ABC Studios, with executive producers Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus), Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Drew Goddard (Cabin In The Woods), the series also stars Rosario Dawson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson.

Official Artwork here:

Grace and Frankie – Friday, May 8, 2015

In this irreverent and touching series, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star as Grace and Frankie, a pair of frenemies whose lives are turned upside down – and permanently intertwined – when their husbands leave them for each other. Together, they must face starting over in their 70s in a 21st century world. The series also stars Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston, Brooklyn Decker, Ethan Embry, June Diane Raphael and Baron Vaughn. Created by Marta Kauffman (Friends) and Howard J. Morris (Home Improvement), the 13-episode series is produced by Skydance Productions and executive producers Kauffman, Morris, Fonda, Tomlin, Paula Weinstein, David Ellison, David Goldberg and Marcy Ross.

Kids and Family Originals

Netflix continues to expand options for families and kids, working with some of the best creative minds in the space to bring high quality, global animation and live-action series to kids of all ages. In the coming weeks, Netflix will launch new titles including DreamWorks Animation‘s The Adventures of Puss in Boots (premieres in North America, Latin America, UK/Ireland, the Nordics, Benelux, and France Jan. 16), Ever After High: Spring Unsprung (premieres globally Feb. 6) and the second season of the hit series Mako Mermaids (premieres in North America, Latin America, UK/Ireland, the Nordics and Benelux on Feb 13).

Happy streaming!

(Photo credit: Netflix)

#INTERVIEW: OLIVIA CHENG + PATRICK MACMANUS ON “MARCO POLO”

We’ve all heard of MARCO POLO, but believe me, you’ve never seen it like this.  Netflix‘s latest Original Series is being touted as its most expensive to-date and is a collaboration between The Weinstein Co. and the leading Internet Streaming Service.  The Adventure follows the famous titular Explorer as he travels the exotic Silk Road to the court of the great Kublai Khan.  Through the ten-episode Series, Marco Polo (Lorenzo Richelmy) befriends the Khan (Benedict Wong) who violently makes his bid to be Emperor of the World. Along the way we become a part of many complex Characters’ lives and their  web of sex, betrayal and power.

Co-Executive Producer Patrick MacManus and Star Olivia Cheng came to Toronto recently to promote the exciting MARCO POLO, poised to debut this December to Netflix Subscribers exclusively.  The Duo reflected upon their experience being a part of the visually-stunning Series which not only streams, but surely “steams” this Winter.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Cheng formerly was a Broadcast Journalist and even at one point  a Correspondent on Entertainment Tonight Canada before deciding to pursue a career on the opposite side of the Red Carpet.  New Jersey-raised and Washington, D.C.-educated Patrick MacManus has a sizeable list of Television Credits to his name as Actor, considering himself more now a Writer.

In an Entertainment Industry where Asian Faces are few and far between  in North America, MacManus is proud of what the Series will accomplish, transcending the confines of race and culture.  “I’m proud of fact that we held true to the Story and time period and hopefully people will look at Series and forget what they are seeing and just relate to Characters and Story”, he says.  ” We created the most compelling, sometimes sadistic Characters we could. Nationality went out the window in favour of Story.”.

Cheng is asked what her greatest challenge was  filming MARCO POLO, in which she stars as the commanding Beauty Mei Lin, a Woman separated from her young Daughter at the hands of her Brother  Jia Sidao (Chin Han), and forced to a life as a Concubine to the Khan.  She must use her guile to survive and ensure the same for her Child. “Any time you recognize you have a really good opportunity, you feel a degree of fear with the responsibility that comes with it”, says Cheng. ” Am I gonna be able to rise to the occasion and do this well? I feel this is such an important Character to do well”. “I’m very proud of our work.  27 nations around the World –  Oscar Winners and Nominees –  talent spanning 40 year careers, all converging in Malaysia to put it all together.”.

She speaks further on Mei Lin stating, “She is demonized for her strength, intellect and ability to maneouver things sometimes – equally as her Brother, a  Man – whom holds so much power in Society. Going over to the Mongolian side, it is disconcerting for her to see Wife of the Khan, Empress Chabi (Joan Chen) so revered.”.  “It’s frightening for her to see strength and power mirrored in her face.”.  Cheng reveals that she read multiple Social Science papers in preparation for her Role to understand power relations for Concubines and how this hinged much on the Men around them.

I ask about some of the drastic physical transformations we see from some of the Talent in MARCO POLO, whether it be in how they speak or look physically.  Case in point, the Series’ Central Character, the Khan is played by an unrecognizable Wong, who normally is lithe and known to others as “Skinny Benny“, MacManus reveals. “Physicality is something huge here and we all threw ourselves into it. Benedict gained at least 10 stone (140 lbs).  The nickname for his stomach was “Meat Baby“, adds Cheng. “It’s not easy to keep gaining that much weight and maintaining it.”.   She explains, “We were in Stunt Tent Training with World-Class Teams from around the World transforming and sculpting muscles to tell our stories as Warriors.”.

In terms of the distinct accent which the Characters speak in this Series, Cheng states ” Producers found Talent from allover the World. We needed a realm to stay within with the help of Dialect Coaches. Emotionally, everyone did own brand of research to know the appropriate emotional places their Characters were working with.’.

Several jaws also are bound to drop with some of the racier scenes in the earlier part of the Series.  While MacManus feels there are some other Series currently which perhaps exploit sex and nudity a bit much, he is adamant, “I  challenge people to watch any moment with nudity in MARCO POLO, stop to think because that is what scene is all about.”.  “It’s not just about the nudity – there always is a reason”, he says, joking that his Series would be essentially “Naked Kung-Fu”. “There will come a point in time when you’ll never see another naked body or sex because the Story doesn’t support it.  We desperately went out of  our way to see that sex and nudity were not just being used for sex and nudity.”.

 

Netflix Canada stream MARCO POLO on Friday, December 12, 2014.

Click here for your chance to win a year’s Netflix Canada Subscription so that you too can witness that MARCO POLO magic!

 

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Netflix)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN A ONE-YEAR NETFLIX CANADA SUBSCRIPTION

Everybody is talking about the hot new Series MARCO POLO, out December 12, 2014 only on Netflix and we certainly don’t want you to be left in-the-cold this Winter! We want you and your loved ones to witness the bountiful selection of programming available on the Internet’s most popular Streaming Service this Holiday Season!

 

See the Trailer for MARCO POLO:

Synopsis:
Marco Polo is an epic adventure that follows the early years of the famous explorer as he travels the exotic Silk Road to the great Kublai Khan’s court. But Marco soon finds that navigating the Khan’s world of greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry will be his greatest challenge yet, even as he becomes a trusted companion to the Khan in his violent quest to become the Emperor of the World.

We’re giving you Willionaire$ a chance to win a one-year subscription free to Netflix Canada!

Did you also know that Netflix now has Gift Cards in $30 or $60 Denominations to gift yourself or your Family and Friends this Holiday! No credit? No membership? No problem! Netflix got you.

More details below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. Re-Tweet the below or from Facebook share this Post for an extra chance!

http://mrwillwong.com/netflix2014 @MRWILLW wants us to #win a one-year @Netflix_CA Subscription! #MarcoPolo streams 12/12!

Good luck, Willionaire$!

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: TEASER TRAILER FOR NETFLIX’S “MARCO POLO”

NETFLIX is prepping the release of gorgeous new Series MARCO POLO. A new Teaser Trailer has just surfaced and you must witness the scandal!

Official Synopsis:

In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, Marco Polo, starring newcomer Lorenzo Richelmy, is based on the famed explorer’s adventures in Kublai Khan’s court in 13th century China.

The sweeping drama’s ten episodes were shot in Italy, Kazakhstan and Malaysia. The global Cast includes Olivia Cheng, Benedict Wong Claudia Kim, Mahesh Jadu and Rick Yune.

John Fusco, who wrote the Academy-Award nominated feature Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, created the series and is executive producer and showrunner along with Dan Minahan, whose previous work includes Homeland and Game of Thrones. Academy-Award nominated directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) directed the first two hours and serve as executive producers.

See the Teaser:

Netflix Canada stream MARCO POLO on Friday, December 12, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Netlfix Canada/The Weinstein Co.)