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 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.
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.
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”).
I’m not familiar with Wu’s work but this series sounds pretty promising. That said, I’m approaching it carefully. AMC hasn’t had a critically acclaimed new series in awhile.
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