Marco Polo

2014–2016 · Action & Adventure, Drama · 2 seasons · ★ 7.4

Canceled

+16

Synopsis of Marco Polo

Marco Polo is an American historical drama series that depicts the early years of the Venetian explorer at the court of Kublai Khan, the fifth khan of the Mongol Empire and founder of China's Yuan dynasty. Marco is the son of a Venetian merchant who arrives in China to do business. Soon the Great Khan welcomes him as a guest and gives him a place at his court. There, the young man must navigate courtiers, advisers and members of the imperial family, all willing to use foreigners in their own power struggles. The rivalry with Kaidu, the khan's cousin, sets the pulse of the court. The story takes place in the 13th century, when the Mongol Empire dominates much of Asia. Created by John Fusco and released on Netflix, it stars Lorenzo Richelmy as Marco and Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan.

«Worlds will collide.»

2seasons

20episodes

65 minper episode

7.4audience scoreTMDB · 651 votes

7.9IMDb rating84,959 votes

Seasons of Marco Polo

Season 12014 · 10 eps · ★ 7.4

Season 22016 · 10 eps · ★ 8.0

Cast by Marco Polo

Lorenzo RichelmyMarco Polo20 episodes

Benedict WongKublai Khan20 episodes

Joan ChenEmpress Chabi20 episodes

Remy HiiCrown Prince Jingim20 episodes

Zhu ZhuKokachin20 episodes

Uli LatukefuByamba20 episodes

Mahesh JaduAhmad20 episodes

Tom WuLi Jinbao20 episodes

Olivia ChengMei Lin20 episodes

Rick YuneKaidu Khan20 episodes

Chin HanJia Sidao20 episodes

Claudia KimKhutulun20 episodes

Oon Shu AnJing Fei10 episodes

Vanessa VanderstraatenSorga10 episodes

Ramli Hassan10 episodes

Sofi Jikan10 episodes

Michelle YeohLotus10 episodes

Kevin LeeKnight10 episodes

Ludi LinBatbayerEpisode 1

Min KimSong InsurgentEpisode 1

Géza KovácsCrusader 1Episode 1

Technical Details

Created by: John Fusco
Address: Alik Sakharov, Daniel Minahan, David Petrarca, Espen Sandberg, John Maybury
Writing: Patrick Macmanus, John Fusco, Elizabeth Sarnoff, Kate Barnow, Brett Conrad
Music: Eric V. Hachikian, Peter Nashel
Photography: Romain Lacourbas, Vanja Černjul, Xavier Grobet
Production companies: Electus, TWC Television
Network or Platform: Netflix
Country: United States
Original Language: English
Premiere: December 12, 2014
Last Episode: July 1, 2016 (2x10)
Status: Canceled
Type: Fiction
Awards: Nominated for 1 Emmy Awards; 3 wins and 6 nominations in total.
Links: IMDb · TMDB · Official Website

Trivia about Marco Polo

The series was first developed at Starz, but attempts to shoot in China fell through, and the project returned to The Weinstein Company before Netflix picked it up.

Netflix paid about 90 million dollars for a ten-episode season, making it one of the most expensive series in the world, behind only Game of Thrones.

Sources cited by The Hollywood Reporter put the loss the two seasons cost Netflix at 200 million dollars.

A stunt performer on the series, Ju Kun, disappeared during pre-production at the same time Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 went missing.

Joan Chen read the book The Secret History of the Mongol Queens by Jack Weatherford to prepare for her role as Chabi, because she wanted her performance to reflect the culture of the era.

In 2015, Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj presented an award to John Fusco and the series' creative team for the positive image it gave of Mongolian culture.

The series received a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2015 for its original theme music, composed by Daniele Luppi.

Sources: Wikipedia (English)