Hit fantasy book series lands TV adaptation – with two Oscar-nominees on board
FOLLOWING the success of their Lord of The Rings adaptation, Prime Video is getting ready to unleash their latest fantasy adventure.
The streaming giant has been given the green light to make a new show based on a popular book series - and two VERY famous Oscar nominees are involved.
It's been revealed that Amazon MGM Studios have landed the rights to make Rise of the Empress into a new series.
The show will be an adaptation of Julie C. Dao’s book series of the same name.
Hollywood legend Viola Davis' production company JuVee, and Forest Whitaker's Significant Productions, are involved in making the Rise of the Empress come to life.
But the movie star power doesn't end there, as The Creator star Gemma Chan is the executive producer on the new series.
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The Crazy Rich Asians Star is joined by co-showrunners Crystal Liu and James Wong, who are known for American Horror Story.
Rise of the Empress follows the story of Xifeng, a peasant girl who is destined to be empress.
The official synopsis for the upcoming series says: “A Fantastical Ancient Asian Empire is on the verge of destruction, torn apart by insidious rivalry.
"The only hope: A marriage between the handsome Heir to the Throne and a Princess from one of its feuding Kingdoms.
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"As the competition to win the Prince’s hand heats up, chaos reigns when a dazzling peasant girl named Xifeng is thrown into the romance wars by a vengeful sorceress.
"In this fairytale of love and power, will Xifeng be able to save not only herself… but the whole Empire?”
Fans will be treated to eight episodes which will drop on Prime Video in 240 countries.
Speaking about bringing Rise of the Empress to life, showrunner Crystal said in a statement: “I’m honored and so excited for this opportunity to bring Julie C. Dao’s extraordinary books to the screen — a sumptuous, spellbinding tale of intrigue, with a subversive heroine for the ages.
“Feeling beyond grateful to be embarking on this journey with the legendary James Wong and our spectacular producers JuVee, Significant, and Gemma Chan.
"And I couldn’t ask for a more perfect partner than Amazon to build this epic, daring new world fueled by the wondrous, twisted things we do for love.”
The Rise of the Empress book series, which mixes fantasy and YA romance, includes the 2017 Forest of a Thousand Lanterns. the 2018 Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix and the 2019 follow-up Song of the Crimson Flower.
This latest Prime Video fantasy adventure follows on from the success of the Lord of the Rings adaptation, Rings of Power.