Julie C. Dao’s fantasy book series “Rise of the Empress” will come to life on the small screen, as Amazon Prime Video has ordered a series adaptation.
“American Horror Story” alums Crystal Liu and James Wong will serve as co-showrunners. Executive producers on the project include Viola Davis through her JuVee Productions banner, Forest Whitaker via Significant Productions and Gemma Chan.
The logline of the series goes as follows: “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. 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?”
Prime Video will premiere “Rise of the Empress” in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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“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,” Liu said in a statement. “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.”
Liu and Wong executive produce alongside Davis, Julius Tennon and head of television Andrew Wang for JuVee Productions; Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi for Significant Productions; and Chan. Author Dao will serve as a co-executive producer. The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios.