Marco Polo is an American drama streaming television series inspired by Marco Polo's early years in the court of Kublai Khan, the Khagan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). The show premiered on Netflix on December 12, 2014. The series was created by John Fusco and stars Lorenzo Richelmy in the title role, with Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan. It was produced by The Weinstein Company. On January 7, 2015, Marco Polo was renewed by Netflix for a 10-episode second season, which premiered on July 1, 2016.
On December 12, 2016, Netflix announced that they had canceled Marco Polo after two seasons. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the two seasons resulted in a $200 million loss for Netflix, and the decision to cancel was jointly taken by Netflix and The Weinstein Company.
Cast and characters
Main
Lorenzo Richelmy as Marco Polo, the son of a Venetian merchant who travels to China and is ultimately left there as a guest of Kublai Khan, rising to official position in the court. Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan, the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. Wong also stars in the Christmas special "One Hundred Eyes". Joan Chen as Empress Chabi, the Khan's favorite and most important wife who is a valued unofficial adviser. Rick Yune as Kaidu, the Khan's cousin and rival, leader of the House of Ögedei Amr Waked as Yusuf (season 1), the Khan's Vice Regent Remy Hii as Prince Jingim, the Khan's lawful son and heir. Zhu Zhu as Nergui Princess Kokachin, a servant of Princess Kokachin, the Blue Princess of the Bayaut tribe, who disguises herself as the Princess. Tom Wu as Hundred Eyes, a blind Taoist monk willfully enslaved to the Khan and sifu to Jingim and Marco Polo. Wu also stars in the Christmas special "One Hundred Eyes". Mahesh Jadu as Ahmad, a Persian Muslim from Bukhara who is the Khan's Minister of Finance and adopted son. Olivia Cheng as Jia Mei Lin, concubine of the late Emperor Lizong of Song and sister to chancellor Jia Sidao Uli Latukefu as Byamba, the Khan's bastard son, a general of both the imperial army and the Mongol horde Chin Han as Jia Sidao, the chancellor to the Song Emperors Huaizong and Duanzong, and Mei Lin's brother Pierfrancesco Favino as Niccolò Polo, a Venetian merchant and Marco's father Ron Yuan as Prince Nayan (season 2), Kublai's uncle and a Nestorian Christian Claudia Kim as Khutulun (season 2; recurring, season 1), Kaidu's daughter and favored child, niece of the Khan, and a superb warrior Jacqueline Chan as Shabkana (season 2), Kaidu's mother Leonard Wu as Orus (season 2), Kaidu's son Thomas Chaanhing as Gerel (season 2), a khan loyal to Kaidu Chris Pang as Arban (season 2), a khan loyal to Kaidu Gabriel Byrne as Pope Gregory X (season 2) Michelle Yeoh as Lotus (season 2), a Taoist nun and the designated protector of the Song Dynasty's boy emperor. Yeoh also stars in the Christmas special "One Hundred Eyes".
Recurring
Corrado Invernizzi as Maffeo Polo (season 1), Marco's uncle
Tan Kheng Hua as Xie Daoqing (season 1), empress dowager of the Song Dynasty
Lawrence Makoare as Za Bing (season 1), Princess Kokachin's eunuch protector
Vanessa Vanderstraaten as Princess Sorga (season 1), one of Jingim's wives
Patrick Teoh as General Red Brow (season 1) Shu An Oon as Jing Fei (season 1), Mei Lin's friend, also an imperial concubine Chloe Luthi (season 1) and Jaime Chew (season 2) as Ling Ling, the daughter of Mei Lin and the former Emperor of the Song Dynasty Nicholas Bloodworth as Tulga (season 1), Kokachin's guardian Max Kellady as Emperor Duzong, the son of the empress dowager and the former Emperor of the Song Dynasty Soffi Jikan as Milo Boy (season 1) Mano Maniam as The Old Man / Hassan-i Sabbah (season 1) Daniel Tuiara as Sukh (season 2), Ahmad's sworn Burmese warrior Tosh Zhang as Bai (season 2) Byambadorj Altanhuyag as General Qaban (season 2) Esther Low as Kokachin (season 2; guest, season 1), the real Blue Princess of the Mongol Bayaut tribe Jason Chong as General Kasar (season 2)
Notable guest stars
Baljinnyamyn Amarsaikhan as Ariq Böke (season 1), the Khan's brother, overseer of Karakorum Togo Igawa as Chuluun (season 2)