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Prime Video Orders Series "Rise of the Empress" From JuVee Productions, Significant Productions, and Gemma Chan
Series, based on the popular books, is written by Crystal Liu who co-showruns with James Wong
CULVER CITY, California - January 22, 2025 - Today, Prime Video announced that it has ordered Rise of the Empress to series. The series comes from JuVee Productions (The Woman King, G20), Significant Productions (Godfather of Harlem, Fruitvale Station), and Gemma Chan (The Creator, Crazy Rich Asians) and is based on the popular book series of the same name. Crystal Liu (American Horror Story) will serve as co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer on the series alongside Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominated director and producer James Wong (American Horror Story). Rise of the Empress is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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?
"This story, led by an incredible female heroine, is an inspiring tale of strength and resilience," said Nick Pepper, head, US SVOD TV development and series - wholly owned, Amazon MGM Studios. "Crystal, alongside the teams at JuVee and Significant, and Gemma, have done an amazing job capturing the magic created by Julie and we are thrilled to welcome James to help bring this brilliant project to life in a way that will resonate with our global Prime Video customers."
"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," said Liu. "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."
"At JuVee, it is one of our missions to identify the stories that can transcend borders," said Viola Davis, Andrew Wang, and Julius Tennon from JuVee Productions. "Julie C. Dao's book series not only builds a fantastical world of opulence and mystery out of Asian history but centers a character that in her defiance to be what she is expected to be, finds the strength that may give her the power to change the world. We are excited to be working with the incredible Crystal Liu, James Wong, and our partners at Amazon, Significant, and Gemma Chan to bring this story to life on the screen."
Added Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi from Significant Productions: "We are ecstatic to witness Crystal's vision come to fruition, alongside the venerable James Wong. It's truly joyful to be on this inspirational journey with Amazon, JuVee Productions, and Gemma Chan."
"I'm delighted to be working with this inspiring team to bring Julie C. Dao's incredible books to the screen," said Gemma Chan. "With the fresh vision of Crystal Liu, the esteemed James Wong and our wonderful partners JuVee, Significant and Amazon MGM Studios, I couldn't be more excited for audiences to discover the spectacular world and unforgettable characters of Rise of the Empress."
Crystal Liu and James Wong will serve as co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Executive producers include Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and head of television Andrew Wang for JuVee Productions; Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi for Significant Productions; and Gemma Chan. The book's author, Julie C. Dao, will serve as a co-executive producer. The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios.
About JuVee Productions:
JuVee Productions is an artist driven production company that develops and produces film, television, theater, audio, and digital content across all spaces of narrative entertainment worldwide. JuVee Productions seeks to produce economical yet premium, sophisticated, and character-driven stories such as the widely acclaimed The Woman King, Troop Zero, The Last Defense, The First Lady, and the upcoming action thriller G20, among others. With an emphasis on producing narratives from a diverse range of emerging and established voices alike, JuVee Productions is the go-to creative hub where the next generation of filmmakers and artists have the space to craft dynamic stories spanning the broad spectrum of humanity.
About Significant Productions:
Significant Productions' mission is to create opportunities and push inclusivity for underrepresented narratives and storytellers by championing culturally significant films and television shows starring BIPOC talent, alongside diversified representation behind the camera.
Under that banner, award-winning producing partners Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi are renowned for discovering talent, including Ryan Coogler and Chloe Zhao, whose debut films Fruitvale Station (2013) and Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) they produced. With Significant Productions, they've also created critically acclaimed and monetarily successful films by auteur filmmakers like Dope (2015), Roxanne Roxanne (2018), Sorry to Bother You (2018), and Passing (2021). More recently, the company produced Erica Tremblay's Fancy Dance (2024) starring Lily Gladstone - with its theatrical and platform release by Apple Films receiving rave reviews by critics and global audiences alike.
In television, Whitaker and Yang Bongiovi are executive producers of Godfather of Harlem and the docuseries Hollywood Black, and are developing a diverse array of feature films and TV projects that follow in Significant Productions' mandate.
About Prime Video
Prime Video is a first-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one app available across thousands of devices. On Prime Video, customers can customize their viewing experience and find their favorite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports - including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Red One, Road House, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Fallout, Reacher, The Boys, Cross, and The Idea of You; licensed fan favorites; Prime member exclusive access to coverage of live sports including Thursday Night Football, WNBA, and NWSL, and acclaimed sports documentaries including Bye Bye Barry and Kelce; and programming from partners such as Apple TV+, Max, Crunchyroll and MGM+ via Prime Video add-on subscriptions, as well as more than 500 free ad-supported (FAST) Channels. Prime members in the U.S. can share a variety of benefits, including Prime Video, by using Amazon Household. Prime Video is one benefit among many that provides savings, convenience, and entertainment as part of the Prime membership. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles via the Prime Video Store, and can enjoy even more content for free with ads. Customers can also go behind the scenes of their favorite movies and series with exclusive X-Ray access. For more info visit www.amazon.com/primevideo.
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