A new series is in the works based on the books that inspired Ang Lee‘s 2000 classic “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire.
The series is in development from Sony Pictures Television and is intended for release via Amazon Prime Video. Though Amazon has been good about mining the IP from the MGM library, it was Sony Pictures Classics that originally released Lee’s film.
Jason Ning, a producer on “Lucifer,” is the writer and executive producer on the new “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” series, which will be based on five Crane-Iron Pentalogy book series by author Wang Dulu. The film from 2000 was based on the fourth book in the series, also titled “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” that was serialized beginning in 1941.
The film was set in 19th century Imperialist China and followed two master warriors and their forbidden love after the priceless Green Destiny sword is stolen by a master thief. Here’s the official synopsis of the series:
Amidst stunning landscapes and spectacular action, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ follows Shu Lien and Mu Bai, two star-crossed warriors, as they struggle between forbidden love and the pull of modernity — caught between preserving their way of life or embracing a future together. Based on the Crane-Iron Pentalogy book series by Wang Dulu.
Ronald D. Moore is also an executive producer on behalf of his Tall Ship Productions banner, and non-writing EPs are Johnny Levin and Roy Lee for Vertigo Entertainment, Maril Davis for Tall Ship Productions, and Hong Wang and Qin Wang for the Wang Dulu estate. Ying Lou serves as co-executive producer.
Lee’s “Crouching Tiger” was a box office smash and remains acclaimed as one of the best martial arts and wuxia films of at least the 21st Century, if not all time. The film was nominated for Best Picture, earning 10 nominations and winning four. It held the record for the international film with the most Oscar nominations ever up until this year when “Emilia Pérez” broke it. The movie also grossed $213.9 million worldwide and spawned a sequel, “Sword of Destiny” in 2016, in which star Michelle Yeoh reprised her role from the original. The original film starred Yeoh, Chow Yun-Fat, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen.
Amazon earlier today gave the official green light to a new series based on “Carrie” from creator Mike Flanagan ahead of that horror classic’s 50th anniversary.
Deadline first reported the news.
