Crime drama Warrior will be on HBO Max for season three. The show, based on the writings of Bruce Lee and created by Jonathan Tropper, previously aired on HBO sibling Cinemax. 

Warrior is about the Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 19th century. Season two came out in October. Seasons one and two are streaming on HBO Max. 

Trooper, a novelist, executive produces the show under Tropper Ink Productions. Justin Lin, Danielle Woodrow and Andrew Schneider exec produce for Perfect Storm Entertainment and Shannon Lee does so for Bruce Lee Entertainment. Brad Kane and Richard Sharkey executive produce as well. 

The cast includes Andrew Koji, Kieran Bew, Celine Buckens, Olivia Cheng, Dianne Doan, Dean Jagger, Langley Kirkwood and Maria-Elena Laas. 

“Warrior introduced viewers to a distinct world from the past, executed with dynamic action and relevant storytelling, with a brilliant cast led by Andrew Koji,” said Casey Bloys, chief content officer, HBO and HBO Max. “We can’t wait to see what Jonathan, Justin and Shannon will bring to the next chapter of this series on HBO Max.” 

Tropper previously created Cinemax series Banshee. 

“Justin, Jonathan, and I were thrilled when Warrior was put on HBO platforms to be discovered by a whole new legion of fans,” said Shannon Lee. “Now we are excited and grateful for the opportunity to do another season, and we applaud HBO Max for understanding the importance of telling this story and for continuing to support this level of representation in our industry. I just know that my father is grinning right now to see this show he dreamed of so long ago continuing to beat the odds.  We have every intention of delivering the same high level of meaningful storytelling and Gung Fu action in season 3!”

Warrior, the martial arts drama that begins season two on Cinemax Oct. 2, is set in the late 19th century, but its look at the struggle of immigrants makes it timely in 2020, said creator Jonathan Tropper. “We tell a story from 1870 that’s still true today,” said Tropper. “A country built by immigrants, yet we struggle with our relationship with immigrants.” 

Warrior is a rough-and-tumble crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 19th century. Based on the writings of Bruce Lee, season two has ten episodes. Tropper, a novelist whose books include This is Where I Leave You and One Last Thing Before I Go, got into Lee when he was a child in New York City, learning martial arts. “You can’t do that and not be aware of Bruce Lee,” he said. 

Over the years, Tropper, speaking from Toronto, where he was working on his Apple TV Plus series See, learned “how multifaceted Lee was,” he said, and an accomplished artist with “a lot of really good pencil drawings and illustrations.”

The series follows Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), a martial arts prodigy who emigrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances. After proving his worth as a fighter, Ah Sahm becomes a hatchet man for the Hop Wei, one of Chinatown’s most powerful Tongs (Chinese organized crime families). 

Season two follows rival Chinatown Tongs as they fight for dominance amidst the growing anti-Chinese fervor that threatens to destroy them all. The cast includes Kieran Bew, Celine Buckens and Olivia Cheng.

The show shoots in Cape Town, South Africa. Showrunner Tropper said they wanted to build a “self contained world”--streets, alleys and buildings from 19th century San Francisco’s Chinatown. It’s a massive set, and it would’ve cost a ton in Los Angeles or New York. 

Tropper executive produces Warrior under Tropper Ink Productions, alongside Justin Lin and Andrew Schneider for Perfect Storm Entertainment and Shannon Lee from Bruce Lee Entertainment. Brad Kane and Richard Sharkey also executive produce.  

Tropper previously created Banshee, which went for four seasons on Cinemax. 

He’s a busy man these days. His novels have been on hold since his screen work took off. “I haven’t written a book in quite a while--I’ve really been diving into TV and film,” said Tropper. He said he’s been in the middle of writing a novel forever. “The world is changing,” he added. “I have to reframe it.”

Tropper doesn’t practice martial arts anymore. “I’m older now and it’s fallen away,” he said. “Now I just write about it.”

End-of-the-World Fun on Amazon 

Utopia is on Amazon Prime. A group of young people come together when they discover that the conspiracy in a comic that foretells the demise of humanity is, in fact, real. 

That demise-of-humanity thing might feel a bit timely. “The show does feature a panic-inducing viral outbreak,” executive producer Jessica Rhoades said. “But it’s more about how different groups of people band together to save the world.”

The show is inspired by a U.K. series of the same name that ran 2013-2014. Exec producer Gillian Flynn added Dr. Christie, played by John Cusack, to the U.S. series. “I think viewers will see a John that they haven’t seen before,” said Rhoades. 

Rhoades and Flynn previously worked on HBO’s Sharp Objects. Rhoades received a bunch of Utopia scripts and read them until the wee hours. “It’s a different side of Gillian,” she said, with lots of “wicked humor.”

Tong Wars Brought to Life on Cinemax 

Martial arts drama Warrior begins season two on Cinemax Oct. 2. Based on the writings of Bruce Lee, it’s about the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 19th century. After proving his worth as a fighter, Ah Sahm becomes hatchet man for the Hop Wei gang. 

Warrior shoots in Cape Town. Creator Jonathan Tropper said producers needed to build a “self-contained world” — streets, alleys and buildings from 1800s California — and South Africa made
that possible. 

Immigration was a hot issue when Warrior takes place, and still is. “We tell a story from 1870 that’s still true today,” said Tropper. “A country built by immigrants, yet we struggle with our relationship with immigrants.”

New AMC Series Goes Beyond ‘The Walking Dead’ 

The Walking Dead: World Beyond debuts Oct. 4 on AMC, following the first generation raised in the post-apocalyptic world. Two teen sisters, Hope and Iris, set out on “a grand adventure,” as co-creator Matt Negrete puts it, and run into a bit of trouble, including zombies the series refers to as “empties.” 

Viewers won’t find Walking Dead characters in
the spinoff. “This is a whole other thing,” co-creator Scott M. Gimple said. “You won’t see Rick Grimes walking around the corner, saying, ‘Hey kids,
what’s up?’ ”

Negrete said World Beyond has similar horror and suspense, but “a bit more hopeful tone.”

The show is shot in Richmond, Virginia. It was slated for an April premiere, but COVID jammed things up. Gimple hopes World Beyond will provide a bit of entertainment in these trying times. “The show offers people an escape,” he said. “An escape from their homes, from the monotony, from the pressure people are feeling.” λ

Cinemax martial arts drama Warrior begins season two Oct. 2. Based on the writings of Bruce Lee, Warrior was created by Jonathan Tropper. There are 10 new episodes. 

Warrior is a gritty crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 19th century. The series follows Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), a martial arts prodigy who emigrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances. After proving his worth as a fighter, Ah Sahm becomes a hatchet man for the Hop Wei, one of Chinatown’s most powerful Tongs (Chinese organized crime family). 

Season two follows rival Chinatown Tongs as they fight for dominance amidst the growing anti-Chinese fervor that threatens to destroy them all.

The cast includes Kieran Bew, Celine Buckens, Olivia Cheng, Dianne Doan and Dean Jagger.

A novelist, Tropper executive produces under Tropper Ink Productions, alongside Justin Lin and Andrew Schneider for Perfect Storm Entertainment and Shannon Lee from Bruce Lee Entertainment. Brad Kane and Richard Sharkey also executive produce.  

Tropper previously produced Banshee. 

Cinemax has renewed its freshman drama series Warrior for a second season, the network said Wednesday.

The series, based on the writings of Bruce Lee, follows a martial arts prodigy who emigrates from China to San Francisco during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the second half of the 19th century, according to the network.

"Bruce Lee's vision is alive and well," said Len Amato, president of HBO Films, Miniseries and Cinemax programming in a statement. "Warrior combines high-energy martial arts with wit and brains. We're thrilled to renew such a great show for a second season on Cinemax.” 

CBS All Access’ resurrection of The Twilight Zone sci-fi series and the return of BBC America's Killing Eve drama show leads a long list of series premiering this week.

The new version of The Twilight Zone, created and hosted by Jordan Peele, will premiere April 1, according to the streaming service. Also premiering on April’s Fools Day is National Geographic’s new documentary series Hostile Planet.

In addition, several freshman series will return for their sophomore seasons, including BBC America’s Killing Eve, TBS’ The Last O.G., and Showtime’s The Chi.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting this week on cable networks and streaming services: 

April 1 -- Into the Dark: I’m Just F*cking With You (movie) -- Hulu

April 4 -- Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger (returning series) -- Freeform

April 5 -- The Tick (returning series) -- Prime Video

April 5 -- Warrior (drama series) -- Cinemax

April 6 -- Native Son (movie) -- HBO

Cinemax has greenlit straight-to-series a martial arts-themed drama inspired by Bruce Lee.

Warrior follows Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who immigrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances, and becomes a hatchet man for one of Chinatown’s most powerful tongs (Chinese organized crime family), according to network officials.

The series, based on Lee’s writings, will be executive produced by Jonathan Tropper (Banshee). Justin Lin, Danielle Woodrow and Shannon Lee will also serve as executive producers on the project.

“Warrior follows in the spirit of the tradition of adrenalized Cinemax dramas that we established with Strike Back and Banshee,” said Kary Antholis, president of HBO series and Cinemax programming in a statement. “We are brimming with excitement for this unique martial arts series combining Bruce Lee’s inspired conception with the immense storytelling talents of Jonathan Tropper and Justin Lin.”