James R | On 23, Oct 2015

Amazon has acquired the exclusive UK rights to AMC’s Into the Badlands.

The genre-bending martial arts series, loosely based on the Chinese tale Journey to the West, is set in “a devastated future world controlled by powerful feudal baron”, where ruthless warrior Sunny (Daniel Wu) and a young boy, M.K. (Aramis Knight) venture across the titular dangerous land.

The marks the latest in a string of major TV moves for Amazon. The streaming service is currently releasing a new original series every single month – the next being The Man in the High Castle in November, Episode 2 of which is available to stream for free this weekend – and only last week premiered Mr. Robot exclusively in the UK.

Amazon and AMC already have a strong relationship, with previous deals between them including period computing drama Halt & Catch Fire and the Jamie Bell-starring Turn. The Walking Dead is also exclusive to Amazon’s subscription service, which currently offers Seasons 1 to 4 for streaming, and Fear the Walking Dead will be released on Amazon Prime next year.

“We’re delighted to announce that we’re bringing another world-class TV series from AMC exclusively to our Amazon Prime customers here in the UK,” says Chris Bird, Film & TV Strategy Director, Amazon Instant Video UK Limited.

“Into the Badlands takes audiences on a cinematic journey like they have never experienced before, through a post-apocalyptic future, where stylishly choreographed fight scenes, and a thrilling storyline of the pursuit of power, freedom and destiny will have audiences hooked from the first scene.”

Wu’s mentor and Knight’s student are joined by Marton Csokas (The Lord of the Rings) as mercliness baron Quinn and 28 Weeks Later’s Emily Beecham as a new rival baron, The Widow.

Also in the cast are Oliver Stark (Luther), Orla Brady (Fringe), Sarah Bolger (Once Upon a Time), Ally Ioannides (Parenthood) and Madeleine Mantock (Edge of Tomorrow). Into the Badlands is created by showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Smallville), and executive produced by Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg (Pulp Fiction, Contagion), director David Dobkin (Shanghai Nights), fight director Stephen Fung (House of Fury) and Daniel Wu (Tai Chi Zero).

The series will premiere in the UK on Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday 17th November, within 48 hours of its US broadcast – with new episodes then arriving each week.

Amazon Prime Video costs £5.99 a month – or, if you want free one-day delivery on Amazon products and access to the Prime Music library of 1 million songs, is included as part of a full Amazon Prime membership, which costs £79 a year.

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