Although Banshee ended after four seasons, in May of 2016, Cinemax isn’t done with co-creator Jonathan Tropper, yet. The premium cable network has just ordered his Warrior TV show to series. A 19th Century martial arts crime drama, Warrior was inspired by an idea from the late Bruce Lee. Although the press release says Warrior received a straight-to-series order, Cinemax did order a Warrior pilot, in August of last year.

Production on the first 10-episode season of Warrior will begin in Cape Town, South Africa, this season. The Cinemax TV series takes place during the Tong Wars in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Cinemax says it centers on 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).” Tropper is executive producing under his Tropper Ink Productions banner. Perfect Storm Entertainment’s Justin Lin and Danielle Woodward are also executive producing, along with Bruce Lee Entertainment’s Shannon Lee.

Check out this Cinemax press release, for more.

CINEMAX PICKS UP TONG WARS DRAMA SERIES WARRIOR, INSPIRED BY AN IDEA FROM MARTIAL ARTS LEGEND BRUCE LEE

CINEMAX has picked up the straight-to-series drama WARRIOR, it was announced today by Kary Antholis, president, HBO Mini-series and CINEMAX Programming. Starting production on its ten-episode season this fall in Cape Town, South Africa, the show is inspired by an idea from Bruce Lee and created and executive produced by Jonathan Tropper (creator of CINEMAX’s “Banshee”) under Tropper Ink Productions. Justin Lin and Danielle Woodrow will executive produce on behalf of Perfect Storm Entertainment, and Shannon Lee will executive produce for Bruce Lee Entertainment.

“WARRIOR follows in the spirit of the tradition of adrenalized CINEMAX dramas that we established with ‘Strike Back’ and ‘Banshee’,” said Antholis. “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.”

WARRIOR is a gritty, action-packed crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the second half of the 19th century. The series 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).

“As a show that proudly bears the imprimatur of Bruce Lee, it’s our intention to deliver not only explosive martial arts action — which we will — but also a powerful and complex immigration drama that is as relevant today as it was in the 1870s,” says Tropper.

“I’ve always admired Bruce Lee for his trailblazing efforts opening doors for Asians in entertainment and beyond,” notes Lin. “So I was intrigued when Danielle told me about the urban legend of his never-produced idea for a TV show and suggested we bring it to life. Then, when Shannon shared with us her father’s writings — rich with Lee’s unique philosophies on life, and through a point of view rarely depicted on screen — Danielle and I knew that Perfect Storm had to make it.

“Partnering with CINEMAX has led to a wonderful collaboration with Jonathan Tropper, who has created a fantastic series inspired by Lee’s writings. We are all honored to continue what he started,” he adds.

WARRIOR is produced for CINEMAX by Perfect Storm Entertainment, Tropper Ink Productions and Bruce Lee Entertainment.

What do you think? How do you like the sound of the Warrior TV series? Who would you cast in it? Will you check out the series premiere on Cinemax?