{ "id": "epdgrejkn8", "slug": "marco-polo-2014-tv-series", "title": "Marco Polo (2014 TV series)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.historical-and-period-drama", "label": "Historical and period drama", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.historical-and-period-drama" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "United States · 2001 to 2020: Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001", "label": "United States · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Marco Polo is a Netflix historical drama (2014-2016) produced by The Weinstein Company, starring Lorenzo Richelmy and Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan; two seasons, about $200 million total, cancelled after season 2.", "snippet": "Marco Polo is a Netflix historical drama (2014-2016) produced by The Weinstein Company, starring Lorenzo Richelmy and Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan; two seasons, about $200 million total, cancelled after season 2.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.historical-and-period-drama", "markdown": "# Marco Polo (2014 TV series)\n\n**Marco Polo** is an American historical drama television series that streamed on Netflix from December 12, 2014, to 2016, dramatizing the Venetian merchant [Marco Polo](https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-polo)'s years at the 13th-century court of the Mongol ruler [Kublai Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kublai-khan). Produced by [The Weinstein Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-weinstein-company), it ran for two seasons of ten episodes each and was Netflix's most expensive series at the time of its premiere, with a reported first-season budget of $90 million.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo) • [2](https://time.com/3626227/netflix-marco-polo-review/) • [3](https://www.moviemaker.com/evolution-long-form-storytelling-interview-marco-polo-co-show-runner-daniel-minahan/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Network and run | Netflix; season 1 premiered December 12, 2014; season 2 premiered July 1, 2016; canceled after two seasons[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo) • [4](https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-cancels-marco-polo-after-2-seasons/) |\n| Production | The Weinstein Company; executive producers John Fusco, Daniel Minahan, Patrick Macmanus, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, and Elizabeth Sarnoff[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo) |\n| Lead cast | Lorenzo Richelmy as Marco Polo, Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan, Joan Chen as Empress Chabi, Zhu Zhu as Kokachin, Tom Wu as Hundred Eyes, Remy Hii as Prince Jingim[5](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/production-is-underway-on-epic-netflix-original-series-marco-polo-produced-by-the-weinstein-company-514051381.html) • [4](https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-cancels-marco-polo-after-2-seasons/) |\n| Budget | Reported $90 million for the first ten episodes; combined cost of both seasons topped $200 million[2](https://time.com/3626227/netflix-marco-polo-review/) • [6](https://www.tvline.com/news/marco-polo-cancelled-netflix-ended-two-seasons-776559/) |\n| Filming | Pinewood Studios in Malaysia, plus Kazakhstan and Italy; producers could not get permission to film in China[7](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/netflix-original-series-based-on-the-epic-adventures-of-marco-polo-to-premiere-in-late-2014-513550541.html) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo) |\n| Reception | Season 1 scored 32% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (44 reviews) against a 92% audience score; Metacritic Metascore 48[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo/s01) • [9](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/marco-polo-2014/critic-reviews/) |\n| Cancellation | Announced December 12, 2016; the first Netflix original series not to reach a third season[6](https://www.tvline.com/news/marco-polo-cancelled-netflix-ended-two-seasons-776559/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and cast\n\nThe series follows the young Marco Polo, who as a youth of 15 or 16 meets his father and uncle and travels thousands of miles across the [Silk Road](https://www.edgepedia.org/silk-road) to the court of Kublai Khan in what is now Beijing, where he becomes entangled in warfare and political and sexual intrigue as the Khan pursues his ambition to rule all China.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo) • [10](https://theprairieprogressive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ppspringissue2015.pdf) The first season opens with Marco left by his merchant father as a gift, servant, or hostage for the Khan in hopes of winning access to the Silk Road trade.[2](https://time.com/3626227/netflix-marco-polo-review/)\n\n**International cast.** The show assembled a global roster: Italian actor Lorenzo Richelmy played Marco Polo, and British actor [Benedict Wong](https://www.edgepedia.org/benedict-wong) played Kublai Khan. The ensemble included Zhu Zhu, Tom Wu, Remy Hii, and [Rick Yune](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-yune), with [Joan Chen](https://www.edgepedia.org/joan-chen) as Empress Chabi, Olivia Cheng as Mei Lin, Claudia Kim as Khutulun, Mahesh Jadu as Ahmad, and Uli Latukefu as Byamba.[5](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/production-is-underway-on-epic-netflix-original-series-marco-polo-produced-by-the-weinstein-company-514051381.html) • [4](https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-cancels-marco-polo-after-2-seasons/) The second season added Michelle Yeoh as the Handmaiden.[4](https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-cancels-marco-polo-after-2-seasons/)\n\n## Production history\n\nThe project began at Starz, which announced it at the January 2012 Television Critics Association press tour, with John Fusco, writer of the film *Hidalgo*, as executive producer and writer. Starz ran into trouble filming in China, and Netflix picked up the rights.[11](https://www.tvguide.com/news/netflix-marco-polo-1068916/) • [12](https://time.com/3548658/marco-polo-netflix-trailer/) Production was underway by April 2014, with the nine-episode first chapter (later delivered as ten episodes) shooting at the new [Pinewood Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/pinewood-studios) in Malaysia and on location in [Kazakhstan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kazakhstan) and Italy.[7](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/netflix-original-series-based-on-the-epic-adventures-of-marco-polo-to-premiere-in-late-2014-513550541.html) • [13](https://www.screenglobalproduction.com/news/2014/03/18/Netflix-Marco-Polo-heads-to-Malaysia-italy-and-kazakhstan)\n\nDirectors [Joachim Rønning](https://www.edgepedia.org/joachim-r-nning) and Espen Sandberg, whose film *[Kon-Tiki](https://www.edgepedia.org/kon-tiki-2012-film)* had been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, were attached to helm the series, alongside Daniel Minahan.[7](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/netflix-original-series-based-on-the-epic-adventures-of-marco-polo-to-premiere-in-late-2014-513550541.html) Fusco served as showrunner with Minahan; Patrick Macmanus, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, and Elizabeth Sarnoff were also executive producers.[4](https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-cancels-marco-polo-after-2-seasons/)\n\n## Reception\n\n**Critical response was mixed to negative for the first season.** Rotten Tomatoes recorded a 32% Tomatometer from 44 reviews for season 1, with a critics' consensus calling the show \"an all-around disappointment,\" while audience ratings were far warmer at 92%.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo/s01) Metacritic gave the season a Metascore of 48, labeled mixed or average, from 22 critic reviews.[9](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/marco-polo-2014/critic-reviews/) Reviewers praised the production values: Time called the vistas stupendous and the sets and costumes gorgeous, while faulting the dialogue and the show's lurching between court intrigue and pulp spectacle.[2](https://time.com/3626227/netflix-marco-polo-review/) The Washington Post found the series so plodding it was practically binge-proof.[14](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/netflixs-marco-polo-is-so-plodding-that-its-practically-binge-proof/2014/12/11/3e0753dc-7fed-11e4-81fd-8c4814dfa9d7_story.html) Season 2 fared far better with critics, reaching 100% on the Tomatometer, and the series' overall average stood at 66% from critics and 93% from audiences.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo)\n\nViewers responded more favorably than critics, and Netflix renewed the show for a second season.[10](https://theprairieprogressive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ppspringissue2015.pdf)\n\n## Historical liberties\n\nThe producers freely admitted to playing with facts and the timeline.[2](https://time.com/3626227/netflix-marco-polo-review/) A Foreign Policy review, citing Christopher Atwood, a professor of Central Eurasian Studies at [Indiana University Bloomington](https://www.edgepedia.org/indiana-university-bloomington), noted that the fictional Marco saves Kublai from ninja-like assassins and provides crucial intelligence against his brother Ariq's treachery, even though Ariq historically died when Marco Polo was 12; the review also observed that dialogue is conducted almost entirely in English apart from a smattering of Chinese, Farsi, and Mongolian.[15](https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/24/netflixs-marco-polo-is-cross-cultural-clunker/) Common Sense Media noted that although historical tidbits appear, facts generally take a backseat to visuals and improbable plot twists drawn from *The Travels of Marco Polo*, the 13th-century travel account that inspired the series.[16](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/marco-polo)\n\n## Cancellation and legacy\n\nNetflix canceled the series on December 12, 2016, after two seasons, making it the first Netflix original series not to reach a third season; the decision was mutual between Netflix and The Weinstein Company.[6](https://www.tvline.com/news/marco-polo-cancelled-netflix-ended-two-seasons-776559/) The Hollywood Reporter claimed the show was a $200 million loss for Netflix, and Fusco's writers' room had already written ten hours of a third season when the announcement came.[17](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jul/04/i-dont-know-if-ill-ever-get-over-it-how-it-feels-to-make-a-tv-flop) The show ended on a cliffhanger without a proper conclusion.[18](https://as.com/meristation/series/se-cumplen-10-anos-del-primer-gran-fracaso-de-netflix-la-juego-de-tronos-que-nunca-fue-f202609-n/)\n\n**The Game of Thrones comparison.** Before release, producer [Harvey Weinstein](https://www.edgepedia.org/harvey-weinstein) compared the series to *Game of Thrones*, a comparison Fusco later said was \"the biggest single blow to any chance our show had,\" made three years before the New York Times exposed Weinstein's history of rape and sexual assault.[17](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jul/04/i-dont-know-if-ill-ever-get-over-it-how-it-feels-to-make-a-tv-flop) Critics repeatedly measured the show against HBO's fantasy epic, generally to its disadvantage.[2](https://time.com/3626227/netflix-marco-polo-review/) • [12](https://time.com/3548658/marco-polo-netflix-trailer/) Despite the cancellation, the series retained a devoted following, and Fusco has said that fans still email him with favorite characters and spin-off ideas.[17](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jul/04/i-dont-know-if-ill-ever-get-over-it-how-it-feels-to-make-a-tv-flop)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Marco Polo, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo)\n2. [REVIEW: Khan Job: Netflix's Ludicrous Marco Polo, Time (December 11, 2014)](https://time.com/3626227/netflix-marco-polo-review/)\n3. [An Evolution in Long-Form Storytelling: An Interview with Marco Polo Co-Show Runner Daniel Minahan, MovieMaker Magazine](https://www.moviemaker.com/evolution-long-form-storytelling-interview-marco-polo-co-show-runner-daniel-minahan/)\n4. [Netflix Cancels 'Marco Polo' After 2 Seasons, TheWrap (December 12, 2016)](https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-cancels-marco-polo-after-2-seasons/)\n5. [Production Is Underway On Epic Netflix Original Series \"Marco Polo\" Produced By The Weinstein Company, CNW (April 8, 2014)](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/production-is-underway-on-epic-netflix-original-series-marco-polo-produced-by-the-weinstein-company-514051381.html)\n6. [Marco Polo Cancelled By Netflix, TVLine (December 12, 2016)](https://www.tvline.com/news/marco-polo-cancelled-netflix-ended-two-seasons-776559/)\n7. [Netflix Original Series Based on the Epic Adventures of Marco Polo to Premiere in Late 2014, CNW](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/netflix-original-series-based-on-the-epic-adventures-of-marco-polo-to-premiere-in-late-2014-513550541.html)\n8. [Marco Polo: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/marco_polo/s01)\n9. [Marco Polo (2014) critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/marco-polo-2014/critic-reviews/)\n10. [Conquest and diplomacy on Netflix, The Prairie Progressive (2015)](https://theprairieprogressive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ppspringissue2015.pdf)\n11. [Netflix Picks Up Marco Polo From Starz, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/netflix-marco-polo-1068916/)\n12. [Here's the Teaser Trailer for Marco Polo, Netflix's Next Original Series, Time (October 30, 2014)](https://time.com/3548658/marco-polo-netflix-trailer/)\n13. [Netflix' Marco Polo heads to Malaysia, Italy & Kazakhstan, Screen Global Production (March 18, 2014)](https://www.screenglobalproduction.com/news/2014/03/18/Netflix-Marco-Polo-heads-to-Malaysia-italy-and-kazakhstan)\n14. [Netflix's 'Marco Polo' is so plodding that it's practically binge-proof, The Washington Post (December 11, 2014)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/netflixs-marco-polo-is-so-plodding-that-its-practically-binge-proof/2014/12/11/3e0753dc-7fed-11e4-81fd-8c4814dfa9d7_story.html)\n15. [Netflix's 'Marco Polo' Is Cross-Cultural Clunker, Foreign Policy (December 24, 2014)](https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/24/netflixs-marco-polo-is-cross-cultural-clunker/)\n16. [Marco Polo, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/marco-polo)\n17. ['I don't know if I'll ever get over it': how it feels to make a TV flop, The Guardian (July 4, 2020)](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jul/04/i-dont-know-if-ill-ever-get-over-it-how-it-feels-to-make-a-tv-flop)\n18. [Se cumplen 10 años del primer gran fracaso de Netflix, MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/series/se-cumplen-10-anos-del-primer-gran-fracaso-de-netflix-la-juego-de-tronos-que-nunca-fue-f202609-n/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Drama and prestige series (individual series) › Historical and period drama*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-polo-2014-tv-series", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-polo-2014-tv-series.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Marco Polo (2014 TV series)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-polo-2014-tv-series. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Marco Polo (2014 TV series)](https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-polo-2014-tv-series)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-polo-2014-tv-series](https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-polo-2014-tv-series). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Marco Polo (2014 TV series)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-polo-2014-tv-series. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Marco Polo is a Netflix historical drama produced by The Weinstein Company, starring Lorenzo Richelmy and Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan; two seasons, about $200 million total, cancelled after season 2." }