WarnerMedia has announced that WARRIOR has not given up the fight and will return for a third season, but not on Cinemax. It will be added to HBO Max.
Here are some details straight from a press release:
The drama series WARRIOR will come to HBO Max for its third season, it was announced by Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer, HBO and HBO Max.
- Logline: A gritty, action-packed crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 19th century, and based on the writings of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, the first two seasons, which premiered on Cinemax, are now streaming on HBO Max via HBO platforms.
- WARRIOR was created by and is executive produced by Jonathan Tropper (“Banshee”) under Tropper Ink Productions, executive produced by Justin Lin (director of “Star Trek Beyond” and “Fast & Furious 9”) for Perfect Storm Entertainment, and executive produced by Shannon Lee for Bruce Lee Entertainment.
- Season two cast included: Andrew Koji, Kieran Bew, Celine Buckens, Olivia Cheng, Dianne Doan, Dean Jagger, Langley Kirkwood, Maria-Elena Laas, Hoon Lee, Christian McKay, Dustin Nguyen (also directed episode 6), Miranda Raison, Chen Tang, Joe Taslim, Jason Tobin, Joanna Vanderham, Tom Weston-Jones and Perry Yung.
- Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer, HBO and HBO Max quote: “’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. We can’t wait to see what Jonathan, Justin and Shannon will bring to the next chapter of this series on HBO Max.”
- Shannon Lee, Executive Producer, Bruce Lee Entertainment quote: “Justin, Jonathan, and I were thrilled when Warrior was put on HBO platforms to be discovered by a whole new legion of fans. 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!”
- The series returned for its ten-episode second season October 2, 2020 on Cinemax. Hailed as “the most underrated action series of the century” by Inverse, Vanity Fair called it a “handsome, adrenalized ride” that “breathes vivid life into aspects of America’s past,” and The Ringer highlighted it as a “supremely kick-ass” series with “impressively choreographed fight sequences.”
- Credits: Season two of WARRIOR was produced for Cinemax by Perfect Storm Entertainment, Tropper Ink Productions and Bruce Lee Entertainment; created and executive produced by Jonathan Tropper. Justin Lin, Danielle Woodrow and Andrew Schneider executive produced on behalf of Perfect Storm Entertainment. Shannon Lee executive produced for Bruce Lee Entertainment. Executive produced by Brad Kane and Richard Sharkey. Co-executive produced by Kenneth Lin, Evan Endicott and Josh Stoddard.
It appears that one factor in bringing back WARRIOR for another go and moving it to the more high-profile HBO Max is the surge in Asian hate crimes that have surfaced. Shannon Lee chatted with the site Inverse on that matter and more as it relates to the show conceived by her late, and revered, father Bruce Lee. Joining her was executive producer Jonathan Tropper. Find the full interview at Inverse.
Upon the series return, Lee says, “I feel elated.” It feels like a confluence of purpose, of timing, and coming together. It feels like what should be. I’m excited to put our voice back into the middle of things happening right now.”
INVERSE:…the pandemic inspired a spike in violence against the Asian community. Was the decision to renew Warrior informed by the show’s topical setting?
SHANNON LEE: I don’t think there’s any one factor, but it was part of the equation. It wasn’t like we planned to tackle these issues other than history tends to repeat itself. What’s going on in the world right now, those things did shine a light on how relevant our show is.
JONATHAN TROPPER: I have not asked. I don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. But whether they consciously discuss the social and cultural implications, I think there has to be an underlying understanding this is a show that really meets the moment. Whether that’s discussed around a table I don’t get invited to, the fact is you can’t ignore it. You can’t believe it’s not in the consciousness of people making decisions.
INVERSE: What can you reveal about the story for Warrior Season 3?
JONATHAN TROPPER: I don’t want to say anything that turns out to be not what we do. But the goal is to continue exploring themes we have been exploring, with the country’s disposition towards the newest wave of immigrants. [We will] go into the halls of government and start clarifying how immigrants end up pitted against each other in the system. But in terms of the Hop Wei and the Long Zhi, we need to get our heads wrapped around that.
I refer to Season 2 as The Empire Strikes Back. Not that we want a trilogy, but we left things dangling: The troubled relationship between Ah Sahm and Young Jun, a new direction with Mai Ling. We’re seeing an evolution of Ah Sahm’s towards his responsibility to his fellow immigrants. We want to evolve everybody and light matches in the appropriate places.
INVERSE: Is Warrior Season 3 the final season?
JONATHAN TROPPER: Way too much work to pull this all back together for one season.
They say they hope to see the show before us in 2023. In the meantime head over to the streaming site of choice, HBO Max, HBO or Cinemax to catch up on Season One & Two. WARRIOR will be back.
