While "Marco Polo" debuted on Netflix to less than stellar reviews in 2014, it is slowly gaining a following among the streaming site's international subscribers. An executive from Netflix has confirmed this fact in a round table discussion. The show's star, Lorenxo Richelmy, also reflects on the show's diversity.
Participating in a round table talk via The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix executive Ted Sarandos said that "Marco Polo" has done "exactly what it is supposed to do." Sarandos was in a discussion with other TV executives from HBO, AMC, NBC Universal and A+E and he was expounding on how subscription viewing, which is Netflix's business model, is transforming the company's brand.
Per a previous Parent Herald report, "Marco Polo" creator John Fusco noted that earning a global following is what the show has always intended to achieve. With two seasons down the line, "Marco Polo" is slowly penetrating international Netflix subscribers, as the company expands its reach worldwide. Sarandos statement seems to indicate "Marco Polo" is in a good position to move ahead with Season 3.
How Marco Polo's Lorenzo Richelmy went from 'chilling' on his couch to landing dream role https://t.co/qEuFTw9aly pic.twitter.com/QvuPXE0Dsb
— People Magazine (@people) August 12, 2016
Meanwhile, the show's title character is played by Italian star Lorenzo Richelmy. He talks with Hollywood and acknowledged how Netflix has opened doors for ethnic minority in the business, with "Marco Polo" being made up of 97 percent Asian actors. "Netflix is changing the rules with Marco Polo in general," Lorenzo Richelmy said. "When Netflix does things like this, it affects everything," he added.
The actor didn't know English all that much before snagging the part of Marco Polo, but he was infused in the language to be able to play the role well. Along with English lessons and a lot of book reading, he also trained martial arts for "Marco Polo." It's been a challenging job for him so far, but Lorenzo Richelmy said that it's a dream for many actors like him who are trying to be part of a huge production. "I never expected to be part of something in this way," he said per People.
Meanwhile, as fans await Netflix's confirmation of "Marco Polo" Season 3, the first two seasons are still being streamed on the site for its subscribers. According to Netflix Life, should the show receive a renewal, the third season might not come until late 2017. It noted that production for "Marco Polo" took at least a year and half to finish in between Season 1 and Season 2.
