Prime Video has confirmed the adaptation of the hit book series Rise of the Empress to a new television series, which will add to his growing fantasy catalog, along with other titles such as The Rings of Power and The Wheel of Time

The series will be written and produced by Crystal Liu Yes James Wong (known for his work in American horror story), who will also serve as showrunners and executive producers. Gemma Chanactress known for her role in The Creatorwill also join as an executive producer. Furthermore, two major production companies will be involved in the project: JuVee Productionsby Viola Davis and Julius Tennon (responsible for The Woman King), Yes Significant productionsby Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi. With these thinking heads, the project is emerging as one of the most ambitious bets on the platform.

The story behind it The forest of a thousand lanterns

The plot of this series is set in an ancient Asian empire on the brink of destruction, whose only hope lies in a strategic marriage between the crown prince and a princess from one of the rival kingdoms. However, when the competition to win the prince’s heart intensifies, chaos ensues. The plot revolves around a young peasant girl named Xifengwho is dragged into this conflict by a vengeful witch. In this story of power, love and sacrifice, can Xifeng save not only herself, but the entire empire?

The series will be filmed in Malaysiaand its eight episodes will be filled with air dark and mysticalreinterpreting the famous legend of Evil Queen in a completely unique way. With influences from Asian culture and a protagonist who challenges traditional norms, this is to be expected The forest of a thousand lanterns not just an epic adventure, but also a deeply thoughtful story of power, resistance, and destiny.

The series promises to be a homage to female powerwith a protagonist who defies expectations to transform herself into a figure of strength and leadership. As mentioned Nick Pepperdirector of development at Amazon MGM Studios, this story is “an inspiring tale of strength and resilience.”

The productions bet on a heroine who represents not only the struggle for love, but also the power to change the course of history. The choice of a female protagonist at the center of the action is not only a nod to the trend of foregrounding strong women in fantasy genres, but also a clear statement of intent from Prime Video to offer inclusive and diverse content.

A look at the books

The books that give rise to this series are The forest of a thousand lanterns (2017), Kingdom of the Flaming Phoenix (2018) a Song of the Crimson Flower (2019), all written by Julie C. Dao. This trilogy is based on a mix of history, mythology and fantasy, where Dao combines elements of Asian culture with a narrative full of mystery, romance and power. JuVee Productions highlighted how the series not only creates a fantasy world inspired by the history of Asia, but also delves into a protagonist who, challenging her destiny, discovers the power to change her reality and that of the entire world.

With this project, Prime Video positions itself as a point of reference in fantasy productions, seeking to capture the attention of a global audience eager for epic, complex and, above all, inclusive stories. The series promises to be a visually stunning and emotionally profound show, and with producers and writers having signed on to the project, expectations are sky high.

If you’re a fan of epic fantasy and boundary-pushing heroines, you won’t want to miss what this series has to offer.