Back in August 2019, the martial arts, supernatural series Wu Assassins debuted on Netflix. Despite criticism about its plot, the show’s 10-episode season 1 has received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. Netflix, however, has yet to renew the show for a season 2. Although it’s been almost four years since the series premiered, Wu Assassins season 2 remains a possibility, as the streaming giant has yet to officially cancel the show.
Will there be Wu Assassins season 2?
Though there have been rumors about Wu Assassins getting picked up for a season 2, these speculations have yet to be confirmed by the streamer. While it’s unclear whether Wu Assassins will be back for a sophomore run in the future, Netflix actually released a movie that serves as a follow-up to the show’s season 1.
What is Wu Assassins about?
Created by John Wirth and Tony Krantz, Wu Assassins tells the story of Kai Jin (Iko Uwais), a young Chinatown chef in San Francisco, who finds himself involved with the Chinese Triad’s pursuit of deadly ancient powers known as the Wu Xing. After coming face to face with a mystical spirit, Kai becomes the 1,000th and last Wu Assassin, who is imbued with the skill and power of 1,000 monks who chose to die together to place their collective essence into an amulet. With the power of the amulet, Kai uses his enhanced martial arts skills to claim supernatural powers from five criminals threatening to destroy the world.
Wu Assassins cast
In addition to Iko Uwais who plays Kai Jin, the first season of WU Assassins also stars the following:
- Katheryn Winnick as Christine Gavin: A San Francisco police detective who is investigating the Triad’s pursuit of the Wu Xing powers. She is initially skeptical of Kai’s claims, but she eventually comes to believe that he is the only one who can stop the criminals.
- Tommy Flanagan as Alec McCullough: A Scottish crime boss who relocates to America to try to take over the Triad’s territory in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
- Lewis Tan as Lu Xin Lee: A friend of Kai who owns Lee’s Wheels, a custom garage, which is also a front for two auto theft rings run by the Triad and McCullough respectively.
- Li Jun Li as Jenny Wah: A friend of Kai who runs her family’s Chinese-American restaurant called Master Wah’s.
- Lawrence Kao as Tommy Wah: A heroin addict and a member of the Triad. He is also Jenny’s older brother.
- Byron Mann as Uncle Six: Kai Jin’s adoptive stepfather. He is a leader of the Triad who runs the criminal world in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
- Celia Au as Ying Ying: A woman who teaches Kai the ways of a Wu Assassin. She was the first Wu Assassin to hunt and fight the Wu Warlords,
What is Fistful of Vengeance?
Released in February 2022, Fistful of Vengeance is a film that continues the Wu Assassins storyline. Like Wu Assassins, Fistful of Vengeance has proven to be very popular, as it managed to score the top spot on the Netflix movie ranking in the U.S. shortly after its premiere.
Iko Uwais and Lewis Tan headline the film, starring alongside their fellow Wu Assassins cast members Lawrence Kao and JuJu Chan. Also appearing in the movie are franchise newcomers Pearl Thusi, Francesca Corney, Jason Tobin, Rhatha Phongam, and Simon Kuke.
Helmed by Wu Assassins director Roel Reiné, Fistful of Vengeance follows super-powered assassin Kai (Uwais) and his friends Lu Xin (Tan) and Tommy (Kao) as they track a killer from San Francisco’s Chinatown to Thailand to avenge the death of a loved one. But their hunt soon entangles them with old enemies, a mysterious billionaire, and an ancient mystical force bent on taking over the world.
Can I watch Fistful of Vengeance without seeing Wu Assassins beforehand?
In an interview with Nerds & Beyond earlier this month, Tan said that people can watch Fistful of Vengeance even if they haven’t seen Wu Assassins yet.
“You don’t need to have watched the series to watch this film,” said the actor. “So we wanted to do something unique, which is to the people that have seen the show…they’ll be more invested when they watch this movie. But if you haven’t seen the series, you can still watch this movie and go in blind, because what it really is, at the end of the day, it’s a revenge story … it’s about a traumatic experience losing a loved one, and then going on a journey to discover answers. They want to find answers… they want revenge, and during that journey, exploring their relationships together as a family. So anybody can just jump in and watch it. And if you’ve seen the show, then you’ll kind of have a good grasp on the characters already.”
Are Wu Assassins and Fistful of Vengeance worth watching?
If you are a fan of martial arts movies or television shows, then you are likely to enjoy Wu Assassins and Fistful of Vengeance. The show features some of the best martial arts choreography on television, a strong cast of characters, and a unique and interesting setting. Reviews of Wu Assassins were mixed, with critics praising the show’s action sequences and visual effects, but criticizing its convoluted plot and uneven pacing.
Is Fistful of Vengeance on Netflix?
Yes, Fistful of Vengeance, along with Wu Assassins season 1, is exclusively streaming on Netflix in the United States.