News

“Wicked” star Marissa Bode and Tony nominee Julia Lester are among the actors lending their talents to the short films by Inevitable Foundation’s Visionary Fellowship filmmakers.

The year-long program provides disabled filmmakers with the funding, community and guidance to create a short film that could eventually be made into their debut feature. The inaugural cohort of fellows — Zayre Ferrer, Monica Lucas, Filipe Coutinho, Alys Murray and Katherine Craft — each received $55,000 in funding for their short film, as well as a production grant, access to an experienced crew, health insurance, marketing support and financial aid for access and travel.

Production on the shorts is underway in neighborhoods across Los Angeles and will continue through the end of June. Casting is by Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick, CSA, and Elizabeth Hay, CSA.

“We are very excited to welcome these incredible actors who will help bring our 2025 Visionary Fellowship short films to life,” said...

Cobra Kai Season 6 is finally here and it’s even better than the last one, which no one thought was possible. The Netflix series follows the story of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who has kind of left bullying and turned into a karate instructor. The series continues the story of the 1984 film The Karate Kid, in which Johnny lost the “All Valley Karate Tournament” to his enemy Daniel (Ralph Macchio). In the series, Johnny inspires weak kids to learn karate so that they can stand up to their bullies and fight to protect themselves. Still, everything goes wrong in a very entertaining way and many iconic characters from the Karate Kid movies appear in the series. So, if you love the teen drama, action comedy, and martial arts in Cobra Kai here are some similar shows you could watch while waiting for Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 2.

Kung Fu (Max & Rent...

Donnie Yen, known for his work in action films, will star in the Kung Fu film adaptation, bringing his considerable skill and recognition to the martial arts drama. Kung Fu was previously adapted into a CW show of the same name in 2021. The film is doing right by including the original creator of the Kung Fu TV series, Ed Spielman, as a producer, allowing for input from the creative force behind the original narrative.

Actor Donnie Yen is reunited with the producers behind John Wick for a film reboot of the series Kung Fu. Yen is best known for his work in action films such as the IP Man franchise and John Wick: Chapter 4. In the latter film, Yen played a blind assassin named Caine, who is determined to find and kill the titular protagonist, John Wick.

As reported by Deadline, Yen is now set to star in a...

Exclusive: Filming is underway in Los Angeles at Stay Lucky Studios for horror-comedy Thinestra, starring twin sisters Melissa Macedo (Girlboss) and Michelle Macedo (Every Time I Die). Directed by Nathan Hertz in their feature directorial debut, and written by Avra Fox-Lerner, the cast also features Brian Huskey (Veep) Shannon Dang (Kung Fu), Gavin Stenhouse (Kung Fu) and comedian Mary Beth Barone.

Thinestra takes place during a Christmas heat wave in Los Angeles. The story follows Penny, who, unhappy with her full-bodied physique, is on a restrictive diet, brutal workout regimen, & overall wellness binge. One day, at the photo studio where Penny works as a retoucher, an austere model gives Penny a baggie of sketchy diet pills. Soon after, following an awkward Christmas party, Penny loses her conviction & stuffs herself with cookies.

Devastated by her mistake she resorts to taking the strange weight loss drug labeled ‘Thinestra’. That night, Penny starts...

Network: The CW

Episodes: 39 (hour)

Seasons: Three

TV show dates: April 7, 2021 -- March 8, 2023

Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma, Kheng Hua Tan, Jon Prasida, Shannon Dang, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Yvonne Chapman, and Tony Chung.

TV show description:

This martial arts action-adventure TV series is a modern-day adaptation of the original version of Kung Fu and the later Kung Fu: The Legend Continues shows.

Set in the present day, the story revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China.

Read More…...

A crimewave hits Chinatown in the third season of the Kung Fu TV show on The CW. As we all know, Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a series like Kung Fu is cancelled or renewed for season four. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the third season episodes of Kung Fu here. *Status Update Below.

A CW martial-arts action-adventure TV show, the Kung Fu TV show stars Olivia Liang, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Yvonne Chapman, Tony Chung, Jb Tadena, and Tzi Ma. The series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college...

The CW is now run by Nexstar and its management reportedly wants to focus on using inexpensive and acquired programming that generates good ratings. That's going to be a challenge. Nexstar CEO Perry Sook and CW president Dennis Miller are reportedly fans of Kung Fu, but can the reboot generate enough income to justify the cost? Will Kung Fu be cancelled or renewed for season four? Stay tuned. *Status Update Below.

A martial-arts action-adventure TV show, the Kung Fu TV show stars Olivia Liang, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Yvonne Chapman, Tony Chung, Jb Tadena, and Tzi Ma. The series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing journey to an isolated...

Nicky won't back to protect her family and community in the 2023-24 broadcast season. The CW has cancelled the Kung Fu reboot so that it won't return for a fourth year.

A martial arts action-adventure TV show, the Kung Fu TV show stars Olivia Liang, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Yvonne Chapman, Tony Chung, Jb Tadena, and Tzi Ma. The series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. When Nicky returns to San Francisco, she finds that her hometown is overrun with crime and corruption. The third season picks up after an earthquake and Nicky, her family, and her community attempting to rebuild...

Kung Fu star Olivia Liang is opening up about the CW show’s cancellation on Thursday.

The actress took to Instagram to pay tribute to the series, which ran on the network for three seasons. “It has been the honor of my f–king life to work with this group of humans,” she wrote. “We made a historic three seasons of a show. First predominantly Asian cast in a one-hour network drama. First Asian American female showrunner. I don’t have enough words (or room in this carousel) to express my gratitude to my showrunners, my writers, my cast, my stunt team,...

The Winchesters and Kung Fu have both been canceled by The CW.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, both The Winchesters and Kung Fu have been canceled by The CW and won't return for the 2023-24 television season. "As we reimagine the new CW, we had to make some tough programming decisions," the network said of the decision. "We thank our partners at Warner Bros. and the casts and creative teams of Kung Fu and The Winchesters for all their hard work, creativity and dedication."

Related: Jared Padalecki 'Aggressively' Trying to Save Walker: Independence From Cancellation

The decision to cancel the shows comes after Nexstar Media Group purchased The CW in Oct. 2022. In April 2023, only renewed one scripted show, All American, for a new season, while several others -- All American: Homecoming, Gotham Knights, Kung Fu, Superman & Lois, Walker, Walker: Independence and The Winchesters -- were left in a state of limbo.

Kung Fu‘s crime-fighting heroine is packing it up for good.

The CW has cancelled the supernatural martial arts series after three seasons, TVLine has learned. The Season 3 finale — which is now the series finale — aired on Wednesday, March 8. (The network also axed on Thursday the Supernatural prequel The Winchesters.)

More from TVLineWalker's Jared Padalecki Talks Finale's Killer Threat, Why He's 'Excited and Nervous' About Cordell/Geri's Future#SaveTheWinchesters? Jensen Ackles Says, 'Looks Like We Got Work to Do'Kung Fu Star Olivia Liang on CW Show's Cancellation: 'I Love You, Nicky Shen'

“As we reimagine the new CW, we...

The CW will not continue with Kung Fu, its reboot of the classic series, which has run for three seasons. It is the latest cancellation of an existing scripted series at the network, which is changing its business model under its new owners to focus on lower-cost scripted originals, primarily from Canada and the UK.

So far, only the CW’s strongest existing scripted series, All American and Walker, have been renewed for next season. The three least likely, The Winchesters, Kung Fu and Walker Independence, have been canceled. Remaining in limbo are Superman & Lois and All American: Homecoming, which are believed to have the best chance (however small it may be), followed by Gotham Knights.

Related: TV Series Fading To Black In 2023 & Beyond: Photo Gallery Of Canceled Shows

In anticipation of today’s news, Kung Fu Warner Bros. Television quietly explored other options for the series but was not...

“The Winchesters” has been canceled after one season at The CW, with the network also canceling the reboot of “Kung Fu” after three seasons.

“As we reimagine the new CW, we had to make some tough programming decisions,” The CW said in a statement. “We thank our partners at Warner Bros. and the casts and creative teams of ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘The Winchesters’ for all their hard work, creativity and dedication.”

The “Supernatural” prequel series “The Winchesters” followed demon hunters Sam and Dean’s parents, John (Drake Rodger) and Mary (Meg Donnelly), telling the story of how the couple met as teens and how they ultimately came together to save the entire world. The story is told from Dean’s (Jensen Ackles) perspective, marking the first return of Ackles’ character since the series finale in November of 2020.

In addition to Rodger and Donnelly, Bianca Kajlich, Demetria McKinney, and Nida Khurshid also starred.

Kung Fu Season 3 Episode 13 Episode Description And Spoilers Kung Fu Season 3 Episode 13 Photos Beginning – The Search For Xiao — After uncovering Xiao’s master plan, Nicky (Olivia Liang) and the team find themselves in a race against the clock to stop her before it’s too late. Tzi Ma, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Yvonne Chapman, Vanessa Kai, Tony Chung and J.B. Tadena also star. Joe Menendez directed the episode written by Christina M. Kim & Robert Berens (#313). Original airdate 3/8/2023. Every episode of Kung Fu will be available to stream on The CW App and Cwtv.com the day after broadcast for free and without a subscription, log-in or authentication required. s03e13 3×13 3.13 s3e13 kung fu episode After an earthquake hit Chinatown in the season two finale, season three opens with Nicky (Olivia Liang), her family, and her community attempting to rebuild in more ways than one.

Click here to read the full article.

A purple wave is coming.

GLAAD has confirmed a slew of casts, corporations and celebrities will participate in Spirit Day on Oct. 20, an annual showing of support for LGBTQ youth. As part of the day, millions are expected to wear purple and/or share purple branding online with the hashtag #SpiritDay, a tradition launched in 2010 by high school student Brittany McMillan as a way to honor the memory of LGBTQ youth who have died by suicide.

Per an official release from GLAAD, confirmed to show their support are the casts of The Cleaning Lady, The L Word: Generation Q, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Good Trouble, The Come Up, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Single Drunk Female and HBO’s We’re Here.

The long list of boldfaced names participating includes Aly & Aj, Ben Aldridge, Louis Van Amstel, Jonathan Bennett, Mayim Bialik, Sterling K. Brown,...

Event chair Barbara Davis and co-chair Dana Davis hosted the 36th Carousel of Hope Ball on Saturday, October 8 at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills benefiting the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes (Bdc).

John Legend performs onstage during the 2022 Carousel of Hope Ball

Credit/Copyright: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Children's Diabetes Foundation

The event, a Hollywood institution since 1978, honored Diane Keaton with the “Brass Ring Award,” while patrons of the evening were treated to show-stopping performances by music icons John Legend, Andy Grammer and Deborah Cox. The Ball raised an incredible over 1.7 million this year alone in addition to the more than 110 million that The Carousel Balls have raised to date.

This year’s Ball brought together leaders from the film, television, music and business industries to support increasing awareness for diabetes and raise funds for clinical care and diabetes research at...

Vulture Watch

Nicky and her show are fighting for survival. Has the Kung Fu TV show been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season on The CW? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Kung Fu, season four. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

Airing on The CW television network, the Kung Fu TV show stars Olivia Liang, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Yvonne Chapman, Tony Chung, Jb Tadena, and Tzi Ma. The series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing...

"I want to se that kind of hustle from you in the playoffs." After winning awards at film festivals throughout 2021, this excellent short is finally online. Americanized is a film by a filmmaker named Erica Eng and it's about a young woman dealing with racism and bullying at her high school. This is one of those stand out shorts that establishes a filmmaker and proves they're capable of making something amazing, and I hope Eng gets a chance to make a feature soon. Growing up in Oakland's hip-hop culture, Eng struggles with her Chinese American identity. To her high school basketball team she's just that girl who sits on the bench, but to the Asian kids she's "Americanized." As her sophomore year of high school comes to an end, Eng tries to find a sense of belonging within the two worlds that don't accept her. Starring Terry Hu as Eng,...

Well, this is a pleasant surprise.

Despite Kung Fu Season 2 Episode 13 sealing the fate of Zhilan, Yvonne Chapman is sticking around.

TV Line reported Thursday morning that Chapman will return as a series regular for Kung Fu Season 3.

If you watch Kung Fu online, you know that Zhilan was killed off after sacrificing herself to take down Russell Tan.

It was a truly shocking development and one that got fans talking.

“It was never even a question for us that we’d be asking the incredible Yvonne Chapman back to the show,” co-showrunner Bob Berens said in a statement to TV Line.

“Zhilan’s dramatic sacrifice in the Season 2 finale creates an exciting new beginning for her character, and we can”t wait for viewers to see what we’ve got planned for her.”

Jb Tadena has also been promoted to series regular in the role of Sebastian.

“We are...

Exclusive: Martha Kelly (Euphoria) and Scarlet Envy (RuPaul’s Drag Race) will star alongside Natalie Palamides (Nate – a One Man Show), Bob Clendenin (Scrubs), and newcomer Eve Donnelly (Chad) in the short film Only Worn Once, which is heading into production this month.

The film from writer-directors Claire Downs and Brenden Gallagher centers on recent divorcée Darcy (Kelly)and her daughter (Palamides), who sell Darcy’s used wedding dress on the internet to an 18-year-old (Donnelly) getting married to a much older man. When Darcy’s ex, Don (Clendenin), discovers the sale, a fight ensues. Phil Rosenberg is producing.

Kelly is repped by UTA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners; Envy by King’s Queens Entertainment and My Best Judy; Palamides by ICM Partners and Archetype; Clendenin by Artists & Representatives and Insight; Donnelly by 3 Arts; Downs by Quattro Media; and Gallagher by Art/Work Entertainment.

***

Exclusive: Andrew Chappelle (Blindspotting) and Devere Rogers (Honk for Jesus.

In the latest TV ratings, ABC’s coverage of the Stanley Cup Final Game 1 between the Avalanche and Lightning averaged 4.2 million total viewers and a 1.3 demo rating(per Nielsen finals), topping Wednesday in both measures.

Over on The CW, The Flash (500K/0.1) drew its second-smallest audience of the season (aka ever) while steady in the demo; TVLine readers gave the apparent conclusion of that Arrow storyline an average grade of “D-.” Kung Fu (420K/0.1) hit an audience low with its sophomore finale (which TVLine readers gave an average grade of “A”), but was steady in the demo.

More from TVLineKung...

Legacies has brought back more than a dozen fan-favorite characters from the Vampire Diaries Universe during the course of its four seasons. But has it been saving its biggest cameo for last?

Joseph Morgan — whom fans have begged to appear on Legacies since its premiere, despite his character dying in the series finale of The Originals — took to Twitter on Wednesday to address the rumors that Klaus will return for Legacies‘ June 16 series finale.

More from TVLineDC's Stargirl Adds Seth Green in RecastKung Fu's Olivia Liang and Shannon Dang Talk Ryan's Close Call, Tease 'Truly Unexpected' Season 2 FinaleSuperman & Lois Stars...

Nicky Shen’s fight to protect her city – and the world — just got personal on Kung Fu.

The destined warrior suffered a close call when her brother was shot by crime boss Russell Tan. While Ryan is expected to make a full recovery, the incident will have rippling effects on the entire Shen family, including Nicky, who now realizes she has more to lose in the battle against evil.

More from TVLineDC's Stargirl Adds Seth Green in RecastJoseph Morgan Addresses Possible Return in Legacies Finale: 'Everyone Knows Klaus Mikaelson Is Dead'Superman & Lois Stars React to Lana's Discovery -- Plus, Tyler Hoechlin...

Superman & Lois fans were left with their jaws on the floor earlier this month when Clark (with his family’s full support) finally revealed his secret identity to childhood bestie Lana Lang.

We won’t get to see her reaction play out until the show returns on Tuesday, May 31 (The CW, 8/7c), but after catching up with Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch at The CW’s upfront presentation in New York, at least we have a little more insight on the situation.

More from TVLineDC's Stargirl Adds Seth Green in RecastJoseph Morgan Addresses Possible Return in Legacies Finale: 'Everyone Knows...

At the end of All American: Homecoming‘s freshman season, Simone Hicks found herself right where she was a year ago: getting verbally eviscerated by one Thea Mays.

During Monday’s season finale, Thea learned that she’d torn her rotator cuff, potentially as a result of borrowing Simone’s much heavier racket during a recent tennis tournament. The injury will sideline Thea for the rest of the season, clearing a spot for Simone on the team’s Top 6. But the devastation of that setback, paired with Thea’s recent discovery that boyfriend Damon initially liked Simone, led Thea to...

Last season, Kung Fu was one of The CW's highest-rated new shows. Will its audience grow or shrink this time around? Will Kung Fu be cancelled or renewed for season three? Stay tuned. *Status Update Below.

A martial-arts action-adventure TV show, the new version of Kung Fu stars Olivia Liang, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Yvonne Chapman, Tony Chung, and Tzi Ma. Set in the present day, the series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. When Nicky returns to San Francisco, she finds that her hometown is overrun with crime and corruption. The second season picks up six months later. All is going well for Nicky and her family until...

Is Nicky in over her head in the second season of the Kung Fu TV show on The CW? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Kung Fu is cancelled or renewed for season three. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the second season episodes of Kung Fu here. *Status Update Below.

A CW martial-arts action-adventure TV show, the new version of Kung Fu stars Olivia Liang, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Yvonne Chapman, Tony Chung, and Tzi Ma. Set in the present day, the series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American...

There are more fights in Nicky's future. The CW has renewed Kung Fu for a third year and the 2022-23 television season. Season two just kicked off on March 9th.

A martial-arts action-adventure TV show, the new version of Kung Fu stars Olivia Liang, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Yvonne Chapman, Tony Chung, and Tzi Ma. Set in the present day, the series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. When Nicky returns to San Francisco, she finds that her hometown is overrun with crime and corruption. The second season picks up six months later. All is going well for Nicky and her family...

Vulture Watch

Will Nicky become a shifu? Has the Kung Fu TV show been cancelled or renewed for a third season on The CW? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Kung Fu, season three. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

Airing on The CW television network, the new version of Kung Fu stars Olivia Liang, Kheng Hua Tan, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Yvonne Chapman, Tony Chung, and Tzi Ma. Set in the present day, the series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing...

Kung Fu Season 2 is just weeks away, and we have our most extensive look at the new episodes to date.

The CW has dropped a 70-second trailer for the Olivia Liang-led drama, and it looks like a lot of fun.

Nicky will be forced to go up against her long-lost cousin, Mia.

Kung Fu Season 1's central villain was Zhilan, who popped up sporadically throughout the season.

If you watch Kung Fu online, you know Nicky defeated her nemesis.

However, Yvonne Chapman will be back as a series regular this season, meaning fans will be getting a lot more Zhilan.

Kung Fu Season 1 was a strong performer for The CW, averaging 961,000 viewers and a 0.13 rating in the demo.

As a result, The CW issued a speedy renewal for Season 2.

"We are beyond proud to continue to share the stories of Nicky Shen and Courtney Whitmore, two strong, powerful young...

Exclusive: The CW is expanding the cast for Season 2 of Kung Fu, its reboot of the classic series, adding Vanessa Yao, Annie Q. and Jb Tadena in heavily recurring roles.

Following the explosive Season 1 finale, Season 2 picks up with Nicky (Olivia Liang) and the Shens in a great place: Nicky’s been using her kung fu skills to keep Chinatown safe, she and Henry (Eddie Liu) are only deeper in love with each other, and unlike season one, the Shen family are all in the know about Nicky’s extracurricular activities. Jin and Mei-Li have righted the ship and Harmony Dumplings has seen an extraordinary recovery– the restaurant is doing better business than ever. Everything’s been great in Nicky’s life… that is, until the reemergence of Russell Tan, and the surprise appearance of Nicky’s cousin, Mia (Yao).

In addition to Liang and Liu, the series regular cast includes Tzi Ma,...

“Does she think she’s black now?” sneers Denise (Shannon Dang) as Eng (Terry Hu) enters a classroom sporting her new dreadlocks. Eng may be inspired by fashion associated with the hip hop music she loves, but she’s not just another white girl trying to look cool; she’s an ethnically Chinese American in search of an identity, a way of expressing herself that other people will accept, and that’s not easy. She does’t speak Chinese so other kids use it to mock her when she’s in the same room. Most white and black kids, however, treat her as an outsider, as if she were not fully American. Alongside music, her dearest love is basketball, but it’s not easy to feel like part of the team.

Writer/director Erica Eng rooted this Oscar-qualifying short film in her own experiences growing up in Oakland, whilst producer...

Watch out, Nicky Shen. Kung Fu’s baddest guardian is sticking around permanently next season.

Yvonne Chapman, who plays the villainous Zhilan, has been upgraded to a series regular for Season 2, our sister site Deadline reports.

More from TVLineKung Fu's Olivia Liang Breaks Down That Finale Game Changer for Nicky, Shares 'Really Fun' Season 2 HopesLegacies Promotes Omono Okojie to Series Regular for Season 4Charmed Names New Showrunners for Season 4 -- Plus, Get Early Intel on the Girls' 'Unpredictable' New Sister

Season 1 saw Zhilan murder Nicky’s mentor (and Zhilan’s big sister) Pei-Ling (Vanessa Kai), jumpstarting an emotional rivalry that...

Exclusive: Yvonne Chapman, who heavily recurred as villain Zhilan on the first season of the CW’s Kung Fu, has been promoted to series regular for Season 2.

Chapman’s Zhilan, a hard-edged and cunning assassin, is ruthless in achieving her goals. After stealing an ancient sword from Nicky’s shifu Pei-Ling–and nearly killing Nicky in the process–Zhilan flees China and begins her pursuit of the rest of the mystical weapons. The mystery of Zhilan’s identity, and her real intentions with those weapons, will fuel Nicky’s quest for justice.

Kung Fu follows a young Chinese American woman, Nicky Shen, played by Olivia Liang, whose quarter-life crisis causes her to drop out of college and go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. But when she returns to San Francisco, she finds her hometown is overrun with crime and corruption and her own parents Jin...

Spoiler Alert: The post below contains details about the Kung Fu season one finale, “Transformation.”

For Kung Fu season one, all roads lead back to the Shaolin monastery. Written by showrunners Christina M. Kim and Robert Berens, the season ender brings Nicky (Olivia Liang) and Zhilan (Yvonne Chapman) back to the battle grounds of their first encounter to access the ancient forge of bian ge, the all-encompassing force that powers the ancient Warrior weapons.

Upon learning that her foe has stationed armed forces outside her family’s home in San Francisco, where the Shen’s prepare for Althea’s (Shannon Dang) and Dennis’ (Tony Chung) matrimonial tea ceremony, Nicky helps Zhilan unlock the puzzle-laden door to the forge. The adversaries notice that the forge lacks the coveted energy and learns that a sorcerer took the source of bian ge to a secret hideaway once mentioned by sifu Pei-Ling (Vanessa Kai...

Image Source: Shane McCauley

Olivia Liang had never dreamed of securing a lead role. In fact, she entered the industry expecting to play the main character's stereotypical quirky best friend, and she would have been "more than happy" to do so. But after portraying recurring character Alyssa Chang on Legacies, all of that changed as the 28-year-old landed the role of heroine Nicky Shen on The CW's Kung Fu, a gender-swapped reimagining of the '70s series and the first-ever network drama with a predominantly Asian American cast. After an overwhelming initial response, the show was quickly renewed for a second season only four episodes into its first.

"Is this my dream role? Yes and no," she told Popsugar. "Yes, because, now that I'm in it, it's so amazing and I just never thought it was possible. But no, because I just never pictured a lead role for myself because...

The original Kung Fu TV series debuted in 1972 and ran for three seasons. Two decades later, it was followed by Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, and that show ran for four years. Now, The CW has introduced a new incarnation. Will this version outlast the others Will the new Kung Fu be cancelled or renewed for season two? Stay tuned.  *Status Update Below.

This martial-arts action-adventure TV show, the new version of Kung Fu stars Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma, Kheng Hua Tan, Jon Prasida, Shannon Dang, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Yvonne Chapman, and Tony Chung. Set in the present day, the series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. When Nicky...

Is Nicky in over her head in the first season of the Kung Fu TV show on The CW? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Kung Fu is cancelled or renewed for season two. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the first season episodes of Kung Fu here.  *Status Update Below.

A CW martial-arts action-adventure TV show, the new version of Kung Fu stars Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma, Kheng Hua Tan, Jon Prasida, Shannon Dang, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Yvonne Chapman, and Tony Chung. Set in the present day, the series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's...

Nicky Shen's work is not done. The CW has renewed the Kung Fu TV series for a second year, which will air as part of the 2021-22 television season.

This new version of Kung Fu stars Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma, Kheng Hua Tan, Jon Prasida, Shannon Dang, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Yvonne Chapman, and Tony Chung. Set in the present day, the series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. When Nicky returns to San Francisco, she finds that her hometown is overrun with crime and corruption and her own parents Jin (Ma) and Mei-Li (Tan) are at the mercy of a powerful Triad. Nicky depends on her martial arts skills and...

The CW is continuing to kick-ass with renewals.

The youth-skewing broadcaster has picked up freshman series Kung Fu for a second season and handed a third season of DC’s Stargirl ahead of its sophomore debut.

This comes as the network continues to look for stability in its scripted lineup – bringing the number of renewals for the 2021-22 season to 15 with only The Republic of Sarah, which launches in June, still pending.

The renewal of Kung Fu is not a surprise. The drama kicked off strong with more than 3.5M viewers watching the premiere episode and it had the highest total viewership number for a Wednesday debut in 7 years since The 100 debuted in 2014.

Kung Fu follows a young Chinese American woman, Nicky Shen, played by Olivia Liang, whose quarter-life crisis causes her to drop out of college and go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China.

“Kung Fu” has been renewed for Season 2 and “Stargirl” has been renewed for Season 3 at The CW.

“We are beyond proud to continue to share the stories of Nicky Shen and Courtney Whitmore, two strong, powerful young women at the center of this new generation of hit shows for The CW in ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘DC’s Stargirl,’” said Mark Pedowitz, chairman and CEO of The CW Network. “While each boasts remarkable talent on both sides of the camera, ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘DC’S Stargirl’ have not only treated fans to some visually stunning action and high-flying heroics, but they also both strike very powerful emotional chords as they delve into the family dynamics and personal relationships at their core, and we are so excited to see what happens next.”

The renewal announcement for “Kung Fu” comes just under a month after the series premiered. It has enjoyed strong ratings on the network since then,...

“It’s funny how oftentimes the most difficult parts of the job are the most rewarding,” Dang tells TheWrap

(Warning: This post contains spoilers for the fourth episode of “Kung Fu”)

The latest episode of The CW’s “Kung Fu” reboot revealed a new side of Althea (Shannon Dang), the generally frothy and lighthearted bride-to-be to whom cake tastings are as important as justice. Grappling with the sexual assault hinted at in last week’s episode and her fiance’s overbearing and wealthy family, Althea erupts in the middle of dinner with a monologue facetiously measuring her worth in ducks.

“Althea is definitely a people pleaser,” Dang said in an interview with TheWrap. “She has so much love for Dennis, and she’s so excited about her wedding. But underneath, she’s also looking for approval. Dennis’ family come from a lot of money and, especially with that layered on top of her sexual assault,...

Vulture Watch

Can Nicky bring justice to her hometown? Has the Kung Fu TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on The CW? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Kung Fu, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

Airing on The CW television network, this new version of Kung Fu stars Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma, Kheng Hua Tan, Jon Prasida, Shannon Dang, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Yvonne Chapman, and Tony Chung. Set in the present day, the series revolves around Nicky Shen (Liang), a young Chinese American woman who questions her life's trajectory and drops out of college to go on a life-changing...

Kung Fu starts with a wonderful first outing.

Kung Fu Season 1 Episode 1 presents the viewer with a brilliant lead character in Nicky Shen. Olivia Liang shines in the role, which makes the show all the more enjoyable.

While some may consider the fight scenes a bit cheesy, the action pairs well with the emotional beats, and the stunt performances are breathtaking.

Nicky Shen is very complex. She left home for three years and trained in kung fu at a Shaolin Monastery in China.

Her kung fu master, Pei-Ling, acts as her kung fu teacher, her mentor, and mother figure. They mutually cared for each other during Nicky's time at the monastery, and that care was evident through their short time on screen.

From the moment they met, there seemed to be an unspoken connection.

I wish we could have seen more of Pei-Ling before her untimely death.

Pei-Ling's tragic fate...

In The CW’s Kung Fu, Nicky Shen (Legacies‘ Olivia Liang) is still figuring out who she wants to be while embracing a new destiny.

Wednesday’s series premiere begins with Nicky in the middle of what she thinks is a cultural tour of China. After realizing that it’s actually a matchmaking ploy to find a Chinese husband (orchestrated by her mother, no less) she flees and crosses paths with Pei-Ling (Vanessa Kai), who runs a local monastery. Her one-night visit becomes a three-year training in the martial arts, and Nicky finally feels at home.

More from TVLineKung Fu's Olivia Liang Talks Feeling Empowered,...

With a decades-long list of credits ranging from “Rush Hour” to Disney’s live-action “Mulan,” Tzi Ma has earned his reputation as Hollywood’s go-to Asian dad dozens of times over. But even with his latest role, the actor continues to break new ground as the patriarch of the first Asian American family to anchor a broadcast television drama on The CW’s “Kung Fu” reboot.

“Saying that was totally in jest,” Ma said in an interview with TheWrap, downplaying his well-deserved boast. “I mean, it was just so many of them all at once that I was like, ‘Well, okay.'”

Ma is making the jump to TV for “Kung Fu,” a rare series regular role for the actor after having recently lent his fatherly presence to films like “The Farewell,” “Mulan” and Netflix’s “Tigertail.” Ma tends to shy away from the “bullet train” pace of TV but...

The 1970s television drama “Kung Fu” was “groundbreaking for what it was when it aired,” says Christina M. Kim. The series brought the art of kung fu into mainstream conversation and millions of homes, also introducing Buddhism to many viewers and showcasing a way to use these spiritual elements to help people. Half a century later, that part of the story is more relevant than ever after a recent wave of anti-Asian racism and violent attacks across the United States.

When rebooting “Kung Fu” for a modern audience, creator and showrunner Kim tells Variety it was important to carry those thematic elements through, but also to finally, truly, tell the story through an Asian American lens. That’s in sharp contrast to white actor David Carradine playing the role of the half-Chinese, half-American Buddhist monk Caine in the original series that ran on ABC from 1972 to 1975.

“It was very important...

Greg Berlanti’s domination of the CW continues with “Kung Fu” — and the new drama he executive produces is proof positive that the super-producer is using his powers for good. The show is a revival of a drama starring David Carradine that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1975. The whitewash of Carradine in the role of the Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine, who is depicted as half-American and half-Chinese, is a painful part of TV’s legacy. Now, in the hands of showrunner Christina M. Kim, “Kung Fu” reframes the story to be about a young Chinese American woman, and foregrounds a cast of Asian American actors in place of the original series’ white male lead. The pilot of “Kung Fu” suggests a sincere interest in the story of a Chinese family in the U.S., with an amount of complexity and sophistication that one might not necessarily expect from a network action series.

Legacies’ Olivia Liang steps into the spotlight as a student-turned-warrior in Kung Fu, premiering this Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW.

The series, which breaks ground as the first network drama to feature a predominately Asian-American cast, follows Nicky Shen (Liang), an overachiever who drops out of college and heads abroad following a quarter-life crisis. After a life-altering journey to an isolated monastery in China, she returns home to find San Francisco rife with corruption and crime. Realizing her new destiny as the town’s protector, she’ll use her training to take on the local triad while reconnecting with...

In today’s TV news roundup, Discovery Plus released a trailer for “The Swim,” and Apple TV Plus announced original Earth Day programming, including “The Year Earth Changed” and new seasons of “Tiny World” and “Earth At Night In Color.”

Dates

Apple TV Plus announced new original Earth Day programming set to premiere on April 16, including “The Year Earth Changed” and new seasons of “Tiny World” and “Earth At Night In Color.” “The Year Earth Changed,” narrated by David Attenborough, is a special highlighting nature’s resiliency during the pandemic. It is produced by BBC Studios National History Unit, directed by Tom Beard and executive produced by Mike Gunton and Alice Keens-Soper. Coming back for a second season, “Tiny World” is a six-episode docuseries that illuminates the the ingenuity of Earth’s smallest creatures. Paul Rudd narrates and executive produces alongside Tom Hugh Jones, who also serves as writer with David Fowler.