After a three year break, Warrior is back for its long awaited third season, and this time it’s on HBO! Based on an original concept and treatment by Bruce Lee, the series is produced by his daughter, Shannon, and renowned director Justin Lin. Here are some of the things we learned from speaking with the cast and crew of Warrior.
Tone Is Key
According to Warrior producer Shannon Lee, her father’s nucleus of the idea remains the true north of the series. From the arc of Ah Sahm – a character Bruce Lee had envisioned himself playing – to the setting of the show in early 19th century San Francisco, Bruce Lee’s initial eight page treatment of the series is used less as a map, and more of a starting point.
This focus on Bruce Lee’s tone is also echoed by Warrior co-showrunners Josh Stoddard and Evan Endicott who say they refer to that eight page treatment before starting every season as a “gut check” to ensure that they don’t stray from the original vision, while also giving themselves the space to grow their story and explore new storylines.
Getting Renewed
Everyone we talked to spoke about the uncertainty they faced at the end of Season 2 of Warrior in 2020. But despite the cast and showrunners moving on to other projects in the intervening years, it was an easy “yes” to come back and continue the story of the show. Showrunner Josh Stoddard spoke about how the show’s co-creator Jonathan Tropper took the opportunity to revive the series during a meeting with HBO and MAX executives, who had noticed the steady success of the series once it was brought on to the streaming service.
Working On Season Three
Co-showrunners Josh Stoddard and Evan Endicott spoke about how they had considered starting Season 3 with a time jump that would mirror the three years the series had been off air, but decided against it as there were too many story threads that needed to be resolved at the end of Season 2. They reasoned that a time jump would cause them to lose out on too many plot points.
According to Andrew Koji, Season 3 also meant an easier time working on fight choreography. They had already developed a short hand and built up an experience working with the same fight and stunt teams, and this allowed for bigger and better set pieces in the new season.
Some Other Things We Learned
- Shannon Lee told us that in conceiving the series, she wanted to find an actor who could bring their own interpretation to Ah Sahm, without being burdened by the legacy of the character and his links with creator Bruce Lee. In Andrew Koji they found someone who was able to bring soul, swagger, and emotional life to the character.
- Unlike Jason Tobin, Andrew Koji hates wearing suits. Koji explained that Ah Sahm, the recent immigrant to early 19th century San Francisco, wouldn’t have grown up wearing a suit either and he feels that the discomfort and dislike of the wardrobe is also mirrored in his character.
- Jason Tobin also spoke about how he and the cast would rewatch the series Deadwood (also by Warrior co-creator Jonathan Tropper) before the start of every season, in order “to get into” the right headspace.
- The cast also agreed that despite Warrior‘s critical acclaim and success, there is still a long way to go before they will truly feel accepted and seen by the powers that be in Hollywood.
- Shannon Lee also teased that there are still more Bruce Lee projects and ideas left to explore and work on. But she’s holding the details close to her chest for now.
New episodes of Season 3 of Warrior drop on HBO GO every Thursday. You can also stream Seasons 1 and 2 of the series along with the best of HBO’s shows and more on The New Astro. Better than before. No rain interruptions. No repeats. Just stream anytime and on demand via the Astro Ultra Box. It starts from only RM59.90 a month. You can find more information at astro.com.my.
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