Marco Polo
Ian headed for China in June to start work on a new project about Marco Polo from RHI Entertainment. It will be a 4 hour miniseries about Marco Polo's travels and conquests. Ian is playing Marco Polo. BD Wong and Brian Dennehy (as Kublai Kahn) are also attached to the project.
From Zap2It.com
Marco Polo, the legendary adventurer now best known for spawning
an obnoxious swimming pool game, will be the subject of a miniseries set to star
a former "Lost" heartthrob.
Ian Somerhalder, the dearly departed Boone on ABC's hit
drama, will play Polo, with Brian Dennehy and
B.D. Wong lending support.
The miniseries about the Venetian explorer, will be produced by RHI
Entertainment, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film, now shooting in
China, doesn't currently have a U.S. TV outlet.
Written by Ron Hutchinson ("The Ten Commandments"), "Marco Polo" tells the story
of the 13th-century traveler and his journey to Mongolia and his time in the
court of Kublai Khan.
Wong will play Polo's servant, while Dennehy will co-star as Kublai Khan, at
least according to the HR.
[It's at this point that somebody at RHI may need to explain how Dennehy is
going to fill the shoes of Khan, who is rarely depicted in pictures as anything
other than Asian.]
Mark Jax ("In the Beginning") and Alan Shearman ("A Boyfriend for Christmas")
will also appear in the telefilm.
Kevin Connor ("In the Beginning") directs.
In addition to his "Lost" credits, Somerhalder has appeared on the small screen
in "Smallville"
and "Young Americans." His next big screen role is in the upcoming remake of
"Pulse."
