Wu-Tang: An American Saga is an American biographical drama television series created by RZA and Alex Tse which premiered on September 4, 2019, on Hulu. The show portrays a fictionalized account of the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan. In January 2020, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on September 8, 2021. In November 2021, the series was renewed for a third and final season which premiered on February 15, 2023.
Premise
Wu-Tang: An American Saga is set in New York City during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic in the early 1990s. It follows the Wu-Tang Clan's formation, a vision of Bobby Diggs aka The RZA (Sanders), and its rise amid the dangers and excesses that came with the epidemic. Seeking his own way out, Diggs turns to rap in order to carve a path to fame going against his older brother Divine (Martinez), who favored the drug trade as the means to giving their family a better life. The story depicts how it all came together for the clan as Diggs unites a dozen young men who are torn between music and crime. The group battles against the forces that hold them down and these include their own occasional impulse to give up the fight.
Cast
Main
Ashton Sanders as Bobby "RZA" Diggs
Shameik Moore as Corey "Raekwon" Woods
Siddiq Saunderson as Dennis "Ghostface Killah" Coles
Julian Elijah Martinez as Mitchell "Divine" Diggs
Marcus Callender as Oliver "Power" Grant
Erika Alexander as Linda Diggs
Zolee Griggs as Shurrie Diggs
David "Dave East" Brewster as Clifford "Method Man" Smith
TJ Atoms as Russell "Ol' Dirty Bastard" Jones
Johnell Xavier Young as Gary "GZA" Grice
Joey Bada$$ (season 1) / Uyoata Udi (season 2-3) as Jason "Inspectah Deck" Hunter Damani Sease as Lamont "U-God" Hawkins JaQwan J. Kelly as Jamel "Masta Killa" Irief
Recurring
Malcolm Xavier as "Haze", based on Ernest "Kase" Sayon. (season 1) Moise Morancy as Treach Caleb Castille as Darryl "Cappadonna" Hill Trayce Malachi as young Bobby Diggs Jaidon Walls as young Divine Diggs Vincent Pastore as Fat Larry Anthony Chisholm as Old Chess Player Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Jah Son (season 1) Ebony Obsidian as Nia Stephen McKinley Henderson as Uncle Hollis Natalie Carter as Miss Gloria Robert Crayton as Attila (season 1) Bokeem Woodbine as Jerome Jamie Hector as Andre D Andre (season 1) Justus David-Graham as Randy Diggs Gbenga Akinnagbe as John "Mook" Gibbons Samuel McKoy-Johnson as Darius Coles Amyrh Harris as Darren Coles Jake Hoffman as Steve Rifkind Martin Fisher as Head Janitor La La Anthony as Tracy Waples (season 2)
Guest
Christian Combs as Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs
Wavyy Jones as Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace / The Notorious B.I.G. Kelsey Caesar as Nasir "Nas" Jones Louis Gomez as Joseph "Fat Joe" Cartagena Joshua Grant as Lamont "Big L" Coleman Saeed Muhammad as Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith Jr. Keith Johnson as Erick Sermon Sedly Bloomfield as Major Harris James Adam Tucker as Wilbert Hart Nate Bynum as William Hart Ryan O'Nan as Tommy Mottola
Episodes
Season 1 (2019)
Season 2 (2021)
Season 3 (2023)
Production
Development
On October 11, 2018, it was announced that Hulu had given the production a series order consisting of ten episodes. The series was created by RZA and Alex Tse, both of whom were expected to write for the series and executive produce alongside Brian Grazer, Merrin Dungey, and Method Man. Consulting producers were set to consist of Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, and GZA as well as the estate of Ol' Dirty Bastard. Production companies were slated to include Imagine Television. On January 17, 2020, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on September 8, 2021, with a three-episode release. On November 4, 2021, Hulu renewed the series for a third and final season. On December 14, 2022, it was announced that the third and final season will premiere on February 15, 2023.
Filming
Principal photography for the series commenced in February 2019 in New York City, New York. Filming took place on locations in East Orange, Elmwood Park, Kearny, Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, and Secaucus in New Jersey.
Release
Wu Tang: An American Saga was released internationally on Disney + Star in selected territories.
Reception
Audience viewership
According to Parrot Analytics, which looks at consumer engagement in consumer research, streaming, downloads, and on social media, Wu-Tang: An American Saga was the 10th most in-demand United States streaming series, during the week of September 11, 2021 to September 17, 2021.