Netflix announced today that their highly-anticipated series Marco Polo will premiere at 12:01am PT on December 12, 2014 in all territories where Netflix is available. The streaming service has also released the first five photos, which you can check out below.

In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, Marco Polo is based on the famed explorer's adventures in Kublai Khan's court in 13th century China. The show stars Italian newcomer Lorenzo Richelmy as 'Marco.' Best known for her role in The Wachowski's Cloud Atlas, the Beijing-born Zhu Zhu plays Marco's love interest 'Kokachin.' Joan Chen (Twin Peaks) and Benedict Wong (Prometheus) also star in the show's eclectic global cast as Empress Chabi and Kublai Khan.

Rounding out Marco Polo's global cast of characters will be Remy Hii as 'Prince Jingim,' Olivia Cheng as 'Mei Lin,' Claudia Kim as 'Khutulun," Uli Latukefu as 'Byamba,' Chin Han as 'Jia Sidao,' and Tom Wu as 'Hundred Eyes.'

Creator John Fusco (Forbidden Kingdom, Young Guns, Hidalgo) and Harvey Weinstein will serve as executive producers. Daniel Minahan (Game of Thrones, True Blood) will also serve as executive producer and will direct two episodes. Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg (Academy Award nominated Kon-Tiki, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) will direct the season's first two episodes. Patrick Macmanus will serve as co-executive producer. Collin Creighton will produce on behalf of The Weinstein Company.