Concluding of Television Series Depicting Era of Joshi Khan Completed
Hottest off the press! Printers have finished rolling on the historical epic, "The Golden Empire", delving into the rise of Jochi Khan and the Golden Horde, as straight from the source.
Recently, the team has been working tirelessly on night scenes, crucial to the emotional narrative and overall mood.
The project sparked interest even in the pre-production stages as the premier international series set entirely in Kazakhstan, venturing into the lesser-charted territories of 13th-century cinematic explorations.
Filming kicked off on Valentine's Day, 2025, and continued for a whopping 11.5 weeks within Kazakhstan. Major locations included the "Qazakhfilm" studio, the ancient petroglyphs of Tamgaly Tas, the City of Nomads, the gorges of Kimasar and Suyiktöbe. With a commitment to preserving authenticity, the team opted for real landscapes over digital enhancements.
Produced by the US-Turkish film company Karga Seven Pictures, spearheaded by director Emre Sahin and showrunner, the duo is known for top-performing projects such as "Rise of Empires: Ottoman" and "Testament: The Story of Moses," reaching the top 10 in 90 countries across Netflix. On the horizon, Karga Seven Pictures takes on the audacious task of bringing the history of the Golden Horde to life. The script is penned by Emre Sahin, Claire Mursom ("King of Thieves"), and renowned English historian Justin Pollard ("Vikings").
A prestigious international advisory group of Golden Horde historians was assembled, featuring scholars from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the UK, France, China, and the USA.
Close to 700 specialists were involved in production, with simultaneous work in Los Angeles, New York, Astana, Almaty, and Istanbul. The core team primarily consisted of Kazakh professionals, making up around 70%.
An impressive number of just over 4,000 actors applied worldwide, hailing from the US, UK, Mongolia, and Central Asia. A shortlist of 350 actors went through personal auditions with Emre Sahin, with several securing their first major international role. To the production team's delight, Kazakhstani actors proved to be a pleasant surprise, demonstrating dedication, discipline, and a deep understanding of their characters that accurately conveyed their emotional nuances, internal conflicts, and motivations.
The complex fight scenes demanded significant time and attention. The experts at Nomad Stunts, prominent Central Asian stuntmen whose resumes include Mulan, Marco Polo, Vikings, The Last Duel, and other blockbuster projects, delivered seamless execution of intricate action sequences, involving up to 200 riders in coordinated clashes.
Upon wrapping the final scenes, Emre Sahin shared a heartfelt sentiment, "Kazakhstan holds a special place in my heart. The breathtaking landscapes, talented people, and wealth of untold stories make working here an incredible experience. I treasure the opportunity to work with the Kazakh team, who were true professionals and dedicated to making big cinema happen."
The film crew crafted the visual world from scratch, constructing over 3,000 props and set pieces ranging from weapons and utensils to costume components and environment. For the first time, disassemblable 24-, 18-, and 12-pole yurts were assembled and adapted for the filming process.
On the final day of filming, May 16th, a delegation headed by State Advisor Yerlan Karin of the Republic of Kazakhstan visited the set and observed the taping of the closing scenes. Following their visit, Karin expressed gratitude to the entire project team for their contribution to the development of the nation's cultural and historical content, stating, "Kazakhstan rightfully takes its place as one of the main centers for the development of the unique nomadic civilization, and finally, the time has come when we are ready to properly present our history and culture to a wide global audience."
Although photography has wrapped, the post-production process remains underway. The coming phases include editing, music composition, sound design, and visual and graphic effects. Visual effects will be handled by studios with a proven pedigree, collaborating with Walt Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Universal, and Sony Pictures on projects like Mulan, Marco Polo, Vikings, and numerous others.
While the series may have initially been created for history enthusiasts and audiences interested in drama, historical fiction, or documentaries, it is destined to attract a wide range of viewers who appreciate quality entertainment with real-life historical underpinnings.
The production of the series, titled "The Golden Empire", ventures beyond the confines of traditional historical epics, offering an immersive Home-and-Garden experience within the grand settings of 13th-century Kazakhstan. As viewers delve into the rise of Jochi Khan and the Golden Horde, they will also gatecrash the set of a Lifestyle project that is more than just a movie – it's a testament to the vibrant Apple of Central Asia, a melting pot of diverse cultures and histories interacting harmoniously.
