'Marco Polo' season 3 spoilers, release date news: Kublai Khan to be more in the background?

A promotional image for "Marco Polo"Facebook/MarcoPoloMP

Despite the critical acclaim and popularity of the "Marco Polo" series, Netflix has yet to announce if the show is moving forward with season 3 or if it has been canceled. One of the popular rumors that surfaced suggests that it has been delayed due to the schedule of actor Benedict Wong, but now, it is speculated that the show will work around this issue.

According to Game N Guide, it is possible that the studios will push forward with season 3 despite the numerous projects that Wong is currently involved in. Wong plays Kublai Khan, who is arguably the second main character following Lorenzo Richelmy's titular Marco Polo.

To work around his limited schedule, the report states that Kublai Khan will have a reduced role. This would make sense, given that Kublai Khan was shown rushing into an ambush in the season 2 finale. A weakened Kublai Khan may spend season 3 resting and recuperating while Empress Chabi (Joan Chen) steps in to lead the country.

Kublai Khan, in real history, also began suffering from poor health in his old age, and this might be taken as an inspiration for season 3. The writers are speculated to tie in his fate from the season 2 finale with his declining health in season 3 as a means to explain why the character is absent from the episodes.

If season 3 does push forward, it is widely speculated that Marco Polo and Kublai Khan would be going up against the mythical Prester John, a character whose presence was felt throughout season 2.

There are no historical pieces of evidence that support whether Prester John actually existed, although there are many records of characters who may have been the inspiration for the legend, including Marco Polo's own book. According to a previous report from The Wrap earlier this year, Prester John is a historical legend who may have been based on a real person.

Netflix has yet to confirm or deny if "Marco Polo" would be renewed for season 3 and if the aforementioned plot points would come to fruition.