Check out Nick Jonas as Nate in the upcoming gritty drama “Kingdom.”
We’ve seen a few teasers and trailers for the series that also stars Frank Grillo, Jonathan Tucker & Matt Lauria and now the show has launched a new website complete with character bios and a very cool video that shows how the cast trained for the MMA filled series. Watch that HERE!
So what exactly is “Kingdom”? The show is described as a raw family drama set against the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Venice, California. Alvey Kulina (Frank Grillo) owns Navy St. MMA with the help of his girlfriend Lisa Prince (Kiele Sanchez). He is willing to go through extraordinary means to make sure his fighters are taken care of, but all of this responsibility comes at a steep price. He has complicated relationships with both of his sons, Jay (Jonathan Tucker) and Nate (Nick Jonas), who are both struggling with their own identities and places within Alvey’s life and gym.
Want to know more about the characters? Here’s the breakdowns:
Alvey (Frank Grillo): Alvey owns NAVY ST. MMA, a gritty storefront gym/dojo in Venice, CA. A beloved MMA legend, he is a man of big appetites. He came up in a savage world, when MMA was closer to human cockfighting than a mainstream sport. He is a true warrior, carved on the Mt. Rushmore of MMA, but he doesn’t have a dime to show for it. He is in love with Lisa Prince, his girlfriend and business partner, and an extraordinary woman who’s always honest with him. He’s trying to repair his fragile relationships with his sons, Jay and Nate, while trying to save his gym, which could include bringing Ryan—a former All-American wrestler, world-class athlete, and Lisa’s old flame—back to his prime in hopes of saving the gym.
Nate (Nick Jonas): Nate is Alvey’s youngest son and the prized fighter at the gym. He has always looked up to his older brother but he is the polar opposite of Jay. Nate is reserved, disciplined, and dedicated. He does what is expected of him: he eats right, he trains hard, he gets in the cage, and he takes down his opponent. Nate is an explosive athlete but he feels empty. He feels like he is living someone else’s life. He loves his family, but he feels stuck in the middle of the war between his brother and father.
Lisa (Kiele Sanchez): Stunning, intelligent, generous, savvy, intuitive, and deliberate, Lisa is Alvey’s girlfriend and business partner. She runs the gym with military precision, always looking for ways to keep it afloat. Years ago, she met an MMA star named Ryan. They fell in love and she fell into the world of fighting. When Ryan crashed and burned and tore down Lisa’s life, Alvey was there to pick her up. She started working at his gym, it became her family and eventually she and Alvey fell for each other. Nothing about their relationship is conventional, but they have great respect for one another.
Ryan (Matt Lauria): Charming, intelligent, great looking, a physical presence, Ryan is a former three-time, All-American wrestler and a world-class athlete. Four years ago, Ryan was on top of the world. He had money, fame and Lisa Prince until he landed in prison. When he shows up at Alvey’s gym after his release, he is a changed man; humbled. Even though Lisa is suspect of Ryan’s intentions in returning to the gym, Alvey, despite the risks, sees the return of a superstar fighter as an opportunity that can change the fortune of his struggling gym
Jay (Jonathan Tucker): Jay is Alvey’s oldest son and a one-in-a-million talent. He’s not the biggest or the strongest, but he is the most natural, fluid and creative in the game—except he’s not in the game. He’s undisciplined, unpredictable, and invites confrontation. Jay is a livewire who lives life with very little thought about consequences. He has a complicated relationship with his father. He hasn’t forgiven him for turning his back on his mother, Christina, or for disappearing on him and his brother, Nate
Christina (Joanna Going): Christina is Alvey’s estranged wife, and mother to Jay and Nate. She is an engaging and beautiful woman, undone by mental illness and drug abuse. Her eldest son Jay blames Alvey for turning his back on his Christina, while her youngest son Nate barely remembers her. Alvey could have done better as a husband and father, but he shielded his sons from darker times. Christina is the heartbreak of Jay’s life, and he will do anything to help his mother.
Nick has also been busy promoting his upcoming single “Jealous” which comes out Sunday. He sat down with Galore Magazine for a fun polaroid photoshoot and interview. Check that out here.
“Kingdom” premieres on the Audience Network on DirecTV (Channel 239) October 8 at 9pm.
[nggallery id=2235]
