Yang Mi (Sword of Legends) is up for the leading role in Legend of Fuyao 扶摇皇后, an upcoming Chinese drama based on a novel by Tian Xia Gui Yuan 天下归元 who also wrote Rise of the Phoenix. Her addition is not without controversy due to rumors that the role was initially supposed to go to Joe Chen (Swordsman).
Nevertheless, Joe Chen’s camp has clarified that they were never approached in the first place. Besides, she’ll have her hands full with Empress Dugu anyway. If Yang Mi confirms and if in fact the drama sticks to the novel (which it most likely won’t), it will be her second time playing a time traveler.
Fuyao is miles apart from the candy roles that Yang Mi is accustomed to playing when you consider Sword of Legends and Chinese Paladin 3, which is why people question whether she has the acting chops to pull off such a powerful female character. Word is out that the male lead may turn out to be William Chan (The Mystic Nine).
Update: On June 5, both Yang Mi and Ethan Ruan revealed each other as the confirmed leads via a cheeky weibo post. It goes something like this, “How are you? I am Fu Yao / Wu Ji. You are? @YangMi @EthanRuan.” So there you have it, that’s our new leads. Interestingly, Yang Mi will be collaborating with yet another Taiwanese actor after a very successful pairing with Mark Chao. As for the initial Joe Chen rumors, now that her Fated To Love You co-star Ethan Ruan has been confirmed as the lead, I wonder what happened there.
Anonymous
Is there any dramas that is not based on a novel?
Anne J
umm very few haha off the top of my head i think Novoland Castle in the Sky and Lan Ling Wang are original stories.
Unknown
After seeing her as BQ, I wouldn't say she is accustomed to play candy roles. While she did well as Susu, she was at her best as BQ and her action scenes are good. I like that she is challenging herself, and doesn't live on what people expected of her.
I also noticed she was names one of the "Four Dan" twice. It's quite impressive and show that this girl isn't stop striving.
Anne J
lol i can't agree more even tho I am the one who wrote it in the first place but that was before Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms aired. I am a really big fan of hers now, she was spectacular as BQ and SS.
Anonymous
Heck, I fell for her just by one look at her Si Yin in Ten Miles of Peach Blossom. In a sense she really got me at hello.
Her Su Su and Bai Qian just killed me.
I really look forward to her Fu Yao.
Unknown
Anybody happen to have e synopsis of the novel. Jus wondering how strong the female lead is.
xiao
China needs to chill with all this historic / fantasy theme, ugh I wish we have more modern based dramas
Unknown
I think it's because that their strength while modern dramas isn't
Unknown
I think she proved herself to a lot people, including me, after TMOPB
Unknown
Ethan isn't the 1st choice of the role though… It has been rumored so many names, some younger and some at his age. It'd be fun if he and JC had a reunion but this is a big budgeted cdrama so it's very unlikely both leads are Taiwaneses. I think 1 big reason big productions goes to TW,HK or even Korean actors is their fees are cheaper but their acting and/or their popularity are just as good.
I don't remember Ethan played lead role in period drama yet so it'd be interesting.
Unknown
I don't know how she badass she is but I read she is "shameless, loves money, pretty boys" so I like her already LOL
Anne J
true that, though I still wish to see them together again. I didn't know that the fees of celebs outside the Mainland are lower though. Always assumed it was because big productions wanted to get more exposure (ie ppl love kdramas now so a korean actor combined with a c-actress would get the best of both worlds, same with actors from Taiwan or Hong Kong). Just my theory though, maybe they do get paid less. If so, that's smart business right there.
Unknown
Yeah it'd be interesting if they paired up, maybe after he hit it big this time? I remember one of Ruby's leads in big budget Schemes of a beauty was from HK too. But Ruby has been big for so long I don't think she is counted/paid as Taiwanese nor I don't see that often in the recent years as the mainland actor's pay is getting higher.
I thought everyone know it… LOL That's why Chinese productions wanted Korean actors and Korean actors wanted to work in China. Their pays are much higher than what they get in their homeland even it's much less compared to what mainland actors get. Most of they because if they wanted the top name they probably have to pay more. That's why a lot good actors from Taiwan and especially HK moved and worked in China- where the money is. My friend told me you can look at the actors ( and where they are from) to know if the productions have money or not… If many of the cast are from oversea that mean they want to pay cheap and don't have much money… It both leads are big mainland names they clearly get plenty of money… For Yang Mi, since it's her company's productions like TMOPB, I can see why they cast both male leads from Taiwan, especially with her name alone enough to gain attention.. It's not a bad move since people didn't know what to expect of Mark and was impressed by him. I'm glad she went with quality, instead of fresh meat and pretty face /looking and Kris rumored name/
Unknown
Yeah it'd be interesting if they paired up, maybe after he hit it big this time? I remember one of Ruby's leads in big budget Schemes of a beauty was from HK too. But Ruby has been big for so long I don't think she is counted/paid as Taiwanese nor I don't see that often in the recent years as the mainland actor's pay is getting higher.
I thought everyone know it… LOL That's why Chinese productions wanted Korean actors and Korean actors wanted to work in China. Their pays are much higher than what they get in their homeland even it's much less compared to what mainland actors get. Most of they because if they wanted the top name they probably have to pay more. That's why a lot good actors from Taiwan and especially HK moved and worked in China- where the money is. My friend told me you can look at the actors ( and where they are from) to know if the productions have money or not… If many of the cast are from oversea that mean they want to pay cheap and don't have much money… It both leads are big mainland names they clearly get plenty of money… For Yang Mi, since it's her company's productions like TMOPB, I can see why they cast both male leads from Taiwan, especially with her name alone enough to gain attention.. It's not a bad move since people didn't know what to expect of Mark and was impressed by him. I'm glad she went with quality, instead of fresh meat and pretty face /looking and Kris rumored name/
Anne J
ooh no, i knew that haha i am aware that China pays big bucks that's why foreigners love to go there but i didn't know that foreigners still get paid less even if they join a Mainland production. I always assumed you had to pay astronomical fees to get someone like Song Joong Ki? haha obviously that's not the case anymore with the ban on K-stuff but I digress. Yess.. Mark Chao was a great choice, I am hoping Ethan Ruan turns out great too even though part of me wishes that it's Mark Chao again, that would have been awesome.