With the recent successes of BL adaptations, there’s been a lot of hype around Immortality 皓衣行 which stars Leo Luo Yunxi and Arthur Chen Feiyu in the drama adaptation of The Husky and His White Cat Shizun. Filming has started on April 24, 2020 in Hengdian World Studios and in order to prevent leaks, the staffs’ cellphones were confiscated and the entire set was covered under a green fabric. However, it seems that their efforts have been in vain as paparazzi set photos can be found going around online from day 1.
In a statement from the Immortality crew dated April 29, 2020, it was revealed that in the first few days of filming, a large number of daipai (paid photographers) and sisheng (obsessive fans) have trespassed into the filming location and damaged the props and scenery. It has resulted in rework and increased difficulties for the crew, thus affecting the filming progress. The statement further discourages any profiteering done by sisheng and daipai and asks for everyone to give some time, space and respect for the hard work of everyone involved.
I have to say, their methods are ridiculously extreme with daipai shown to be standing on excavators just to get a shot of the set which is basically covered except for one side that’s facing a mountain. Some are hiding in the bushes too!
Claire Xiao
It's a lot of hype for this drama, it's the only BL drama that might come close to THE UNTAMED. The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty is a flop. Waiting to see what Flying Phoenix will bring.
Luo Yunxi is so kind and polite, I really want this to do well.
Anonymous
What "recent success with BL adaptations"? The only really successful one I know of is The Untamed. Even Guardian was a bit disappointing in that way. Will the censors allow anything else even close to what Untamed accomplished? I'd love if it does, but am quite skeptical. But I've heard they're cracking down even more and I haven't even seen much bromance lately either.
Anonymous
Winter begonia have alot of bromance.. the best bl drama adaptation from my pov. I love it more than the untamed. But… maybe because i like drama that more mature?
Anonymous
I think crew does good job and main leads are capable and spot on. Considering budget and resourses deployed it should be interesting drama. But all that censorship is discuraging.
Anonymous
I've seen the high definition close up photos, there is no doubt that these were released by the either crew or the actors for hype. I'm familiar enough with the how marketing work in this industry and anyone with a bit of knowledge will know that this is a marketing ploy.
Tencent is going to try to copy the success of 'The Untamed'. This time, with a bigger budget and enough test data in order to up their chance of success. However, from my observation over the years, whether a show can burst into popularity is really mysterious. There were too many factors that made The Untamed bursted, I think it is going to be very hard to try to copy this success.
Anonymous
Honestly fans need to chill out they are only doing harm to their idol and creating trouble to the staff. Need to stop for a moment and think to respect the job of others and don't be so dumb. I bet even their idols are so ashamed about this situation
Anonymous
*shrug*
To be fair no one expect Guardian to be that successful. Budget problem, last-minute cast change, no advertisements in the beginning, heck, it even got taken off the streaming site after it finished its run due to censorship issue, which only got re-approved to air months later. It was the fans that drove the drama.
Tencent took note and support The Untamed fully. Their decision really made it successful.
Anonymous
Love everything that you said. The Untamed had so many amazing things working for it. It was not a big budge production, but the cast and crew gave it 110%. I wish that there will be more spinoffs. Each of the supporting character deserves their own story to be told. This is the only drama in history that started a band, The Untamed Boys. Even their concerts and interviews are spectacular. All of the songs are good. None of the dramas lately can even go near what this drama can accomplish even with a bigger budget and bigger stars.
Guardian was ok, because the actors did their best with the issues at hand.
Winter Begonia had a great story to tell with a stellar cast. I hate dramas with open-ended endings. This is the trend lately with Chinese dramas, because the powers-that-be want a season 2. I doubt that I will be watching this drama 10x like I did The Untamed, including its spinoffs.
Anonymous
Hehe sorry, i am just laughing at the fans hiding in the bushes. Omg lol
Anonymous
@4.a. The Untamed isn't "the only drama in history that started a band". There was F4 back in 2001.
Man Man
Hiding in bushes lmfao! Crazy af. When are we getting GL dramas?
Anonymous
I don;t think a gf drama will happen. Cause most BLs a literally created out of females fantasies. Majority of the fandom (not the whole fandom) are just fetish gay men couples. I would love to see a GL though. A proper one.
Anonymous
Yang Mi was spotted reading a GL manga at the airport last year and said she would gladly star in one.
Anonymous
Yang Mi may want to produce one and cast her Jaywalk actors. Some of her actors may need to revive their careers.
Man Man
Anon 7.a I agree with you!!! I don't dwell much into BL because they are not accurate representations of gay romance, but fetishization of hot gay male couples. Most of the time, extremely erotic for female fantasies. As a queer person, I'd love to see a good GL drama once to combat the many confounding BL ones.
Anonymous
After watching Arthur Chen's terrible acting in Legend of Awakening, the marketing/public relations team may want this controversy to initiate demand for this drama. For those that read the book The Husky and his White Cat Shizun/2HA, I am not sure if Arthur Chen is the right person to play opposite of LYX. There are many twists and turns for his character in the book. LYX takes his craft seriously, so I have no doubt that he can deliver his part. IMHO, I hope that he improved tremendously for Immortality, because his latest work in Legend of Awakening is really bad.