The rumour mill has been abuzz lately with news that Yang Zi landed herself the leading lady role in a new costumed xianxia drama opposite Cheng Yi. The speculation started to pick up momentum after a photo emerged of the actress supposedly in her Chen Xiang Ru Xie 沉香如屑 costume.
The project has so far managed to confirm only its male lead whilst leaving the name of its heroine up in the air still. Does this rumour (and the photo!) then signify a Cheng Yi and Yang Zi pairing is indeed happening?
Yang Zi Fans Band Against Another H&R Century Pictures Project
Now normally, fans would be quite chuffed to learn that their favourite actress landed herself a new role, but it turns out Yang Zi’s fans are very much not okay about this. In recent years, fans have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the direction their idol’s career is going under her management company H&R Century Pictures’ banner.
At the peak of her career, many fans feel like she should have the freedom to choose the dramas she wants to be involved in and to try out different genres and characters that will challenge her abilities as an actress instead of being pigeonholed into the same dramas H&R seems to be putting her in. Furthermore, fans believe that “leaking” the photo and pushing out that rumour might be the company’s way of using public opinion to force Yang Zi to take the project.
Signing her up for yet another costumed xianxia would certainly ensure the actress will continue to serve as the company’s cash cow as some fans have pointed out. If rumour is to be believed, H&R Century Pictures is said to be haemorrhaging a lot of money with a debt amounting up to 800 million yuan. Leveraging on Yang Zi’s popularity and attaching her name to the drama will at least guarantee those sponsorships and advertising contracts will continue rolling in for the company’s newest project.
[UPDATE] On April 2, Yang Zi studio, H&R Century Pictures and Youku released a statement to confirm that Yang Zi will indeed be signing on for Chen Xiang Ru Xue. They explain that Yang Zi had declined the project in 2020 due to her schedule, etc. But as of mid-March of 2021, H&R Century Pictures and Youku offered the role to her again. Through active communication between all parties, Yang Zi is confirmed to star in the project.
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Bixy
Wow thia drama is a hot mess, reminds me of all the commotion happening when the casting of Sound of desert was being figured out. Yang zi is just trying to survive with her rice bowl. Fans can’t feed her, but it is true this company has been assigning her these typecast roles. I was hoping she was going to star in “love when the starfalls” and reunite with deng Lun, i guess not. I hope her drama with Jing Bo Ran and Kris Wu have something new for us. Yang Zi is such an talented actress, i always look forward to her new dramas.
Neen
I love YZ too but if she can’t make her own decisions and is dependent on this agency even if they treat her this way…well it’s her fault for letting them do this to her. At some point in an artist’s career they experience change in choosing projects and popularity, I hope YZ is able to as well soon.
jiminie
I really feel bad for Cheng Yi who’s stuck in this mess of casting. This drama is supposedly H&R Century’s highest invested drama for this year, and they couldn’t find a female lead… the company should try to find actresses that aren’t from the company, I’m sure many would like to take on this project. H&R Century does have really nicely produced dramas… but they really like creating drama involving the casting
Chris
I like both actors, so I won’t be disappointed if the rumour turns out to be true. Of course she should have the ability to take on the roles she wants, and I don’t know enough about how casting works, but couldn’t it also be possible that Yang Zi likes these types of roles and wants to sign on to these dramas?
Regardless of who ends up being the female lead, I’m sure this will be a really pretty and well produced drama.
Trinity
Do her fans know for sure this is not what she wants or are they just assuming this? Like Chris mentioned she could enjoy these type of roles. And she isn’t being typecast considering her last 3 dramas (and 1 not yet aired with Oath of Love) are all modern dramas.
I’d also read these are just rumors and people have questioned if the images above are real or photoshopped (they are really horrible quality images after all).
Either way, I just hope they find a talented actress as I love Cheng Yi and Xianxia is my favorite genre so excited for this.
Reta
Doubt they are fans. They don’t talk about how the novel is bad but just say she can’t do another xianxia. I say she should stop doing another modern. Looks like some people just don’t want her to snatch a good opportunity. Her biggest blow up was from Ashes of Love, a xianxia.