It’s a big day for Youku as their long list of dramas for 2024 is finally out. With more than 100+ titles in the announcement, it’s looking up to be a busy year once again for the Chinese streaming platform.
Amongst the shows included in the roll out next year is Fan Ren Xiu Xian Zhuan 凡人修仙传, the live-action adaptation of the fantasy webnovel A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality that’s so popular it even has its very own animated series out. In honour of today’s announcement, the series also released official photos of Yang Yang’s Han Li. The Fireworks of My Heart star has been cast to play the main protagonist in the series. As the title suggests, Han Li is an ordinary mortal who rises above the circumstances of his birth to go down the dangerous path of cultivating towards immortality.
Since filming began in early summer, there have been tons of behind the scenes photos of the set leaked online already. Nonetheless, check out Yang Yang and the wanderer vibes of his Han Li below.
Ever since appearing in the firefighter themed Fireworks of My Heart, Yang Yang has unexpectedly been on the receiving end of a lot of negative attention. Much of the vitriol has been directed towards not just his character on the show but also on his acting which many criticised as “too greasy”. With a new drama in the works, and a much loved story at that, can Yang Yang finally redeem himself to drama watchers? Because the new promos do look pretty cool.
No “Magic” Changes and Add Ons to The Story
Meanwhile, this being an adaptation of a beloved story, many fans have been voicing concern that the series might take several liberties and stray far from the original. To this, producer and screenwriter Wang Yuren (王裕仁) who’s visibly frustrated asked for some trust saying that he spent 5-6 years on the script over a story that he’s read for over a decade. He reassured viewers that there’s no “magic changes.”
He explained that because it’s a drama, it’s normal for the heroine Nangong Wan to appear earlier, but there will be no dramatic change in her character, her scenes are already less than female-centric dramas so everyone should just appreciate her every appearance. As for the rest of the cast, he said that adding characterization does no equate adding “filler” scenes. Saying that Han Li won’t get “robbed” of his major scenes, he assured everyone that 90% of the scenes in the drama are all about him (Han Li) and that they strongly believe the actor they cast to play him, is the “best Han Li” they could’ve hoped for.
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Anon
Yang Yang has never been a great actor and I really see no improvement over the last few years. He better buck up as his years of making it just by looking good is now increasingly limited. I love the manhua. The animation and artwork are superb. Han Li is a person of introspection, externally still and controlled but internally powerful. The real actor has to bring the inner emotions and thoughts to the screen even if Han Li is saying nothing and doing nothing.
coralie
agreed, all those years of ppl raving about yangyang and I just can’t see where he’s a good actor. he’s stiff as a board. they could’ve chosen his successor from Oh No! Here comes trouble who is his lookalike except 100x his acting ability. but no, they selected him of all people. doesn’t give me a ton of trust in this screenwriter/producer already.
Lisa
I want to like YangYang, but he really should go take some acting classes to improve himself. Trying to watch him in that fireman drama just reminded me of his other abysmal attempt at acting in martial universe. Barely any improvement. Acting is not just furrowing your eyebrows.