A Taste of Life (人间有味), a new drama starring Hu Ge, has just been announced, but his name is listed pretty far down the cast list, thus sparking the joke that the 43-year-old actor is “the eighth-billed male lead”.
The announcement states that the leading actors are “listed in the order of the number of strokes in their surnames.” This is due to an industry-wide policy implemented in 2026 in China aimed at addressing disputes over billing order, often determined based on typical criteria such as screen time or celebrity status, which is not always clear cut.
Hu Ge’s surname Hu (胡) has 9 strokes, the most among the eight leading stars, so he appears last. Meanwhile, 31-year-old actor Bai Yufan whose name has the least strokes has “top-billing” though materials feature main leads Hu Ge and leading lady Li Qin at the center.
Adapted from Chang Xiaohu’s novel, A Taste of Life revolves around Hu Ge’s character, Fan Dachen, tracing his 30-year career from apprentice to head chef against the backdrop of changing times.
While Hu Ge was unbothered, some questioned the one-size-fits-all solution since it makes it difficult for the casual viewer to tell who the actual protagonist is.
Caomei
They should separate the order of main leads from the supporting casts.
avarachika
Agree.
Kai
They already have. The named 8 is the main cast. There are plenty more supporting actors who were not named.