The Immortal Ascension star Yang Yang who has taken a break from filming finally kicks off his next drama Bu Rang Jiang Shan (不让江山), another male-centric costume drama that will see his character rise from humble beginnings to become a hero. The actor had a solo cast announcement, highlighting his main lead status. He appeared at the booting ceremony on February 22, 2026, still sporting an injury on his left hand. Considering that he had previous injuries from filming before, many were worried. Yang Yang responded by saying that the fracture was an accident, that he’s recovering and for everyone not to worry.
Meanwhile, the rest of the cast were also revealed subsequently. Many were surprised that female lead Zhou Jieqiong was only fourth in the billing order, even after Zhai Zilu and Xia Haoran who are second and third male leads.
However, things turned controversial. Fans protested comedic influencer Hou Ben joining the cast as they feel she “mocked” Yang Yang when she did a parody of his drama Fireworks of My Heart in the past. There were also complaints about the casting standards and the bigger issue of alleged script revisions. In the original novel, Li Chi, played by Yang Yang, is a clever and strategic hero. Fans claim the drama rewrites him into a crude and impulsive figure while his important scenes will be given to the second male lead, essentially casting Yang Yang for his fame yet giving the spotlight to others and adding scenes for them. Others are demanding his studio take action, or at least shut down the rumors if they are truly just rumors.
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Arduinna
The fact that the female lead was given 4th billing behind two relatively unknown youngsters and that her role was downgraded from a martial arts obsessed general in the novel to a mere female physician in the script shows quite clearly who is getting priority in this drama (hint, it isn’t the leads).
craneshow
Zhai Zilu isn’t unknown in Chinese entertainment and if we’re talking about acting skills, he is defintelty better than those idols. He is one of the good actors from Central Academy of Drama. The one that’s need to be questioned is the one with surname Xia. Apparently this is not the first time he got the higher billing than those who truly deserve it.
Girl94
It’s obvious this person is Zyk. Another dude with connections. You don’t get to be in without successful works. He must be another on very annoying princes and princess with big backers. I really don’t like these people, they can’t wait their turn to breakthrough the right way. They need to steps on others. Sad c-ent industry.
Anon
What’s so sad? Which entertainment industry in the world is not cut-throat or who politely “wait their turn”? In fact, that is the same for every industry and every workplace, even work as “intellectual” as scientific research. It’s just more or less.
Are you really so naive? As the saying goes “if you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen”.
Dee
But why take this project if they will play you like this? I wonder if he could not say no
Anon
They are all free to say no. But they all want lots of money and fame. As P.T. Barnum said “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”. Some actors said they quit in protest, but they always come back.