Thanks heavens! Chen Xiao, if you have escaped Yumama’s claws, never go back again! Please accept this offer! He doesn’t have anything line up except for that horror flick with Ariel Lin, and his other drama, Love & Life & Lie, might be airing in June. He’s been quite free lately as evident of his touring fashion shows in Milan these past few days. Which is good because a period in between each project is a healthy practice to me. Now he just needs to influence his friend to do the same thing…. π
The heavily invested ancient mythological drama, The Gods, is collaboratively produced by Cathay Media, CCTV, HunanTV, and San Sang Media, with a budget of over 120 million yuan. It is being helmed by Korean director, Shin Woo Chul, who did Gu Family Book, Secret Garden, and City Hall. Well, he definitely has experience with the fantasy genre so we are in good hands. The writing will be penned by Zhu Su Jin, whose works include Let the Bullets Fly (Movie), Three Kingdoms (TV Series), and The Opium War (Movie).
The credentials of the people involved are solid. Production begins in March and will run for 8 months.
The story is based on a Chinese novel about Gods and Demons, The Investiture of the Gods. Our hero is Yang Jian (often represented in creative works as Erlang Shen, the God with the third eye on his forehead and wanted to punish our Monkey King in various TV adaptations.) The heroine is Da Ji, a beautiful concubine of King Zhou, who is possessed by an evil fox spirit and causes the downfall of the Shang dynasty. I think we all know this story very well.
Notable drama adaptations of the same novel include Benny Chan’s God of Honour and Fan Bing Bing’s The Legend and The Hero. The only thing I remember about God of Honour is the heart-breaking mother and son scenes between Kingdom Yuen and Benny Chan. It slayed. Check out the opening theme below.
Our potential female lead, Claudia Wang Li Kun, is currently promoting her movie with Kris Wu, Somewhere Only We Know and filming a drama, Life is a Twice Blooming Flower, with Hawick Lau. While I’m not overly excited about her casting news, I should be fair and give the actress a chance to prove herself. I have seen her dramas before but not enough to give a fair comment.
Chen Xiao strolling in and out of fashion exhibits.
I’m hoping the boot in your hands is not for yourself…. Happy thoughts!
hehe. The lady on the left is star-struck. The funny thing is Chen Xiao’s I-know-you’re-looking-at-me face.
His photoshoots for Jan & Feb.
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
I don’t know about these roles. Never liked the 3-eyed God in any adaptation so far. Maybe if it’s played by Chen Xiao and focusing on his life rather than ruining monkey king’s quest. HA!
Its hard to play one of the four most beautiful woman in Ancient China….and I don’t think Wang Li Kun is that person….
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
Wang Li Kung has sharp angles to her face, perfect to play ambitious and scheming concubines. She’s quite pretty in ancient costumes too (with the right hair and make-up, of course.)
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
Hello Kaptain A:
I am your new fan and my first time to write here in response to your post. I am really impressed with your detailed knowledge with Chinese and other Asian Movies and TV series. My interest in Chinese ancient dramas started when my son studied Chinese Mandarin Language when he was at University of Ottawa, Canada. Our first exposure to Chinese drama in 2012 was with the Schemes of a Beauty or the Beauty’s Rival in Palace starring Ruby Lin and Sammul Chan. This series captivated our hearts, especially it has an English sub-titles. And I understand also that because of the series’ popularity, it was translated to different languages, even to Spanish and Arabic subtitles; hence my Spanish friends here became interested too.
Kaptain A, you are right in your written words here that Wang Li Kung had a sharp angles to her face and she is a perfect actress to play any scheming concubines as what she played in Schemes of a Beauty. How we reacted and hated her when she always plotted so many evil ways against Ruby Lin. Wang Li Kung played her role very well in this series. Of course, with this series, we became a big fan of Ruby Lin here in Canada and I met other foreign nationals here like Spanish, Arabic, Filipinos, Koreans who favored Ruby Lin very well when it comes to Chinese ancient drama series.
Thank you so much for giving me a chance to be a member of this Virtual Voyage. Through this venue, I was able to learn so many updates on Chinese film industry. You wrote very well and my family really enjoyed reading all your posting and pictures. All the best Kaptain A!
I
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
Thanks for the kind words and lengthy response. I won’t say I’m an expert since I’m still learning the quirks of it all. I hope you continue to watch and enjoy some cdramas that will come our way. Do share your opinions and discussion with us too. =)
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
me guess no one cares about chen xiao news anymore! you can stop posting his news! lol.
i dont like how this pairing looks together….she looks so much older!
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
Erm,I care about him? Why?His popularity dropped or something happened?
I am more of Kdrama person so I dont know anything about Centertainment.haha
But Kdrama standard dropped a lot recently and I ended up watching Chinese dramas instead…
I love him in Legend of LuZhen.He acting is good and story and production was great…right?No?
Anyways,that makes me follow his dramas…RoCH was a bit irritating for me at first but it is getting interesting now.
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
You’re not the only one . I still like him but my interest have waned. I mean still want to hear news but not like omgIneedtoknow what’s going on.
I feel bad but I had high expectations that he’ll be a good YG but he’s just as bad as MC.
At least when YuZheng buthered Swordsman Joe Chen still add that extra presence.
I totally forgot she was in Beauty Rival with Ruby Lin. oh shiz.
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
Well it looks like an interesting drama at least~
I’ve never watched the Legend and the Hero, how is it?
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
I dont remember much. It was sorta huge in China as it even got a sequel with ruby lin as lead. Funny how the hzgg ladies snatch jobs from each other. Lol.
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
Interesting! I shall have to give it a go then. I’m additionally intrigued that HZGG’s Er Kang is playing the lead male opposite of FBB it seems.
11 thoughts on “Mythological drama, The Gods, courts Chen Xiao and Wang Li Kun”
Oops, looks like Chen Xiao is out and Luo Jin is stepping in. Aw. Chen Xiao wants to focus on films for now.