Zhang Ji Zhong
I know what you’re gonna say: “Again?!!” Yep. Because Jin Yong is the only author in China. *snarks*
But Zhang Ji Zhong, one of the famed producers (and directors) in China, isn’t new to Jin Yong. Some of you might even remember his name in various productions’ credits. Popular works under his name include Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Water Margin, Return of the Condor Heroes 2006, and Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils 2003, to name a few. And of course, you can’t say he didn’t play a part in propelling the careers of Huang Xiao Ming & Liu Yi Fei. So newbies must be auditioning desperately to snatch a role in the upcoming series.
And the lucky actors to be cast so early in the game are Yida Cai and Jenny Zhang. I don’t know who Yida is (you?) but he’s rather new and green and has been in a few series and movies. One that stood out to me is the epic Legend of Chu and Han in 2012. Lady Luck must have been looking down on him because he’s playing twin brothers in the story, the main protagonists who couldn’t be any more different. One is a sly womanizer with a humble background, Shi Zhong Yu, while the other one is a quiet, upright leader of the Changle Sect, Shi Po Tian. One is often mistaken for the other, which allows for amusing dialogues and awkward situations. Jenny Zhang may be the first girl to be included but her role hasn’t been finalized. Unlike Yida, her line of works are more extensive, she was in The Patriot Yue Fei, Palace 3 and many more.
Ode to Gallantry has been adapted into TV series 3 times, the most popular being TVB’s version in 1989 called Hap Hak Hang with a spectacular line-up in Tony Leung, Sheren Tang, and Bobby Au Yeung. Who has watched this series? I don’t think I have…
But any series with Tony Leung as the lead is worth watching. The man is made of a few words but his acting never fails to impress me. I can already imagine him being flirty and getting all the girls, like how he did it in The Duke of Mount Deer. But to play a total different twin brother is tough on any actor, as not many can seamlessly embrace a new set of personality. Best of luck to you, Yida Cai.
Directors are Chung Siu Hung (Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties) and Zhao Jian (Return of the Condor Heroes 2006, Legend of the Condor Heroes 2003).
Filming begins May 1st.
Source: 01
8 thoughts on “Zhang Ji Zhong to adapt Jin Yong’s Ode to Gallantry with new faces”
aired in 1989?!!! oh lord! i haven’t watched this one yet? and i betcha there isn’t english subtitle around. but my parents have the dubbed version!! they were watching it a few months back. sheren look so adorable in her hair. she was all about her man. LOL
good to see newbies taking on lead roles!!! beat yu zheng at his own game!
8 thoughts on “Zhang Ji Zhong to adapt Jin Yong’s Ode to Gallantry with new faces”
This kid will get eaten alive compared to Tony leung!!! he’s on a different caliber even if he was raw at the time! The girl is not as cute as Sheren. 🙂
8 thoughts on “Zhang Ji Zhong to adapt Jin Yong’s Ode to Gallantry with new faces”
I agree with you 100%
Tony Leung is a star through and through. Few actors can match his charisma onscreen.
Sheren is awesome 😀
8 thoughts on “Zhang Ji Zhong to adapt Jin Yong’s Ode to Gallantry with new faces”
OMG Hap Hak Hang. Now THAT brings back memories! Tony Leung is one hell of an awesome actor and he becomes his characters onscreen. His Hap Hak Hang and Duke of Mount Deer are AWESOME. And his version of Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber is the still the best one.
FFS why does everyone remake Jin Yong over and over again??? Jin Yong’s my favorite wuxia author but far out, can the drama people stop remaking again and again already???
8 thoughts on “Zhang Ji Zhong to adapt Jin Yong’s Ode to Gallantry with new faces”
I finished watching Tony’s version in June with my mom, who happily complied when I asked her to do a marathon. Tony put forth a wicked performance as both brothers. Sheren was too cute!! Such a baby face back in the days.
Someone needs to put a stop to Jin Yong’s remakes!
8 thoughts on “Zhang Ji Zhong to adapt Jin Yong’s Ode to Gallantry with new faces”
I agree with everything you said!
It’s great when your mom is a big drama fan! My mom’s a huge fan too and that’s how I got into all the drama stuff in the first place. It’s also more fun to watch dramas with people who love it 😀
Tony was incredible in Hap Hak Hang (actually he’s a pretty incredible actor in his roles). He and Sheren were so young back then! How time flies 🙂
Someone should put a stop to Jin Yong remakes, but unfortunately I think it’s not gonna happen because producers love to keep milking the Jin Yong wuxia cash cow. We can cry all we want but they’re still gonna keep butchering the Jin Yong classics. *SIGH* This makes me so sad 🙁
8 thoughts on “Zhang Ji Zhong to adapt Jin Yong’s Ode to Gallantry with new faces”
Tony is incredible in most, if not all, of his works. I think it has to do with him being a quiet man in real life, so when he acts, he pours all his emotions into his characters. Sheren was uber cute. I shipped her with both brothers. 😛
Jin Yong, we can only sigh. And sigh some more.
8 thoughts on “Zhang Ji Zhong to adapt Jin Yong’s Ode to Gallantry with new faces”
Totally agree with you about Tony. I was so surprised when I found out how quiet he is in real life because he’s played so many different characters so wonderfully and some of them, like Wei Xiaobao from Duke of Mount Deer, are such loud and lively characters. But yeah, we have to remember that actors are not the same as their characters, which also shows just how good of an actor Tony is, to be able to play so many different characters who are totally different from him, and yet play them so well that he becomes the character onscreen and we momentarily forget that it’s an actor acting out a role.
Sheren is good-looking and a great actress. This is what I loved about the golden-era TVB – the actors/actresses not only looked good but had the talent to back it up.
I think I heard some news before that Jin Yong sold the rights to his novels to some Cdrama production company (was it Yumama’s? Not sure), so (unfortunately for us) we can expect LOTS and lots of remakes to come. They’re probably gonna remake every one of Jin Yong’s works cuz why stop the cash cow there, right? Might as well milk it for all it’s worth especially if they spent all that money buying the rights and all…