Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

I’ve been following this news for a while. First, it was Wallace Chung’s name attached and then it switched over to Zhang Han. He needs to be shipped off on a vacation with the girls too! He just finished Braveness of the Ming a few days ago and here he is accepting a new project, one that is gathering a hefty amount of attention due to the person he’s going to be portraying – Sir Run Run Shaw, considered as the mogul of Chinese-language cinema. He and his brothers were founders to Shaw Brothers Studio, one of the biggest production companies in the 1960s. Moving to television, he co-founded TVB and was Chief Executive for 30 years. What an accomplished man.

My memory of Sir Run Run Shaw is him sitting at the front row at TVB Anniversaries throughout the years. Always surrounded by the rising starlets and Miss Hong Kongs. He passed away last year at the age of 106.

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Confirmed cast so far, at least those who showed up to the booting ceremony today. Beside Zhang Han, there’s Song Yi (The Disguiser).

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Chen Qian En (Cruel Romance) as a special cameo.

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Guo Zi Qian (Braveness of the Ming).

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Liu Chang De (Braveness of the Ming).

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The female lead….is rumored to be Korean Actress, Goo Hye Sun.

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My two cents: I’m not excited by anyone because I feel that someone with a seasoned hand at acting should take the lead. The shocker really came with Goo Hye Sun. Nothing against the lovely lady but I’m getting tired of the trend of inviting Korean stars to act in Chinese dramas. I can never wrap my head around the concept of ducks and chickens speaking their lines on set. Use your stars, China!

I have the strangest nostalgic feeling that TVB would have been the better choice of production company to produce something related to their deceased chief executive. They have first-hand experiences with working with the man; his tempers, his flaws, his ingenuous vision in building an empire like TVB, etc. I know TVB hasn’t been all that ching-ching and shiny like before, but if they had the budget, a drama like this would be phenomenal. On the positive side, the director is TVB ex-employee: Jonathan Chik (Beauty At War) and writing is his good partner – Chow Yuk Ming (Beauty At War), along with Chen Shu Xian (Never Dance Alone). Them three make up a solid team.

The Legendary Tycoon plans to have 45 episodes. Filming begins today!

Source: 01

  1. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

    the girls are really pretty!

    lol at chickens and ducks…. it’s just weird! unless they speak chinese, then i have no problem.

    who would you like to play sir run if by tvb? ruco chan????!! ^__^

  2. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

    Wow, I can’t believe TVB didn’t do this first. Ruco Chan would’ve been a good choice!
    There’s this one TVB extra who looks like a young Run Run Shaw. I don’t know his name, but he’s everywhere!

    I really hope the rumor about Gu Hye Sun is a joke….

  3. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

    The trend for using Korean stars for leading roles in Chinese productions is so one-sided. Koreans would never consider a Chinese actor/actress portraying a major Korean character in their films.

  4. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

    I wish it was Wallace instead. Why did it go to Zhang Han? I feel Wallace being a Hongkonger will suit this role more….

  5. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

    Yep. Tvb lost their next golden child. What a waste! Unless Sir Run specifically said, “Ya’ll better not do me when I’m gone!” =D

    Oh yesh! Ruco Chan would be perfect! But tvb might cast Wayne Lai in the role. Lol.

    xiaoxiu, I think I know who you mean, he plays a lot of supporting roles and looks exactly like the picture of Sir Run above. OMG. I need to find him~~!!

    • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

      I found him! His name is Hoffman Cheng. Too bad he’s just an extra or he’d be perfect.

      • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

        Darn it! You win. -wear grumpy pants-

        I think I noticed him when he was singing live for one of tvb’s program. He sounds decent. Ah, this one: click.

    • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

      Both Wayne Lai and Ruco Chan are talented and charismatic actors who I always like to onscreen.

      I like Zhang Han enough and he’s a pretty good actor but isn’t he a bit too young for the role? I reckon someone more mature (like 35+) would suit the role more.

      • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

        Wayne Lai is a great actor but he’s received enough accolades in the past few years, tv king three times! Plus, he’s in quite a few big productions already (one of them being the Lord of Shanghai, which I plan on checking out). It’s high time TVB gives Ruco something solid and epic to showcase his talents. 🙂

        Maybe they will age him like Fan Bing Bing in EOC. Lol.

  6. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

    Hm. Not sure how I feel about this. Zhang Han is not who comes to mind for this role. I like the cast as a whole though and especially Song Yi. I wish she was the female lead instead. She’s doing a fantastic job in The Disguiser right now.

  7. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

    I’m getting tired of the trend of inviting Korean stars to act in Chinese dramas. I can never wrap my head around the concept of ducks and chickens speaking their lines on set. Use your stars, China!

    EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS COMMENT SUMS MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!!!

    Seriously, these drama producers are doing their Chinese actor/actresses a grave injustice – there are SO MANY talented people out there (given how many drama/performing arts students in China), just waiting to be discovered, yet these producers are wasting a ridiculous amount of money on overpriced foreigners who can’t even speak the language. Why are they wasting money and shafting the local talent? It just doesn’t make sense.

    • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

      I read somewhere that the trend to use Korean stars is based on a) the conviction that Korean artists have a wider mass appeal to Chinese audience; b) they actually demand less than their Chinese counterparts. Maybe it helps explain why unless it’s a joint China-Korea production practically no Chinese actors star in Korean dramas or movies.

  8. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

    Noooo! Not Goo Hye Sun. Nothing against her, but I think Korean and Chinese productions are so fundamentally different. Especially since I’m watching Lang Ya Bang and the Disguiser right now, this drama seems like…really idol-ish, when it should be portrayed by people with amazing acting. tbh, I’ve been liking Song Yi, and Chen Qiao En is a pretty awesome actress to me, so I’d be ok with the casting if it wasn’t for the fact that Goo Hye Sun will be the lead. I’ve generally been disliking all and any korean productions lately, so I’m not too big on that. Plus, from what I remember of her, she’s not the best actress. Also. The whole voice-over-and-lip-movement-not-matching-up is going to be irritating as hell, and make the whole thing feel kind of cheap. Plus it’s just. I don’t like the bi-cultural exchange in actors because It’s just too different to work. If you watch Korean dramas, they tone of what they emphasize acting-wise is so different from Chinese peeps. Plus, a lot of historical (well this is in the 1900’s, so technically historical I think) dramas are built on knowledge of fundamental Chinese culture and values, and they’re not the same as those in Korea.

    I’m a little biased right now because of The Disguiser, but I kind wish Song Yi got the lead.

    • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han headlines The Legendary Tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw

      Obviously you have nothing against her (note my sarcasm), do not worry YG still not confirmed, so better wait the drama, see the chapters, and then criticize.

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