The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

Alright! Finally some confirmed news on the next big-budget historical drama, The Fated General (霍去病), based on the life story of military general Huo Qu Bing of the Western Han Dynasty. The last actor in recent memory to play this role for me was Eddie Peng in Sound of the Desert. Zhang Ruo Yun is chosen for the titular lead role for quite some time already and now they have the crew to start rolling them cameras. Cast members are nothing short of beautiful. Wee-bit too baby-looking to be considered as fearsome on the battlefield, though.

Meet the Cast:

Zhang Ruo Yun as Huo Qu Bing. A quiet, young general with a keen eye and brain for battles. He was known for his epic wins against Xiongnu. Eddie set the bar very high for his portrayal. I’m still not convinced by Zhang’s acting. How’s he in Castle in The Sky?

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Alan Yu Meng Long plays Li Gan, Qu Bing’s subordinate. His sulky face here reminds me of…. Vic. LOL.

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Johnny Bai Yu as Bo Li. He’s Chan Yu’s son, belonging to enemy camp – Xiongnu. I like seeing you in more projects! It’s a bit of a step-down from his leading role in Memory Lost.

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Rachel Mao Xiao Tong as Wu Cai. We were just talking about you in the other project, and here you are. =D Playing Hu’s wife, of course.

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Victor Huang as Emperor Wu of Han. YES.

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Xu Yue as Liu Ling. Looks a bit like Maggie Q. She was in So Young Drama Version.

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Karina Hai Ling as Liu Ding Er. Hey there, remember her?

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Chen Zi Han as Empress Wei Zi Fu. Them assets.

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Li Hong Yi. Another soldier under Huo. I’m starting to think this is gonna be flower boy camp ~ XD

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Pan Tai Ming as Wei Qing, Hu’s uncle.

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Booting Ceremony to be Held on 8/21/16:

No kidding about the grandeur of this drama. A huge red carpet!

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Zhang Ruo Yun with his father, producer Zhang Jian of The Fated General. Yep.

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Written by Wen Hao Jie (The Ordinary World, The Water Margin), The Fated General plans to be epically long with 70 episodes.

Via: 01

  1. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    remains unimpressed with zhang ruo yun but he keeps getting all these lead roles? lols. he is pretty to look at though. XD

    rachel! ROFL, you guys were casting her in Martial Universe. the veterans look good.

  2. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    YASSS! Rachel you go girl! Zhang Rui Yun was decent enough in Castle…well I didn’t stay to watch enough to comment too much, but he was definitely more interesting than the other guys.BUT, definitely big shoes to fill cuz Eddie was absolutely fantastic, charismatic awesome stuff.

  3. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    The boys look too weak to be convincing as soldiers let alone general . Sigh.

  4. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    Ugh, poor Eddie’s character was changed to Wei Wuji. SARFT didn’t like that the script allowed General Huo to live because he died quite young in history. I’d be fuming if Huo doesn’t die in this and SARFT allows this, but denied Sound of the Desert a broadcast approval for like years and made them change the character names.

    Chen Zi Han playing Wei Zifu is an interesting choice. She played Wei Zifu’s sister-in-law Princess Pingyang before.

    Glad to see Go Princess Go cast in this. They need more exposure after GPG!

    • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

      I was surprised he died so young! 24! To have such a legacy behind him. Amazing.

      Looks like GPG cast are getting some. The news before about the general drama with Ma Ke and Sandra? Peter Sheng is now the lead. 🙂

  5. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    Zhang Ruo Yun is doing well in Novoland. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that he’s the best actor amongst the amateur cast in Novoland. The worst is the female lead who has a rather frozen face expression and then the second male lead with his equally frozen face expression. What’s with these young ppl….it’s as if their faces are made of plastic and they can’t cringe or smile or sob pitifully or whatever that requires depiction of true emotion! Zhang being the most experienced of the young actors in Novoland is doing well there, but if you are to compare his acting to more experienced actors…. of course he has a long way to go! Having said that, I enjoyed his baddie role in Wuxin. If he continues to take on baddie and goodie roles in various settings and genre, his acting will improve.

  6. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    I think this drama is right up Zhang Ruoyun’s alley. You have to have seen him in both Black Fox and New Snow Leopard (Rachel Mao was his fiance in that one!). Both dramas were produced/directed by the same one (Zhang Jian) who will be doing this drama. Black Fox was the drama that had me take note of Zhang–I was so impressed w/ what I saw of him in the trailer my local TV station aired.

    Zhang worked w/ Pan Tai Ming in Black Fox. Actor Yang Shuo (Ode to Joy) has been confirmed for Fated General as well. There’s mention of guest starring roles by Wu Xiubo (he was also in Black Fox) and Hu Jun (he was also in New Snow Leopard).

    From the same producer/director and stars Zhang, there’s Love Song 2012, a mainland adaptation of K-drama I’m Sorry, I Love You. They made slight changes (he was raised in Canada and not Australia, he had the opportunity to graduate from college, but still looked down due to being an orphan etc.)

    I’m also surprised there hasn’t been mention of the impressive team behind The Fated General i.e. from those involved in Nirvana in the Fire, The Disguiser, New Water Margin…

    • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

      Don’t be surprised. This is a work-in-progress post, if you will. I hurriedly slapped everything before having to head out to work. Lol. I only looked at the main cast members. But it’s nice to know it’s in experienced hands.

    • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

      Honestly speaking, the team doesn’t mean much to me nowadays. I like to judge them on their own terms as a product of itself than through previous works. I didn’t like Disguiser or Ode to Joy, but love LOVE Nirvana. Weird.

    • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

      The Fated General team has brought in the screenwriter involved in New Water Margin, The Ordinary World, Ni Shui Han; director of photography from Nirvana in Fire, Family on the Go, Battle of Changsa, Disguiser; costume designer involved in Dai Ming Wang Chao 1566, 1998 movie Ghengis Khan, Nirvana in Fire;art design who worked on New Shanghai Bund, New Three Kingdoms, Legend of Chu & Han; lighting direction from Nirvana in Fire, Family on the Go, Battle of Changsa; stylist involved in Ode to Joy, Ten Years

      • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

        All these credits that no one really look at… My opinion is like before. Lol. A product of its own is my new motto!!

        • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

          For me, it’s the experience they will bring to the drama–what they learned from one production not only carries on to the next one, but with new innovations and ideas. These are representations of their work.

          The only one I’m worried about is the stylist…not sure if that person has done period pieces.

          Can’t wait for this drama, read that it took several years in the planning.

  7. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    You should visit the drama’s official weibo, they’ve been confirming select cast members through wordplay hidden in poems (and whoever guessed/answered correctly has the chance to win a photo w/ that actor’s or actress’ autograph) since July.

    • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

      I always put where I get my info in the VIA line at the end of every post. Now I’m surprised, you missed it (the weibo link!)

      I saw the games they played and I just waited for the full reveal. =P

      • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

        Blame that I just came home from work after midnight with a 1hr+ drive to boot. The drama’s booting ceremony comes just right in time for Zhang Ruoyun’s upcoming birthday.

  8. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    Eddie definitely set the bar high! He was the HQB I imagined and wanted in the novel! Even though a lot of people wanted Hu Ge and there were lots of criticisms when Eddie was announced, he definitely shut their mouth with his acting and portrayal!

    The latest drama I saw of ZRY was the Green Hill Fox Legend and he was not really good in that. But looking at all the praises, I would definitely look forward to see how he plays out HQB.

    And yes, I will be angry like crazy if SARFT does this as well. I didn’t really like all the name changes in DaMoYao and it was definitely because of the push back of air dates that cost all the hype for the drama to die down! I was so upset when I saw how little people were following the drama.

    • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

      I felt Zhang got miscasted in Green Hill Fox Legend. He doesn’t have the weak scholarly feel. When I watched him there, I felt his roles from previous dramas were trying to break out and he tried to rein it in.

  9. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    ZRY’s acting is pretty fine in Novoland … smothering hot in the romantic scenes.
    It’s the leading actress, Guan Xiao Tong, that doesn’t really delivered especially the chemistry needed with him.

  10. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    Generals? They are playing generals? LOL. These flower boys will not scare me if we were on the battlefield!!

    But I do like the veteran and the female cast!!

  11. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    I liked Zhang Ruo Yun in Wuxin, but he was pretty bad in Green Hill Fox Legend (though to be fair, it was a poorly-written drama anyway lol).

    RACHEL MAO!! Yes haha.

    Is this Karina Hai’s first drama since Go Princess Go?? The rest of the main cast have been doing well so happy to see her finally in another drama!

  12. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    Oh wow, Zhang Ruoyun wrote a long message on his weibo acct on his decision taking of taking on the role of Huo Qu Bing.

    • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

      Yes, it is very, very, long. Lol.

    • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

      holy cow! you guys are calm. the director is zhang’s father?!!! no wonder he posted a long weibo message to explain himself. boy sure is lucky than many others.

      • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

        😛 I thought I could be wrong reading his post using google translate … so the producer/director is really ZRY’s father??

        • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

          Looking back at some old sources, the father-son relationship became a controversy by the media when New Snow Leopard was being promoted, especially since the original Snow Leopard was done only just several years before that (less than 5yrs). So after New Snow Leopard, Zhang Ruoyun began drifting away from dramas connected to his father.

          Nonetheless, I thought it was a good thing the new one was made because around that same time the lead actor (Wen Zhang) of the original was tainted from news of his cheating on his more famous wife (Ma Yi Li) with another actress (Yao Di).

      • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

        I already had an idea back in 2014 when searching news on Zhang and there were postings suggesting the director/producer was his father.

        The first drama where I believe audiences took notice of him was for his supporting role in Snow Leopard (where his father was 1 of the screenwriters). That was followed up with Black Fox (father was 1 of directors and also the drama’s producer), then New Snow Leopard (father was now producer, and the main director and screenwriter). I can finally understand why he slowly drifted away from those projects under his father to branch out (starting with Wuxin). And to return now that he’s established himself, for the role of Huo Qu Bing that has been waiting for him for 3 years.

        Came home from work last night and saw video of the actors/actresses who came to the booting ceremony. Recognize many of the male actors (they’ve worked under director/producer Zhang Jian before). Didn’t realize that veteran actor Zhang Chenguang will also be participating in the drama. Noticed actor Michael Tong too. The congratulatory celebration video made w/ greetings from many of the actors/actresses displayed what roles they are to play, but I’m having difficulty reading them.

        • 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

          I didn’t know it was Zhang, only heard his father is a big gun in the industry. But I think his extraction from father’s works paid off somewhat to broaden his experience. The son title will always shadow his career so the faster he learns to cope, the better.

  13. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    Haha! Young actress Chai Wei was everywhere at the booting ceremony! So that means we have at least 3 who’ve worked on Go Princess Go in this drama.

  14. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    I think ZRY deserves to get lead roles. He’s the only reason why I’m watching Novaland now. His character was pretty menacing and scary in the beginning…that was taken back when I found out he was the lead but as the story progress…I melted everytime he’s on screen. His charisma and romantic gestures…dear laws. He’s not lacking in the look department either. The second lead didn’t stand a chance, although I do pitied him. He had his chance of getting the girl. Also, I don’t think the main actress is bad as everyone is pointing out. I think she’s fairly young so her love scenes can be quite awkward but I think the way her character is written makes her seem very annoying. But she definitely have chemistry with ZRY.
    Because of Novaland, I watched ZRY’s other dramas like 15 years, GreenHill…and I think he’s quite versatile so far in his choices. I like that he has played evil kind characters in Wuxin. Although
    he didn’t captivated me much in Wuxin as the others but I still notice him. I thought he was pretty young but he was like one of the older ones. He and Elvis should totally switch their age in regards to their appearance…haha….
    I like him a lot more than Elvis now. Hopefully Elvis can redeemed himself from that CP5 crap.

  15. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    First saw ZRY in Wuxin and I thought although he was a baddie, he was pretty charismatic and Sebrina was his one weakness. His character in Green Hill was an annoying one (can’t decide between 2 girls and played both sides) but I thought he could pull it off! Watched 15 years purely to see if he could do a straight-up good guy and he did! Was impressed with him and am now a fan. Started Novoland purely because of him and I think it’s a pretty good show and he is definitely doing well. He reminds me a bit of Ruco Chan (can do the multi layered role as well as the straight up guy if styled properly – it’s them small eyes!) . GXT is okay for a young actress – she does bring off the 18 year old vibe pretty well since she is meant to be young anyways in he show. At least she doesn’t waver once she decides she is in love with someone else. The

  16. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    Aha, so apparently several of the cast members for Fated General worked together on another drama under director Zhang Jian, titled 灰雁, namely Victor Huang, Zhang Chenguang, Zhong Lei, Wu Chengxuan. Actor Ray Zhang Rui seems to have a guest starring role in that drama too. The main lead is a female and likely pairing up with Wei Daxun. Looks very badass from the trailer: http://t.cn/Rtge8pa

  17. 32 thoughts on “The Fated General confirms Zhang Ruo Yun, Alan Yu, Mao Xiao Tong

    wuoh! i love zhang ruo yun, after watched him in novoland i fall in love for him. his act is very good.. look like veteran actor hehe.. I’ll be wait this new drama..

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