Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

Well, when it comes to business, risks and compromises are needed to make things happen. In this case, Zhang Han had to make the decision to cut out his original leading lady Goo Hye Sun and pushed Song Yi from second leading role into first lead in order for The Legendary Tycoon to get the greenlight. It’s sad and hilarious how the official weibo has removed all traces of Miss Goo and the new trailer features Song Yi and Jia Qing as the ladies, along with Chen Qiao En in a special guest role. Remember how I was so upset with him constantly promoting Korean actresses in his productions? Lol. I don’t mind the mixing of two worlds but he did it consecutively, leaving Song Yi who joined his studio in the dust and hence she left. Can’t blame her!

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Stills:

In The Legendary Tycoon (传奇大亨), Zhang Han plays 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. He passed away last year at the ripe age of 106 in 2014. Han will portray a young man all the way up to his 60s.

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Song Yi.

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Jia Qing.

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Chen Qiao En is taking the part of an extended guest role as she will be playing a TV Queen who is supported by Sir Run Run throughout her career and ultimately reaches a tragic end.

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Trailer:

Directing goes to 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). The Legendary Tycoon has 45 episodes and premieres on October 9th.

Via: 01

  1. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    I think he wants the name value without paying the exorbitant fees for a (relatively) big-name Mainland actress. But when has putting a Korean actor in a mainland production been a good idea (other than Chae Rim, Jang Nara and Choo Ja-hyun in select productions)? Also, the drama goes on and on about Chinese movies finding their own value, and he casts a Korean actress. How ironic.

    Personally, the drama is totally not my style. It’s a period drama set in the (post-)Republic, male-centric (hate harems), with awful costumes, plus Zhang Han’s acting sucks. I’m amazed that this was picked up by ZJTV. Sometimes I wonder what’s going on in those higher ups’ minds when they pick dramas to air.

  2. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    I assume Chen Chiao-en’s role is modeled after movie queen Lin Dai, one of several Shaw Bros actresses who committed suicide.
    Does this drama have the approval of the Shaw family?

    • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

      I haven’t checked into that, but if not, we would be hearing of more chop blocks, preventing the drama from airing. Lol.

  3. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    I’m confused. How did they cut out the lead actress without making the drama look super clunky? It’s not really possible for them to reshoot stuff cuz this has been done filming for a while right?

    • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

      They did refilm some parts. Plus, it’s a male-harem story so it wasn’t hard to do (lead female had less screen time.)

  4. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    His fault for casting a K-actress for a drama in HK entertainment. Oh well

  5. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    Now I know why ZH always casts Korean actress lol, it’s the cost. Having a foreign actress/actor act out a Chinese character always makes me LOL, it never works out. I guess ZH has to reap what he sows.

    I never knew Song Yi was in ZH’s studio! Was it the period after her role in The Disguiser? She kept on picking up dramas that are so idol-like. I really love her acting in Disguiser but she faded away straight after, which is such a pity.

    This drama screams flop to me. And honestly ZH always have the same acting feel, whatever character he is acting as, he always have a way to act it in a way that is similar to all his other characters lol.

    • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

      Critics, including talk show commentator Jin Xing, have been saying the same about Jin Dong playing similar roles since his breakout role in The Disguiser.

      • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

        Oh wait, i feel the same about Jin Dong. Probably bcuz of the role he took, hence his acting was similar in every drama after the disguiser. Im not fond to his acting tho but he was good in picking up a project. Sometimes i watch for the story hehe.

        But anyone know about his cop drama? It aired some times ago but still with no sub. Even his the first half got subbed very fast.

        • 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

          I think a lot of people feel the same about Jin Dong in that he has the so-called 老干部 vibe. I personally think he’s not changing his style of acting and his tonation when speaking his lines (hey, disadvantage of being that good at your dialogue that you don’t need a dubber) enough to make obvious distinction between his characters. The fact that he’s been on the small screen for a huge part of the year doesn’t help.

  6. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    I hope Song Yi will become a little more stand out after this. Despite being our for 17 years now she seemed to be fairly “unknown”. I guess it largely depends on luck. As for ZH, I saw him on Shan Shan come eat but thought he was way too skinny. I like men to be a little more “manly”.

  7. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    Glad I’m not the only one who finds Zhang Han really annoying…. as an actor or producer, his personality bland as well. Him and Hawick are actors whose work I actively avoid if possible

  8. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    aww, I really wanted to see Gu Hye Sun in this. I suppose once the Korean Ban is lifted, I wonder if we would ever see the drama with Gu Hye Sun marketed to the Korean market.

  9. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    Zhang Han is not suitable to wear Sir Run Run Shaw’s shoes…Really lacking.

  10. 15 thoughts on “Zhang Han’s The Legendary Tycoon to air with Song Yi as leading lady

    I watched a few of the episodes. The retake scenes replacing Gu Hy Sun was very obvious. Most of the wife’s scenes were all close up, so no need to have an entire cast still come. In fact some scenes, you will see Zhang han speak to the wife that has brown hair and then you cut to the new wife with very black hair. Sir Run Run shaw is indeed a legend. Zhang Han seems to portray him okay. I hope they release the gu hye su one sometime in the future. In the picture she really looks the part of loving wife to Sir Run Run.

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