Are audiences all Bu Bu Jing Xin-ed out? That’s the question that will be answered later this year when the big-budget C-movie version of the popular story hits the big screens. As a refresher – Bu Bu Jing Xin (Startling with Each Step) started off as a web novel by writer Tong Hua and was later published to popular but cultish success, then it was adapted into a C-drama starring Nicky Wu, Liu Shi Shi, and Kevin Cheng where it hit mainstream success and launched the careers of the entire cast to the next level. Most recently there was a so-called sequel with some of the original cast members back, produced by the drama production company that wasn’t based on any Tong Hua written novel or script and that one mostly tanked.

Now comes the big leagues as the original Bu Bu Jing Xin novel is being brought to the movie screens in an adaptation with Tong Hua’s blessing but also greatly hinted to deviate significantly from the source material. I don’t mean deviate such that leading lady Ruo Xi ends up with 8th Prince or anything like that, but more the entire story being condensed into 2 hours gives the production leeway to aim for a very different details and feel while keeping the fundamental story of a time-traveling modern girl and her epic love with Qing Emperor Yongzheng. The very first promos came out this week with two different stills of leading lady Ivy Chen as well as a gorgeous teaser preview that is much too short but delivers plenty of atmospheric impact. I for one am actually looking forward to this movie version.

The production remains coy as to which of the two leading men in Shawn Dou and Tony Yang play which prince and the teaser doesn’t shown any of the princes other than in passing so I can’t tell either. I really love Ivy in the teaser, whatever she’s doing may not scream out Ruo Xi but she pulls off both the modern and period looks perfectly.

Teaser preview for Time to Love:

“Lonely, it’s because this world doesn’t have you.”

“To be together, I have to travel through time to find you.”