This rumor has been making the rounds in C-ent and has been gaining steam so it’s time to talk about it. HK-director Tsui Hark is reportedly making a new C-movie adaptation of Louis Cha‘s epic novel Legend of the Condor Heroes in a three film series. The first movie is called Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero and is set during the Genghis Khan seige of the walled city of Xiangyang and the wuxia heroes that rise up to protect it. Xiao Zhan is playing Guo Jing and Zhou Ye as Huang Ruong and OMG I have sooooo many thoughts. Xiao Zhan is the least Guo Jing version of Guo Jing in recollection, he’s really the perfect Zhang Wu Ji and a suitable Yang Guo, while Zhou Ye feels like the perfect personality and visuals for Huang Rong other than she can’t really act haha. C-netizens also think it’s a weird mismatch of “levels” in that Xiao Zhan is drama A-list and Zhou Ye is basically a baby rookie level still climbing the ranks.
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Well, I don’t know what to think of this casting rumour. I’ll much prefer Xiao Zhan to stay clear of the C-movie industry as it is more cut-throat and vicious than the C-drama industry, and Xiao Zhan doesn’t have powerful backings to support him. I’m not optimistic about Zhou Ye’s acting either. But then again, I’m just an audience who won’t know better than Xiao Zhan and his team about his own career path. Regardless whether this rumour ends up being true or not, I’m sure Xiao Zhan will give his next project his best effort.
This would be different because Tsui Hark is a powerful figure from the Hong Kong circle. In fat this almost the only way he can enter movies.
And the alternate rumored FL is also from the Hong Kong circle with a very powerful backer.
I’m worried about what will happen after the movie is released if he still isn’t inside the HK circle. The circle will protect while the movie is still airing, but will they continue protecting after that?
@Lilith
I can’t answer that. But I am sure he is even more aware than us what happened last time after Jade Dynasty. So if he is dipping his toes in again, then I am sure he has some ideas how to handle what is coming.
It won’t be pretty and it has already started, pretty aggressively on both Douban and Weibo, by the usual suspects. I was there for 2020 too and one encouraging thing is that this time, most responses from non – xz fans seem to be dismissive of the attacks. From this pov, 2020 is suddenly working for xz because everyone knows what went down and they don’t have the patience for it now. They know it is bogus and they know who is doing it and why because it already happened once. Strange twist of fate. XZ himself is more established, with some good names in his corner. I don’t know, I guess if true, he is willing to risk it. But it is not going to be easy or nice, that is for sure. We can only hope for the best and that the Hong Kong circle can help out, long term. If this is true of course.
@Lol
I haven’t really followed Xiao Zhan’s career, but the stuff I’ve heard about him here and there in passing makes me root for him, because he seems to be an upright guy and, not to mention, an underdog in his circle.
That said, your melons have really made me curious, and I’d love to hear about who “the usual suspects” are.
Also curious if Zhang Zhe Han was targeted in similar circumstances, and if GJ had anything to do with it.
Oh my, they just confirmed his casting in this movie! Female lead is some unknown called Zhuang Dafei. Is she the one that you were referring to earlier?
Yes, this movie melon has been around for a while. I have seen it evolve and it is most likely true. It has been over a year now that we have had very solid melon masters mention that XZ has been contacted by a famous director. It has persisted ever since then finally evolved into this.
One of the melon masters I follow on Dy says that the FL is wrong though. The actress is almost a total unknown. It is basically no wonder because this won’t be a big female movie.
There are other big names mentioned for supporting roles that had me goggling that honestly makes me think if all he said is true, this is going to be a wild ride especially as Tsui Hark has been preparing for this for years. Anyone who follows cent knows this project has been solidly talked about since 2017.
I rather fear tsui hark p3nchant for dark dark screen until cannot see. I don’t buy xiao zhan as simple-minded innocent guojing not dies the actress look haughty, spoiled and extremely intelligent.
Guo Jing is NOT simple minded. I hate this bloody trope that infected every single iteration of this character. He is naive at the start due to his upbringing circumstances but he evolves as soon as he has proper teaching. He was a phenomenal military strategist on top of his martial arts excellence.
If there is one thing I wish Tsui Hark would fix and that is this stupid, untrue, notion.
I read some of Louis Cha’s novels and cannot say I’m a fan. I totally agree with Koala. I can’t imagine how XZ would look like GJ. I’d be more interested in him as ZWJ. At least XZ’s nuanced performance as Wei Wuxian in the Untamed and his vibrant supporting role in the Wolf give me the idea he’s a perfect fit for ZWJ. Too many actors already reprised the role of YG and the story itself is kinda stale on screen. Besides, I hope XZ picks his projects more discreetly with better costars who can act. I’m not sure about Zhou Ye though because she’s one of the factors turning me off from Word of Honor.
On a side note, I hope the LOCH series would not be politicized into Chinese state propaganda. There seems a trend in the C-ent to recruit famous directors and actors to take projects for obvious political purposes. Based upon some advertised description on Weibo, there is a possibility they might divert the theme of the movie to serve CCP’s agenda, emphasizing on allegiance and sacrificial fighting morale again. LOL
Xiao Zhan can “play” Guo Jing because he persuade the director too. He wanted to be seen in more “masculine” way so of course he would choose Guo Jing LOL
Also a very pathetic C-ent culture is exploiting top actors to promote lessor actors. I’m sick of the manipulations behind casting that already ruined some supposedly good dramas. Douluo Continent is one of these examples.
I don’t have a problem if the lesser known actors being promoted are good at acting. Top actors or traffic stars?
I swear Xiao Zhan get the most um, “average-looking” co-stars because he’s too handsome. None of them are pretty except for Li Qin. And guess what, the announced actress is Zhuang Dafei, another mid-looking actress. Zhou Ye would have been a visual pairing. Hopefully he gets to work with one of the beauties for his next project.
Without makeup, he looks above average. Not to mention the plastic surgery he has undergone.
Also, his acting is average. Sometimes being there at the right time and place and script makes all the difference (e.g Xiao Zhan in The Untamed).
Oh I didn’t even read these shitty comments until now from such an old post.
XZ did not have any PS. The one who did is his costar W*B in the Untamed, so obviously with his nose bridge. LOL. XZ just lost A LOT of weight and that can make a face look way more delicate. That happened to me too. My old friends at school couldn’t recognize me years later since I looked way more chubby with a lot of baby fat at school. My facial features have become sharper and even double eyelids look deeper after my face slimmed down. Also my hubby whose face is on a delicate side but looked very plain when he gained a lot of weight. There’s actually some similarity between my hubby’s facial feature and XZ’s delicate face, e.g, eyes, nose, and lips. My hubby’s parents are from west China too. So I guess there’re genes shared among ppl from that region of China. It doesn’t have to go through any PS to possibly look that delicate. There were already several famous PS surgeons in China who came out in public with videos to rebuke the PS rumor saying XZ’s face didn’t look like those ones undergoing surgery.
Why do you guys still spread an unfounded rumor? Hmmmm..cos your faves look ugly? LOL
Xiao Zhan isn’t handsome though. He’s actually pretty. And he hate that fact in itself LMAO. 227 isn’t just exist bc of CP fans but also because his face is actually good for crossdressing.