Production of The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Makes Dylan Wang and Meng Zi Yi Joint Top Billing as Filming Slated for Q1 of 2026
I wrote last week that the drama adaptation of period romance and revenge C-novel The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage was still going to star rumored most recent leads Dylan Wang and Meng Zi Yi. Despite both their fandoms disliking the other star cast, the production isn’t swayed and still wants them. But one of the sticking points that caused the friction was the billing order, this is a female lead centric story but between the two leads Dylan is by far the bigger star right now. The billing order has reportedly been ironed out now and both will be co-top billed, i.e. joint billing where the production specifically writes “no billing order” next to their names lol. This will drive Dylan’s fans more apeshit haha but if he’s fine with that’s all that matters. There was also concern that the production had to start filming by year end this month in order to not pay additional license fees but that has been resolved as the filming is now slated to start in Q1 2026 so in the next three months or so. Get ready for a much older Shen Miao than in the novel and a more boyish playful version of Xie Jing Xing
Is there a link to read this novel?
For the English translation of the novel, check out novelupdates. The English title of the book is the same as the one used in this article, I believe.
you also could read it in mydramanovel.com
Just google the name, then it will come up. It was translated into English. The translation is well done.
The entire novel was translated by Chubby Cheeks, see here:
https://chubbycheeksthoughts.com/2016/12/19/rebirth-of-the-malicious-empress-of-military-lineage-chapter-1/
(There is a current ongoing translation but I don’t know if it’s MTL. Chubby Cheeks translated it all on her own.)
He somehow looks different in the pic. Almost thought it was someone else.
Ugh
My poor Empress Shen Miao.
Please dub Dylan. And he better work on his “smile but not a smile.”
What? Smile but not a smile? I’m curious can you give me an example lol.
It’s all over the novel. The ML always has a “smile that is not a smile.” His eyebrows are described for paragraphs in the first half of the novel. He was “so beautiful “ his presence was brighter than the sun at night. I am not kidding you about this ML’s description lolol 😂. Read it and you’ll see why he’s so loved and why whomever is cast will have a tough time filling his shoes. This protagonist’s love for his woman was a slow buildup and rivaled that went beyond that of LYF’s Xiang Liu’s.
Oh ok. I thought you were describing the main actor. I was like what does he smile but not smile? lol ok understood. That does sound hard to do so all I can think of what that would be is a smirk? lol
I hope make up team will try something different for MZY. Its been years she is doing same make up for both variety show and her dramas… it feels like she is just changing costumes to cont another serie as same person.
I like MZY, but I agree about her make-up. I think actors often bring their own makeup people to the set. She will probably keep the same makeup unless the director puts their foot down and pushes for a change.
Happy to see Dylan on screen again. I am keen to watch this….I sincerely dont want it messed up!!!
Joint top billing? Interesting! I thought Dylan is already a top liuliang as his fans vision. Isn’t he supposed to be the first billing? Hmmm
I love both Dylan and Mzy, but, aaaahhhh I’ll pass
I hope they dub him! He doesn’t have a commanding voice to fit the ML’s aura
Boring choices. I don’t have high hopes for this one… the script is going to be tricky to adapt.