Recent online discussions have suggested that actors Zhang Linghe and Zhang Jingyi may be joining forces for a new historical drama titled Ci Tang. Although the project has not been officially confirmed, reports indicate that production is currently in the casting discussion stage.
According to circulating information, the production team first approached Zhang Linghe regarding the male lead role in Ci Tang. Afterward, Zhang Jingyi was contacted for the female lead. The drama is reportedly expected to be directed by Yi Jun, who recently worked with Zhang Linghe on the Republican-era drama This Second Is Too Much. This previous collaboration has fueled speculation that Zhang Linghe may already be firmly attached to the new project.
Industry chatter suggests that Zhang Linghe has largely confirmed his participation in Ci Tang, while Zhang Jingyi is still in negotiations and has not yet officially signed a contract. Even so, the possibility of the two actors appearing together in the same costume drama has already generated strong interest among viewers. Both Zhang Linghe and Zhang Jingyi are widely recognized among younger Chinese actors, and a collaboration between them could attract significant attention if the project moves forward.
Despite the excitement from some fans, the potential pairing of Zhang Linghe and Zhang Jingyi has also raised concerns among observers. Earlier this year, supporters of Zhang Linghe expressed dissatisfaction with the cosmetics brand Lancôme over what they perceived as unequal promotional treatment between the two actors.
According to those discussions, Zhang Linghe began working with Lancôme earlier and was introduced as a skincare ambassador associated with a specific product line. Later, when Zhang Jingyi partnered with the brand, her title reportedly advanced more quickly to a broader brand ambassador role covering the entire line. In addition, some promotional posts were said to list Zhang Jingyi’s name before Zhang Linghe’s, which led to criticism from parts of Zhang Linghe’s fan community.
The situation reportedly escalated to the point where some fans organized calls to boycott the brand. Because of that previous controversy, some observers believe that if Zhang Linghe and Zhang Jingyi were to collaborate on Ci Tang, discussions about billing order, promotional positioning, and treatment within the project might once again become sensitive topics among their respective fan communities.
For now, the project Ci Tang remains in the rumor and negotiation stage. Whether Zhang Linghe and Zhang Jingyi will ultimately appear together in the historical drama will likely become clearer once official casting announcements are released.
