The Start of ‘Zhu Yu’
The historical romance series ‘Zhu Yu’ (逐玉) has officially commenced filming, but not without its share of controversy. The anticipation surrounding the show, directed by Zeng Qingjie, was marred by early protests from fans of the lead actors, Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei. Each faction clamored for their idol to receive top billing, raising questions about the significance of name order in drama productions.
Addressing Fan Concerns
In an effort to mitigate tensions, the show’s producers opted to announce that the cast billing would not follow a specific order. This tactic, while commonly employed, seemed to further fuel the debate among fans. The initial announcements focused on crew members, deliberately leaving out the names of the cast in an attempt to shift attention away from the contentious issue of billing.
The Unique Announcement Strategy
In a creative spin, the official drama accounts symbolically represented the two main streaming platforms, iQiyi and Tencent, through playful imagery of a pig, penguin, and kiwi. This lighthearted approach was meant to signify cooperation between the platforms, but it also subtly acknowledged the ongoing debate over cast billing. Eventually, the drama confirmed its leads with a sequence of posts: first, highlighting Zhang Linghe as Xie Zheng; next, introducing the supporting roles; and finally unveiling Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu. Despite this planned unveiling, fierce discussions erupted in the comments, compelling fans to argue about who deserved to be recognized first.
Ultimately, while name order remains a hot topic, many viewers are left to ponder: should the focus really be on billing, or the quality of the drama itself? Other notable cast members joining ‘Zhu Yu’ include Ren Hao, Kong Xue’er, Deng Kai, and special guest Ye Zuxin, adding depth to an already anticipated production.
