LayarHijau – The issue of billing order in the upcoming drama Royal Court Ballad is once again trending on Weibo. On June 16, 2025, producer Yu Zheng spoke out during a livestream, revealing that Wu Jinyan had already been confirmed as the female lead. However, production has stalled due to objections from the investor representing the intended male lead.
Yu Zheng explained that the actor favored by the investor was unwilling to accept second billing. “If we don’t compromise and let Wu Jinyan keep the top billing, the production cannot move forward,” he said. According to Yu Zheng, the only way to proceed would be for Wu Jinyan to give up the top spot. “But I’m not willing to hand over the lead position to that kid,” Yu said, without naming the actor in question.
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Despite the lack of direct mention, many Weibo users quickly assumed that the actor being referred to was Chen Zheyuan. This assumption is reflected in the viral comments discussing the issue:
“Yu Zheng talked about Royal Court Ballad and said Chen Zheyuan was the male lead chosen by investors. But he doesn’t want to be second billed. If we don’t agree to the billing order, the project can’t proceed. But if we replace the male lead, the investors won’t accept it. Honestly, having equal billing from the start sounds fine to me.”
“Even though Wu Jinyan has starred in two hit dramas like Story of Yanxi Palace and The Double, she still has to compromise on billing, sparking discussions about how difficult it is for actresses to be elevated and how male actors often get stronger investor backing.”
Although earlier rumors pointed to Chen Zheyuan as the actor involved, there has been no official confirmation from his side. This raises the question: is it fair for the public to jump to conclusions and criticize Chen Zheyuan without verified facts?
In response, many netizens have come forward to defend the actor, arguing that he is being unfairly dragged into the controversy. Some comments read:
“Filming for Royal Court Ballad hasn’t even started, and Chen Zheyuan is already being implicated. If the female lead can carry the project alone, why has it taken months to find a male lead? Oh right, they want a bigger name. So now they’re waiting for Chen Zheyuan’s schedule to open up.”
“Honestly, Chen Zheyuan recently finished a drama where he played the second male lead. It’s not that he refuses second billing. It’s the investors who insist on him as the lead. What’s wrong with negotiating that before signing a contract?”
But not all reactions have been sympathetic. Others took a more critical tone:
“No wonder he’s called the ‘Crown Prince.’ He sure acts like it, trying to suppress her without even acknowledging who his co-star is.”
“Can Qinglang Operation clean up Yu Zheng first? These kinds of comments just stir up fan wars again. What’s the point?”
“Chen Zheyuan just wrapped a second-lead drama, and now Yu Zheng claims he refuses to be second? Who knows if that’s true. Maybe he’s manipulating public opinion to suppress others and fuel fan fights. It’s disgusting.”
Previously, Royal Court Ballad was announced as Wu Jinyan’s comeback project following a seven-month hiatus due to pregnancy and childbirth. However, the repeated issues surrounding casting and billing have left fans wondering if the project will ever make it to the screen.
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