LayarHijau – Actress Esther Yu (虞书欣) has once again become the center of attention after her upcoming drama A Journey to Glow (一念江南) was hit with rumors of a cast reshuffle. The speculation coincided with reports of alleged personal and family scandals tied to her name, which reportedly led to a dramatic drop of 1.35 million followers on her Weibo account.
Initially, it was rumored that her co-star Wang Anyu had withdrawn from the project. Reports claimed that the production team sought replacements, approaching actors such as Xu Kai from Moonlit Reunion (子夜归), Zhang Linghe from Our Generation (樱桃琥珀), and Ding Yuxi. However, all reportedly turned down the offer due to scheduling conflicts or their own ongoing issues, causing delays to the filming schedule.
The replacement rumors also drew in actress Chen Duling, known for her role in The Glory (雁回时). She was said to be a strong candidate to replace Esther Yu, with many netizens suggesting she would fit the role of the “female thief” due to her agility and proven performance in action scenes.
Beyond the personal controversies surrounding Esther Yu, the rumors were also linked to the drama’s storyline. The lead female character as a thief was said to symbolically echo gossip about Esther Yu’s family allegedly being involved in embezzlement cases. This raised concerns that the project might face obstacles during its broadcast if she remained in the cast.
Allegations of embezzlement and bullying connected to Esther Yu were said to have cost her 1.35 million Weibo followers. At one point, rumors circulated that the producers of A Journey to Glow denied both Esther Yu’s replacement and Wang Anyu’s withdrawal, though some netizens questioned the authenticity of those claims.
On September 11, however, two official clarifications surfaced. Chen Duling’s team publicly stated she had never received any offer to replace Esther Yu. On the same day, A Journey to Glow producer Yang Qi Ming reposted the drama’s official announcement through his personal Weibo account. The document still listed Esther Yu and Wang Anyu as the lead actors, which was taken as an official rebuttal to the replacement and withdrawal rumors.
A Journey to Glow is an original iQiyi project described as a “sibling” to A Journey to Love (一念关山), the hit drama starring Liu Shishi and Liu Yuning. Filming is set to take place in Huangshan, Anhui, with sets already built since August. The story follows a group of marginalized figures—including the female thief portrayed by Esther Yu—who embark on a journey alongside a low-level official, a masterless general, a tomb guard, and a wealthy heir who constantly fails. Their travels bring laughter, tears, danger, and warmth.
With rumors still swirling, the public now awaits official statements from Esther Yu and Yang Qi Ming to determine whether this major iQiyi production can proceed smoothly or remain stalled amid the controversy.
Source: Upmedia, Weibo
