LayarHijau – Producer and “star-maker” Yu Zheng recently announced the cast of his latest drama, Shadows of Desire (Mandarin title: Jin Wu Bu Jin). The announcement quickly drew attention from netizens and became trending on Weibo.
In his Weibo post, Yu Zheng introduced several main cast members, including Niu Junfeng as Zhang Rong/Bo Rong and Chen Yuqi (Yukee) as Li Lingge. He wrote that the roles and acting styles of the performers would be fresh and distinctive, emphasizing that “when a creator has the right to choose the actors, all kinds of magic can begin.”
Besides Chen Yuqi and Niu Junfeng, the drama also features Zhao Qing as Shen Qingwu, an ordinary woman who embarks on an extraordinary journey to become a famous general, and Daniel Zhou as Zhang Xingjian, a civil officer who courageously upholds justice.
After the initial cast announcement, Yu Zheng made another provocative statement regarding Chen Yuqi, which immediately trended under the hashtag #YuZhengSaysIfChenYuqiDoesntExplodeItsMyFailure#. He emphasized, “If Chen Yuqi doesn’t become a huge hit/popular, it would be my own failure.” The statement sparked mixed reactions among netizens, with some praising Yu Zheng’s confidence and others finding his comment dramatic.
Yu Zheng also explained why his expectations for Chen Yuqi are so high. He described the character Li Lingge as having a framework similar to Zhang Manyu in Green Snake (Qing She) and the core traits of Wu Zetian as portrayed by Liu Xiaoqing. While outwardly elegant and captivating, the character also possesses intelligence, ambition, and inner strength. Yu Zheng compared Li Lingge to other iconic female characters, such as Dongfang Bubai in Swordsman and Shi Guanyin in The Legend of Chu Liuxiang, to highlight her leadership aura and complex personality.
Chen Yuqi, also known as Yukee Chen, is a Chinese actress born on July 29, 1992, in Chengdu, Sichuan. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Zhao Min in the 2019 adaptation of Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre (倚天屠龙记), where her portrayal of the intelligent and resourceful Zhao Min earned her acclaim and solidified her status as a leading actress in Chinese television. Following this success, Yukee Chen starred in several other notable dramas, including Unchained Love (浮图缘), See You Again (再见前任), Memory of Encaustic Tile (青瓷记), and Love in Pavilion (月上重火), further showcasing her versatility and strengthening her reputation in the Chinese entertainment industry.
Shadows of Desire tells the story of Shen Qingwu’s journey through the military world to become a renowned general, and her reunion with Zhang Xingjian, who struggles in the political arena. Both protagonists face intrigues, rebellions, and old social norms, yet unite through shared ideals. With its cast, storyline, and Yu Zheng’s statements about Chen Yuqi, Shadows of Desire has become a highly anticipated drama among viewers.
