LayarHijau— The upcoming historical drama A Journey to Glow has once again become the center of online attention after a photo allegedly showing a leaked script outline began circulating on social media. The document is rumored to have been sent to Zhao Lusi’s team, fueling widespread speculation that the actress may be under consideration for the female lead role — a move that could potentially reunite her with Wang Anyu.
A Journey to Glow is a sister project to A Journey to Love, the hit series starring Liu Shishi and Liu Yuning that gained significant popularity during its broadcast. The drama previously announced Esther Yu (Yu Shuxin) and Wang Anyu as its leading actors, with filming initially scheduled to begin in September. However, shortly before production was set to start, Esther Yu became embroiled in controversy involving allegations of past bullying and disputes linked to her family, including accusations related to the misuse of state assets. As public scrutiny intensified, the production was abruptly halted.
Next articles
Earlier this month, Esther Yu returned to the public eye with the sudden release of her modern romance drama Speed and Love, co-starring He Yu. On the same day, the official Weibo account of A Journey to Glow deleted its post announcing Esther Yu as the female lead and unfollowed her account. These actions were widely interpreted as a clear sign that the collaboration between the actress and the production team had come to an end. As of now, Wang Anyu is still rumored to remain attached as the male lead.
Amid uncertainty surrounding the female lead casting, netizens were surprised by the emergence of a photo said to be a summary of A Journey to Glow’s script, allegedly delivered to Zhao Lusi’s team. While there has been no official confirmation, the leak quickly ignited online discussions. If Zhao Lusi were to accept the role, it would mark her reunion with Wang Anyu following their collaboration in The Last Immortal in 2023.
That said, industry observers believe the likelihood of Zhao Lusi taking on the project remains relatively low. Zhao Lusi and Esther Yu are often viewed as rivals within the post-95 generation of actresses, and reports suggest that A Journey to Glow’s script was originally tailored specifically to Esther Yu’s image and strengths. Should Zhao Lusi step into the role, it could potentially trigger renewed fan conflicts and place her under intense public scrutiny.
Adding to the uncertainty are ongoing rumors that Zhao Lusi has joined a new management team with ties to the streaming platform Youku. If true, this could present another obstacle, as A Journey to Glow is an iQIYI production. Under such circumstances, Zhao Lusi would be expected to prioritize projects affiliated with Youku rather than accepting a lead role from a competing platform.
A Journey to Glow centers on rumors surrounding a hidden treasure left behind by a former empress of a previous dynasty, believed to be concealed somewhere in Jiangnan. The treasure is said to hold immense wealth, as well as a legendary cure capable of healing various illnesses. The story follows five individuals from vastly different backgrounds — a female thief, a disgraced low-ranking official, a general who has lost his master, a female official tasked with guarding imperial tombs, and a wealthy heir plagued by repeated failures. As their paths intersect, trust gradually forms, leading each of them to rediscover their self-worth and purpose.
As of this writing, the production team behind A Journey to Glow has not issued any official response regarding the alleged leaked script photo or the rumors of approaching Zhao Lusi. Without confirmation, the possibility remains that the circulating document is fabricated or purely speculative.
