LayarHijau – The upcoming wuxia drama Immortalis (碧血蟬), starring Hou Minghao, has come under intense scrutiny in China. What was initially one of the most anticipated new projects has now sparked controversy following rumors that the actor’s scenes were reduced, prompting boycott threats from his fanbase.
Hou Minghao has been enjoying strong momentum after appearing in several recent projects, including Glory (玉茗茶骨), The Unclouded Soul (逍遙), Love in the Clouds (入青雲), and I Am Nobody: The Showdown Between Yin & Yang (異人之下之決戰！碧遊村). With that track record, his involvement in Immortalis was widely seen as the drama’s main draw.
Currently in production, Immortalis pairs Hou Minghao with Xu Zhenxuan, known for The Journey of Legend (赴山海), and Zhang Wenxin, who appeared in Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (射鵰英雄傳：俠之大者). However, instead of generating excitement, the early promotional materials raised concerns among fans.
The controversy began after on-set photos and initial preview clips circulated online. Some fans argued that Hou Minghao’s presence in the promotional content appeared noticeably limited. This led to speculation over whether he is truly positioned as the male lead, or if his popularity is being used primarily to attract attention to the project.
Online discussions further claimed that several key scenes involving his character, Yang Wujian, may have been cut or reassigned to other roles. These reportedly include important reasoning sequences and action moments central to the storyline. Some fans also alleged the use of additional filming units to expand scenes for the characters Shen Qingshi and Zhou Huai, creating the impression of an imbalance in screen time distribution.
In response to these rumors, Hou Minghao’s fan community in China launched what they call the “Three No’s Action” (三零行動). The initiative reportedly includes refusing organized ticket bookings, halting fan-made promotional content, and compiling evidence of alleged scene adjustments to submit to the broadcasting platform, including iQIYI.
As of this writing, the production team behind Immortalis has not issued an official statement addressing the allegations. Instead, they have released several behind-the-scenes clips in what appears to be an attempt to ease tensions. Meanwhile, Hou Minghao is said to remain professional and focused on filming, without making any public comments regarding the controversy.
Immortalis follows three characters from vastly different backgrounds: the mysterious swordsman Yang Wujian, imperial guard Shen Qingshi, and Baihong Tower’s young master Zhou Huai. Together, they form a team to investigate the secret of immortality and unravel a series of martial world mysteries that ultimately point to a larger conspiracy threatening the realm.
This incident adds to the ongoing pattern within the Chinese entertainment industry, where disputes over screen time distribution and lead positioning frequently become flashpoints among highly organized fan communities.
