LayarHijau – Rumors that Xiao Zhan may star in a screen adaptation of the popular web novel Ten Days Till the End (十日终焉) have recently sparked widespread discussion online. However, amid the growing speculation, the novel’s original author, Sha Chong Dui Dui Yuan (杀虫队队员), revealed that he only learned about the news through trending topics on the internet.
According to reports circulating on March 15, rumors that Xiao Zhan could play the main character Qi Xia in the adaptation quickly spread among both the actor’s fans and readers of the novel. The potential pairing of a top-tier star with a highly popular web novel IP immediately triggered debate about whether such a project might actually move forward.
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Soon after the rumor gained traction, the author offered a clarification. He explained that he had not received any official notification regarding the casting rumor. In fact, he said he first learned about the possibility of Xiao Zhan portraying Qi Xia through online discussions.
He added that this situation reflects a broader trend in the industry, where authors are becoming increasingly less involved in the adaptation process of web novels into film or television projects. According to him, major decisions—including casting—are typically made by several large platforms collaborating on the production.
“Authors are becoming less and less involved,” he said. “These kinds of decisions are basically made between the major platforms.”
The comment quickly caught the attention of netizens, with many joking that the situation was like “a biological parent having to check Weibo just to find out who adopted their child.”
Despite being left out of the process, the author emphasized that he remains open to seeing his work adapted for the screen. He noted that few writers would reject the opportunity for their work to reach a larger stage.
In his view, a screen adaptation can dramatically expand a story’s audience. Even a highly successful web novel may attract tens of millions of readers, he said, while a hit television series can reach billions of viewers.
For that reason, he expressed hope that if the project eventually moves forward, the adaptation will stay as faithful to the original story as possible so that both longtime readers and new drama audiences can enjoy it.
After his comments circulated online, public discussion quickly intensified, with opinions splitting into two camps.
Supporters of the rumored casting believe Xiao Zhan has already proven his ability to handle complex characters through several major projects, including the drama Legend of Zang Hai. In their view, Qi Xia’s defining traits—his brilliance, extremity, and barely restrained madness—could align well with Xiao Zhan’s screen presence.
They also argue that Xiao Zhan’s status as a top star could help secure significant investment and bring widespread attention to the production.
Critics, however, remain skeptical. Some question whether the actor could convincingly capture the character’s wide emotional range, which shifts between icy composure and intense psychological instability.
Others worry that casting a superstar could shift too much focus onto a single character, potentially overshadowing the novel’s ensemble storytelling, which is one of the original work’s key strengths.
In the end, the rumor—sparked by an unverified online report—has done more than ignite debate over who might play Qi Xia. It has also highlighted a broader reality within the web novel adaptation industry.
In many cases, platforms and production companies hold the real decision-making power, while original authors often remain on the sidelines.
When the fate of a story is ultimately shaped by market forces and industry strategy, the bigger question becomes whether the final adaptation will emerge as a faithful, carefully crafted work—or simply another project designed to chase popularity and trends.
