LayarHijau.com — Wu Jinyan rose to fame in 2018 with the palace drama Story of Yanxi Palace (延禧攻略), which became a sensation in China and across Asia. However, after being accused of being “arrogant and difficult to work with,” she disappeared from the entertainment scene and only regained popularity with the 2024 drama The Double (墨雨雲間). Unfortunately, shortly after her comeback, Wu Jinyan surprised the public by announcing her marriage and pregnancy.
Now, after a seven-month hiatus for childbirth and recovery, Wu Jinyan is reportedly ready to return to filming. Producer Yu Zheng stated that Wu Jinyan would start shooting her new drama titled Royal Rumors (御廷謠) by the end of this month. However, the project is facing serious challenges regarding the casting of the male lead.
Three actors have been rumored as Wu Jinyan’s potential co-stars: Xin Yunlai, known for the historical romance drama The Glory (雁回時), Chen Xinhai, Wu Jinyan’s co-star in The Double (墨雨雲間) and Chen Zheyuan, who appeared in Hidden Love (偷偷藏不住) and The White Olive Tree.
According to reports from Upmedia, negotiations with Chen Zheyuan reportedly hit a deadlock because he demanded the position of first male lead billing, while Royal Rumors was originally designed as a drama centered on a female lead (big female lead).
Yu Zheng is said to have mocked Chen Zheyuan by calling him a “third-tier actor” and mentioned that they still have seven other projects lined up—indicating that working with Chen Zheyuan is not essential for them.
Meanwhile, while Wu Jinyan has been off-screen, her husband, actor Hong Yao, has been actively appearing on the variety show Infinite Transcendence Class (無限超越班). In one episode, Hong Yao revealed that he and Wu Jinyan often watch the show together. During a break from filming, Wu Jinyan even video-called him, saying she felt “empty” when she couldn’t see her husband’s face — a sweet interaction that sparked many positive reactions online.
Unfortunately, their marriage was rumored to be in trouble after Hong Yao was spotted with another actress. However, Wu Jinyan has not issued an official statement and appears to remain calm.
With so much drama behind the scenes, the public now awaits whether Wu Jinyan will truly return soon and who will finally be chosen as the male lead in Royal Rumors. One thing is certain: this comeback will be a crucial moment in the actress’s career after going through several ups and downs in recent years.
