LayarHijau – On July 14, 2025, rumors about a second collaboration between Dilraba Dilmurat and Gong Jun went viral after the topic “Dilraba Dilmurat and Gong Jun may work together again” climbed into Weibo’s trending topics. However, the news was quickly denied by both parties involved. The account @小丸子电讯机, a known representative of Dilraba’s studio, clarified on Weibo, “It has been confirmed that the project has not contacted [our side].” The production team also confirmed that no such casting plan exists.
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This wave of speculation stemmed from Gong Jun’s 2023 interview during the airing of The Legend of Anle (安乐传), where he openly stated his desire to work with Dilraba again and even suggested they try new genres such as “dominant CEO” storylines or realistic contemporary dramas. Naturally, fans have remained hopeful ever since, fueling anticipation around every casting rumor involving both stars.
The drama in question is reportedly Restart, a new project believed to be a sequel—or more accurately, a spiritual successor—to the 2022 hit Reset (开端). While no official statement has confirmed a direct continuation, the new drama is expected to explore similar time loop themes in a new narrative and setting.
Reset was a suspenseful sci-fi thriller starring Bai Jingting and Zhao Jinmai. The series follows Li Shiqing, a university student who gets caught in a time loop after a bus explosion. Each time the tragedy occurs, she returns to the start of the journey. Alongside Xiao Heyun, a game designer who is also trapped in the loop, she works to uncover the truth behind the bombing and stop the cycle.
The 15-episode drama received critical acclaim and audience praise. It scored around 8.1 on Douban and IMDb and was viewed over 2 billion times on Tencent Video shortly after its release. Audiences lauded its tight writing, emotional depth, social commentary, and the intense chemistry between the leads. The show sparked wide discussion on topics such as trauma, cyberbullying, and moral responsibility, cementing Reset as one of the most impactful C-dramas of its time.
Now, Restart is being developed by the same production team. According to entertainment outlet JayneStars, actress Tiffany Tang (Tang Yan) is rumored to take on the female lead role, paired with rising actor Zhou Yiran, known for his breakout in When I Fly Towards You. Although Tencent has yet to officially announce the cast, speculation has circulated since early this year.
Unlike Reset, which was set in modern-day China, Restart is said to take place in the 1970s, with a darker investigative tone and more complex social dynamics. The core concept of time loops remains, but with a new approach, new era, and new mystery. As of now, there’s no official information on the episode count, release schedule, or whether Bai Jingting and Zhao Jinmai will return in cameo roles—though fans are hopeful.
While audiences may be disappointed that Dilraba and Gong Jun won’t be sharing the screen again just yet, Dilraba is preparing to return in a bold new role in the upcoming action drama Sword Rose. Scheduled to premiere on CCTV-8 on July 28, the series features Dilraba as Deng Yan, an anti-trafficking police officer with a raw and gritty image—short hair, no makeup, and intense action scenes.
With rumors now cleared, fans can look forward to Dilraba’s powerful transformation in Sword Rose and follow the development of Restart, a highly anticipated continuation of the Reset universe. Whether the new series will capture the same emotional punch and narrative brilliance remains to be seen.
