American TV Channels to Air “The Legend of Zhen Huan”
An American company expressed an interest to air Zhen Xiaolong’s (郑晓龙) highly popular 76-episode mainland Chinese television drama, The Legend of Zhen Huan <後宮甄嬛傳>, in the United States.
The Legend of Zhen Huan, which stars Betty Sun (孙俪) and Ada Choi (蔡少芬), is an adaptation of a novel by Liu Lianzi. The story centers on the character, Zhen Huan, and her rise to prominence in the scheme-filled palace environment during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng.
Several Chinese-based American channels have already bought the broadcast rights to The Legend of Zhen Huan, but these channels will not be able to make the drama reach a wider audience.
The unnamed American company stated that the reason for importing the palace drama is because they believed that the show will be able to attract an English-speaking market. The company plans to re-cut the drama into a series of six mini-films, which will be broadcasted by mainstream American television stations.
Chinese netizens were not very keen with this remake, reasoning that American audiences may not understand the show due to their cultural differences. They also feared that cutting up the show into six mini-films may affect the story line’s pace and development.
Source: Oriental Daily
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
Has anyone watch this drama? is it good? thinking to watch this but 76 episodes seems very long.
It is very good because of Sun Li. The acting by her is impeccable. And also the actress as Concbine Hua (Hua Fei), and a few others. The worst was the actor as the emperor. Not sure what’s wrong with him but he was just wooden.
Yes it is very long. It became incredibly stupid in the middle but went back to being rather good until the end where it became utterly dumb. The storyline has greatness but also stupidity. But if you like palace schemes I suppose this series is the definitive one. I just wished it wasn’t set in yongzheng reign. It just didn’t fit. Everything the emperor said he was accused of in Yong Zheng Wang Chao is seen in this series. Worth a watch just for Sun li.
When a series is too long, it tends to get draggy… Oh gosh, don’t even remind me about emperors and all. I remember that young and skinny guy playing Zhuang Fei’s son in Xiao Zhuang Mi Shi.Boy was he skinny and malnourished.. Watching him was a torture…
Cutting a few episodes will be a good idea BUT making it into 6 mini films, presumably 2 hours each which makes it 12 hours which make it about 12 hours is… not right. The storyline will be butchered. But then what do american TV care.
I hope the Americans could edit the boring and dragging parts away as we all know, Chinese dramas are too long winded.
It would be interesting to see what the result is. One of my favourite US based dramas was James Clavell’s “SHOGUN” – which, as the miniseries, was amazing. They then took the miniseries and carved it up into a 2 hour movie, and it was terrible. The movie moved so fast it lost all meaning.
Hopefully the same doesn’t happen here.
Editing is fine but the proposed editing will take away a lot of things which will make the series like a serial killer series. Too many people dying in a short time.
I am worried about the editing…but this series was totally worth stalking for the entire 76 episodes…the middle was a bit draggy but if that’s what they cut then that might not be so sad lol
BTW this is an incredible palace drama and all the women were amazing in their performances. I’d watch it again actually.
I doubt anyone here would watch it. I wouldn’t even want to watch it yet non Chinese Americans. It will be lost in translation.
Betty looks like Lisa Lui Yau Wai.
I am currently watching it. Up to Epi 41.
To be honest its quite long the show, but the storyline is good and very captivating on how the harem was like back in the Qing Dynasty. I honestly dont know how it would work if they cut it into 6 mini-series. It maybe quite hard to follow and people will lose interest. What a shame! Another fabulous drama series that has a stronger storyline is “War & Beauty” 金枝玉葉.
Not a bad idea to cut it into mini series, Chinese dramas are often way too long which makes the plot stand still most times….
I’ve watched the entire series a few months ago and enjoyed it. Perhaps a couple of snipping here and there is ok but to edit it (heaven to what extend??) merely to accomodate to American screen time is totally crazy. It’s like fast-forward……. If they watched the original and like it, why want to butcher it ??because it’s the entire content that caught their attention in the first place.
I like the actor who played the 17th Prince.
look like lots people said it worth to watch for this long series, will give a try…..thanks guys
I think this is the best palace scheme drama ever! Even if you are not Sun Li’s fan, I highly recommend watching it. Watch Sun Li’s extraordinary performance. As for the editing, of course I don’t agree with it but hey, if that’s what they want: can’t really say/do much. It’s sad because it will truly kill the entire storyline.
I almost skipped this drama because am not a fan of sun li nor the guy that played the emperor. I’m glad I gave it a chance because it was totally worth all those hours. Now my mom is addicted to the series.
I’m glad you gave it a try, Quynh. 🙂 Are you a Sun Li”s fan yet? 😀
Hmmm… I wonder which American channel? Broadcast or cable? Have a hard time seeing this work on American mainstream TV which is dominated by American productions, plus their approach to successful foreign productions/formats is usually to remake them for US audiences (e.g. American Idol, The Voice, Survivor) rather than to air the original.
Parody clip of Zhen Huan going to air in US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqYGt3V41Fo
p.s. Even though this is a parody clip, it’s indeed dubbed by professional voice actor from Y-Show.
Saw a parody clip of HZGG dubed by comediens which was kinda funny.