Esther Yu in “Immortal Flesh”

Esther Yu (虞書欣), whose popularity soared after starring in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy <永夜星河> and Speed and Love <雙軌>, was previously rumored to be reuniting with He Yu (何與) for the costume drama Immortal Flesh <神仙肉>.

However, it is now reported that He Yu has declined the role. Deng Wei (鄧為) from Lost You Forever <長相思> and Xin Yunlai (辛雲來) from The Legend of Shen Li <與鳳行>, who were approached were also said to have turned down the project, with Neo Hou Minghao (侯明昊) from Love in the Clouds <入青雲> reportedly stepping in instead!

Potential Male Leads Turned Down Role

Intertwining human struggle and emotional confusion while exploring the blurred line between trust and doubt, Immortal Flesh is adapted from the novel of the same name by Chinese author Yidu Junhua (一度君華). The story follows Rong Chenzi, the head of Qingxu Temple, who is the reincarnation of Lord Lucun. Because his flesh and blood hold a special attraction for demons, he becomes the target of He Pan, a thousand-year-old river clam spirit played by Esther Yu.

When news of the actress starring opposite Leon Zhang (張雲龍) in this year’s costume drama Yunchu’s Vengeance <雲初令>, it seemingly signalled that restrictions on her from her family’s alleged corruption scandal may have eased. However, swirling talk that she has been promoted to producer and that much of the drama’s funding comes from her own investment – suggesting that ordinary investors may still have doubts about her public image.

Originally set to reunite with He Yu after Speed and Love in the xianxia drama Immortal Flesh, the two were said to have lacked strong on-screen chemistry, with many of Esther’s fans opposing He Yu from playing the male lead. Coupled with concerns that Esther Yu’s career could be affected by scandal, He Yu’s side decided to pull from the project.

Neo Hou has now reportedly agreed to take on the role after both Deng Wei and Xin Yunlai also turned down the role, but he is said to have requested equal billing with Esther – angering her fans, and casting further doubt over whether the two will ultimately be able to work together.

Corruption Scandal Deters Co-stars & Investors

Esther rose to major popularity with the hit drama Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, receiving a steady stream of scripts afterwards. However, rumors of her allegedly bullied other female celebrities on the set of a reality show, and accusations of her family being involved in the alleged misappropriation of RMB 6.5 billion in state-owned assets in China, has reportedly causing the actress to lose more than a million followers. She has yet to publicly address the matter, and many people believe there is a high chance she could be labelled a “problematic artist”.

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