Leo Wu and Tian Xiwei’s Fresh Pairing for “The One”

Originally set to reunite with Zhao Jinmai (趙今麥) for new Tencent Wuxia drama The One <劍來> after their chemistry won over many fans, Chinese actor Leo Wu (吳磊) is now likely to pair with Guardians of the Dafeng‘s <大奉打更人> Tian Xiwei (田曦薇) instead, generating buzz for the fresh pairing!

Leo Cast After Book Fans Point Out Age Mismatch Concerns

As Zhao Jinmai is currently filming the movie The Wandering Earth 3 <流浪地球3> – which began filming in April and will last around 300 days – she was ruled out entirely, dashing hopes for their second collaboration.

After wrapping up the dramas Amidst a Snowstorm of Love <在暴雪時分> and Northwest Years <西北歲月> in 2023, Wu Lei shifted his focus to the big screen and has been absent from television dramas for nearly two years. While the male lead role in The One was originally offered to Mysterious Lotus Casebook’s <蓮花樓> Cheng Yi (成毅), Cheng at 30 years of age was later deemed too mature to play the role of Chen Ping’an, who starts the story at age 16. Fans of the original novel voiced concerns over the age mismatch, prompting the producers to cast Leo Wu, whose appearance and age better align with the character.

Synopsis

The One is adapted from the novel of the same name and follows Chen Ping’an, whose life is shattered at the age of five when his father uncovers the hidden secret of their small town, causing the destruction of Chen’s “fated porcelain”—an item tied to his destiny. His parents both die as a result, his father murdered and his mother dying after a grave illness. With his porcelain shattered, Chen embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind his father’s demise, transforming along the way from an ordinary youth into a cultivator, overcoming countless trials and tribulations.

Since the final volume of The One was only published earlier this year, the casting process—especially for the female lead—has been challenging. Producers preferred a post-95s actress for the role of Ning Yao, but most A-list actresses were unwilling to take a supporting role opposite Wu Lei, leading them to consider Tian Xiwei. While some novel fans felt Tian’s sweet image didn’t match the powerful, battle-hardened Ning Yao, others pointed out that Tian is known to be physically strong and athletic in real life, with well-toned arms, and had also displayed impressive combat skills in her previous historical drama Chasing Jade <逐玉>. Many are hopeful for her first collaboration with Wu Lei to become a breakout hit!

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