Yu Zheng Wants to Cast Wayne Lai and Michelle Yim for New Drama?
Another Yu Zheng (于正) drama, another reunion.
The popular “Linghou CP” from last year’s Story of Yanxi Palace <延禧攻略>—consisting of Wu Jinyan (吴谨言) and Qin Lan (秦岚)—will reunite for a new drama, Chuan Jia <传家> (literally “passing on from generation to generation”), produced by Yu Zheng. Playing as sisters, the drama will be set during the years prior to the Sino-Japanese War, about three sisters who overcome their differences to help fulfill their father’s dream.
The drama will be Wu Jinyan and Qin Lan’s second collaboration after Yanxi Palace. The usual crew, including Jenny Zhang (张嘉倪) and Hong Yao (洪尧), will also star, with the addition of Hong Kong actor Damian Lau (劉松仁).
Originally slated to begin production last year, filming had to be postponed to late 2019 due to schedule conflicts among the actors. Yu Zheng confirmed via social media that Chuan Jia will be his next big project. It is slated for 40 episodes and production will take approximately 24 months to complete.
Allegedly, Yu Zheng had courted Wayne Lai (黎耀祥) and Michelle Yim (米雪) to also star in the series as special guests. Yu Zheng has always had an affinity with Hong Kong actors, particularly ones from TVB—he recently completed Winter Begonia <鬓边不是海棠红>, which stars Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼), and many of his dramas’ Hong Kong broadcasts rights were given to TVB.
If the rumors are true, Chuan Jia will be Wayne Lai and Michelle Yim’s first collaboration since 2012’s The Confidant <大太監>, in which Wayne played Li Lianying and Michelle played Empress Dowager Cixi.
Wayne, however, has denied the collaboration.
“I don’t know [Yu Zheng] personally and has never worked with him,” said Wayne. “Though I do know who he is. (Do you want to work with him?) From my position, I don’t care. If the opportunity comes by, of course I will like to.”
Commenting that many netizens online miss seeing Wayne on TVB, the actor said, “Be patient. I’ve been very selective.” He added that his new TVB drama, Death by Zero <殺手>, will air around the anniversary season.
Source: HK01.com
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
If you’re selective then you shouldn’t be filming for TVB.
@anon lol so true. Selective and tvb are oxymorons.
@anon
he’s a family man, he wants to be w/ his family
@m0m0
I find that excuse difficult to believe.
If he’s filming at TVB or in the mainland, he won’t be seeing much of his family during the period of shooting anyway.
And he’s no longer at the stage of his career where he will be shooting non-stop throughout the year, taking projects one after another.
When he’s not shooting, he can be with his family.
So it’s makes little difference either way in terms of family commitments but it’s a wide gap in income.
I think it’s more to do with the fact that he won’t be a leading actor in China and will likely be demoted to supporting roles – just look at Michael Miu and Ray Lui. In China, they get 4th or 5th line roles. At tvb, they be leading and they will cater an entire script for them. That’s the opportunity he will miss most IMHO.
@anon Wayne’s wife is his manager, so she will be with him while he’s working in Mainland China. This won’t sacrifice his time with his wife as they won’t be separated long distance.
Wayne’s son is currently studying in the United States, so this likely affected Wayne’s decision to shift his focus to Mainland now. His son is older and doesn’t require Wayne to spend as much time with him anymore.
It’s not purely a reason driven by money to act in Mainland…Wayne will get to work in dramas with higher production values, which can showcase his abilities more. His career in HK has already peaked, and it is time to try new opportunities.
@anon
I think Wayne does not want any change. He is very rich and living very comfortably from the HK Income. Extra millions from China will not change his quality of life. His lifestyle will only change if he moves to an unfamiliar environment to earn the extra millions and that will be eating months/years of life he could be enjoying in the HK.
@anon Agreed. If Wayne was truly selective, he would be letting the project / script dictate his choices, which would likely lead him to choose projects having nothing to do with TVB — the possibilities are endless nowadays with 2 additional TV stations as well as the booming web series business. The fact that he’s doing the “one series a year” thing with TVB and not working with any other HK production companies tells me that he prefers familiarity over trying new things (though most likely he also doesn’t want to damage his relationship with TVB, even though he’s not contracted with them, since we all know how petty TVB can be).
wayne lai is such a talented actor. i do miss seeing him on screen.
The article above actually mentioned that ‘netizens online miss seeing Wayne on TVB’…not in any dramas produce by other TV stations. So i find that his answer is appropriate that he has been selective on TVB drama that he chooses to film recently. Furthermore, he’s on a ‘one series per year’ contract with TVB…so it is understandable that he’s being selective because he definitely wants to choose a good role that could leave a deep impression to the audience.
Besides, if money is not a great concern and Wayne is already enjoying a comfortable life with his Hong Kong income, then there’s no need for him to shift his career to Mainland, where he could only be a 4th or 5th line actors.
Thus, it’s a matter of choice for Wayne, and there is nothing wrong if he chooses to stay in his comfort zone, as long as he continues to give us a good show in any drama he is in.
How did Wayne make his first pot of gold? It can’t be from his popularity after No Regrets series, can it??
I agree with @diana80 assessment.