Li Chen to be edited into "The Legend of Ba Qing"?
19 May – Following reports that there will be no changes made to Fan Bingbing's new period drama, "The Legend of Ba Qing", rumours are rife that the actress' fiancé Li Chen is saving the day by replacing its lead star, Gao Yunxiang.
As reported on NBD, the issue surrounding the drama sparked earlier in March, after its aforementioned lead was arrested in Sydney, Australia over allegations of sexual assault. The arrest and his subsequent case sparked a problem for his new drama, which is also one of the most expensive TV series in mainland China originally scheduled to air in April.
It was also rumoured that the issue could affect Fan entirely, since the drama is being produced by the Fan Bingbing Studio.
The studio had since shut down rumours that its second lead, Dylan Kuo will be replacing Guo - with many saying that the reshoot will cost the studio more than it could bear.
However, recently several photographs of Li Chen wearing a period costume went viral on Weibo, sparking rumours that the actor is saving the day by replacing Gao as the male lead.
Some are speculating that the fact that Li was standing in front of a green screen means that instead of reshooting the scenes with other actors, his face may be digitally inserted into Gao's own so that the show could finally air.
While both Fan and Li have yet to address the rumours, a source stated that they have been doing an alternative "technical test".
If the rumours are to be believed, this will be the second time Fan has to make changes to her television drama, following the previously infamous "chest-removal" editing on her 2014 period drama, "The Empress of China".
(Photo source: ent.cri.cn)
