L.O.R.D. Legend of Ravaging Dynasties (Movie)

It's unlikely to follow Ice Fantasy without catching wind of L.O.R.D. 爵迹, an upcoming CGI animated film starring an ensemble cast led by none other than the reigning queen of c-cinema, Fan Bing Bing (Empress of China). 

Both adaptations are the brainchild of Guo Jingming who authored the novels that have turned into classic fantasy literature. In an attempt to do justice to the story, Guo Jingming was heavily involved in the making of L.O.R.D. as writer and director.

Motion capture is a technique often seen in Hollywood, think Avatar, Gollum and the Hulk's man-cancelling suit as stated by Mark Ruffalo himself. L.O.R.D will be the first of its kind for the Chinese entertainment industry, generating much hype due to the magnitude of its ambition. 

However, it is undeniable that most of the buzz has to be from its extremely high-profile cast that include Fan Bing Bing, Kris Wu (EXO), Chen Xue Dong (Tiny Times), William Chan, Amber Kuo (Tiny Times), Lin Yun (The Mermaid), Kevin Yan Kuan, Roy Wang (TF Boys) as well as special appearances by Yang Mi and Aarif Rahman. Each and everyone of them will be acting via motion capture that it has become a test of wit to try and identify who is who.

L.O.R.D. is scheduled to hit theaters on Sept 30, 2016 in 3D.

Source: YXDown

Dating News: New Loves and Old Flames in C-Entertainment

Love is in the air because who isn't dating or married?! Let's play a round of connect the stars.

Netizens still reeling from news of the Feng Shao Feng (born 1978) and Ni Ni (born 1988) breakup last year can rest assured since they each have found a significant other in the past month (bet they coordinated the release of the news).

Feng Shao Feng is one of China's eligible bachelors, a fuerdai 富二代 aka second-generation rich, good looking and successful in his own right while Ni Ni is supposedly pretty amazing herself. I say supposedly because I haven't actually seen her in anything except for Wonderful Friends (a celebrity reality show taking place in a zoo). Nevertheless, the couple of 3 years seemed like a match made in heaven so their separation was much to fans dismay.

Anyone speculating that the relationship turned south due to the 10-year age gap would have to renege on those words because here's a shocker with 37-year-old Feng Shao Feng (Ice Fantasy) currently dating 19-year-old Jelly Lin Yun (born 1996). The whopping 18-year difference doesn't strike me as weird, the fact that she's a teenager does.

Not to fret as Ni Ni (born 1988) subsequently announced her relationship with Jing Boran (born 1989) and both were coincidentally(?) bridesmaid and groomsmen in 2015's wedding of the year wherein high-profile couple Huang Xiao Ming and Angelababy finally tied the knot.

Jing Boran was in Love Weaves Through a Millennium opposite Zheng Shuang (born 1991) who used to date Zhang Han. She has since moved on to better things, becoming a face to be reckoned with because she's practically everywhere - dramas, movies, you name it.

Zhang Han (born 1984) didn't sit idly either, dating co-star Gu Li Na Zha (born 1992) from their collaboration on The Classic of Mountain and Seas. Gu Li Na Zha is the Uighur girl that literally went from unknown to starring role in Rift of the Sky, which also starred Liu Shi Shi. 

Having been a fan of Liu Shi Shi (born 1987), I am super happy to share her wedding shoot with real-life sweetheart Nicky Wu (born 1970). Yes, shippers' wildest dreams do come true even though it's technically Nicky Wu's second marriage after divorcing co-star Ma Yashu from his Xiao Shi Yi Lang days.

Nicky Wu and Liu Shi Shi officially wed last year, the photos came out this month and the ceremony is said to be held March 20 at Ayana Resort in beautiful Bali. Her 'sister' Annie Liu from Scarlet Heart will be the bridesmaid and the motif will take inspiration from the magnolia flower (wink wink). They definitely look adorkably blissful (more pics below).

Nicky Wu was recently with Zhao Li Ying (born 1987) in Legend of Zu and rumors say that she is dating a non-showbiz boyfriend. Am I hearing hundreds of broken hearts?  

Zhao Li Ying was almost always linked to Chen Xiao after the pair rose to fame because of Female Prime Minister Lu Zhen and their OTP so popular that it warranted a cameo for Zhao Li Ying as Yang Kang's wife in Romance of the Condor Heroes ROCH. 

Their onscreen chemistry might be sizzling yet in reality, I am quite happy for Chen Xiao (born 1987) and Michelle Chen (born 1983), both of which played the leads in ROCH. They have been dating since ROCH in 2015 and netizens are anticipating wedding bells by the end of the year, Jul 2016 to be exact.

Are you still following? Yang Rong has a supporting role in too many dramas (ROCH, Lu Zhen included) and I'm glad that she is breaking out of the mold to play the lead. Expect to see her in Legend of Flying Daggers opposite Hawick Lau and the love line continues since Hawick Lau (born 1974) is basically Yang Mi's (born 1986) hubby. 

Yang Mi is cast opposite Mark Zhao (born 1984) in upcoming c-drama Three Lives Three Worlds and doh, of course he's married too, to gorgeous Gao Yuan Yuan (born 1979) nonetheless.

There's no way to connect the dots with a non-showbiz person joining the fray as Zhang Tian Ai's rich boyfriend but my creative juices are flowing so here goes. Zhang Tian Ai's co-star Yu Meng Long, the 9th prince in Go Princess Go, is also going to be in Three Lives, so whaddayaknow, we've come full circle.

Source: GB.Cri.cn, YCWB, QQ, Tuxi, Baidu

Three Lives Three Worlds Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms

Stills are out on the upcoming drama Three Lives Three Worlds Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms 三生三世十里桃花. There are two adaptations, a movie and a TV series, both based on the a novel by Tangqi Gongzi.

I caught a glimpse of Tangqi Gonzi's penchant for sadistic romance 虐戀 in City of Devastating Love and Three Lives Three Worlds appears to be no different, detailing a tragic love story that transcends through the afterlife. 

Yang Mi (Sword of Legends) and Mark Zhao lead the cast in the titular roles of fated lovers Bai Qian and Yue Hua. Dilraba Dilmurat and Gao Weiguang follow as Feng Jiu and Dong Hua from the sequel called Three Lives Three Worlds The Pillow Book.

As is the fate of popular novel adaptations, there was much speculation over casting and here is one of the hopefuls from 2014 pairing Wallace Huo and Tang Yan.

In spite of the contrarians who prefer the finalized movie casting of Crystal Liu and Yang Yang, the drama version could turn out to be just as good if not better since a TV series has the advantage of time, effectively gaining the freedom to do more in terms of character development. Even though I'm certain that endless comparisons will be made between the movie and drama right down to the kid actor, I'd rather give both an equal chance because they both look promising. 

Bai Qian is a spirit fox from Qing Qiu who possesses an ethereal beauty unmatched in all the realms. Yue Hua is the Crown Prince of the heavenly realm Jiu Chong. They meet, fall in love, get separated, then meet again.

You might already be familiar with Qing Qiu because it is a place often referred to in more than a few novels that take inspiration from ancient literature. Three Lives Three Worlds is no different as it is loosely based on the Classic of Rivers and Seas 山海经 depicting stories about deities and people that could only have existed in the form of legends.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 Chinese historical dramas.

Source: Qianzhan, Life.Ce.CN, YSDXC