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| Chen Duling & Zhou Yiran Try to Calm the Storm as 'Qiao Chu' Casting Sparks Fan Meltdown |
It should’ve been a day of celebration for C-drama fans, but instead, things are already getting spicy behind the scenes of ‘Qiao Chu’, the drama adaptation of Xi Xing’s popular novel Chu Hou.
The casting announcement dropped on 6 May, revealing Chen Duling as the lead character Chu Chao, alongside Zhou Yiran as her love interest Xie Yanlai — and just like that, the fandoms went into full meltdown mode.
To be fair, the tension had been simmering for weeks, ever since rumours started swirling about the possible pairing.
Now that it’s confirmed, the reaction is… well, not exactly harmonious.
On paper, this is a classic “big female lead” historical series. Qiao Chu follows Chu Chao, the general’s daughter who rewrites her own destiny instead of becoming a pawn in a prince’s political game.
So naturally, fans expected the spotlight — and top billing — to go to Chen Duling.
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When the cast was officially revealed, production played it safe with the “no particular order, sorted by surname” line — a typical move in these billing wars.
But for Chen Duling’s fans, that wasn’t enough.
They took to social media with the hashtag #粉丝脱粉 (fans leaving), upset that her studio didn’t push harder to secure her the top slot in a show that’s clearly centred on her character.
Some even worry the script might get quietly adjusted to give Zhou Yiran more screen time — something that’s not unheard of in the industry.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yiran’s fans haven’t exactly rolled out the red carpet either.
Some weren’t keen on him playing “second fiddle” in a female-led story, and although his supporters have shown up with encouraging comments since the announcement, it’s clear there’s a split in the fanbase.
With the fan drama getting louder than the actual drama, both actors' studios quickly teamed up to release a joint statement, basically telling everyone to calm down and play nice.
They asked fans to respect both stars’ choices and keep their eyes on the bigger picture — promoting the series and supporting the work.
Chen Duling also shared her own heartfelt message.
She said it’s a privilege to bring energy and joy to viewers through her roles, but gently reminded fans to take care of themselves too:
“If I’ve made you upset or affected your mood, put down your phone and focus on your own life. I hope we can all be kinder to each other, and meet happily, without burdens.”
Zhou Yiran chimed in too, saying:
“The best way to support me is by focusing on my work and creating a healthy, creative environment for everyone. Let’s treasure this industry and the opportunities we have.”
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The Show Must Go On… Eventually
While filming hasn’t started yet, Qiao Chu is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about projects of the year — for better or worse.
Director Yang Long, best known for The Glory, is back at the helm, which has only raised expectations (and tensions) even higher.
Whether this behind-the-scenes storm will pass quietly or blow into something bigger, one thing’s for sure — fans are watching, and watching hard.