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| Zhang Kangle & Zhou Jieqiong Dive into Fantasy in New Republican Drama The Awakening |
It’s officially lights, camera, action for the upcoming Republican-era fantasy drama The Awakening (觉醒者+), which just held its boot ceremony, signalling the start of a roughly 55-day shoot. Produced by Youhug and Tencent, the series marks the first on-screen pairing of Zhang Kangle and Zhou Jieqiong – and it’s not your usual patriotic spy thriller. Nope, this one’s got sewers, mystery, amnesia, and even a sprinkle of the supernatural.
Zhang Kangle, who made waves last year playing the stoic Zhang Qiling in the Adventure Behind the Bronze Door series from the Daomu Biji (Grave Robbers' Chronicles) universe, is taking a sharp turn here as “47” – a brooding amnesiac hiding out in the murky underground of fictional city Wangcheng.
He’s not just dealing with shadowy pursuers, though. Turns out, his own forgotten memories are chasing him too.
Alongside him is Zhou Jieqiong, fresh off her role in Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Love in Pavilion. While her character’s details are still under wraps, we can expect a tough-as-nails heroine with some secrets of her own – because let’s be real, in a sewer-bound survival fantasy, no one’s got a simple backstory.
Unlike your usual Republican drama fare full of spies, revolution, and patriotic speeches, The Awakening steers toward something a bit darker and more offbeat.
Think underground labyrinths, cryptic flashbacks, and the kind of “who-can-you-trust” tension that keeps you guessing till the end. With suspense, mystery, action, and a heavy dash of fantasy baked in, the tone’s definitely closer to urban legend meets thriller than anything textbook historical.
The supporting cast includes none other than Hong Kong film legend Simon Yam, idol-actor Yan An, and guest appearances from Zhang Meng and Ming Dao, which should give the series a hefty mix of experience and eye candy.
As filming gets underway, fans have been treated to the first round of character posters – all gloomy, shadow-lit, and dripping with that moody noir energy. If the visuals are anything to go by, The Awakening is shaping up to be a stylish, gritty ride through the underbelly of a city – and a man’s own fragmented past.
Keep your eyes peeled – The Awakening might just be this year’s unexpected genre-bender hit.