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| No Reunion for Dilraba and Gong Jun in Restart – Time Loop Drama Moves in New Direction |
The much-hyped reunion between Dilraba Dilmurat and Gong Jun? Not happening.
Social media went a bit mad recently when the topic “Dilraba Dilmurat and Gong Jun may work together again” shot up Weibo’s trending ranks, stirring up fresh hopes of a dreamy second collab.
Fans thought it might be linked to a new drama project, Restart, which many are calling a spiritual follow-up to the 2022 time-loop hit Reset.
But let’s set the record straight: both Dilraba’s team and the Restart production quickly shut down the rumours.
A trusted rep from her studio (via the account @小丸子电讯机) posted, “It has been confirmed that the project has not contacted [our side].” The production team echoed the same – no casting plans involving Dilraba or Gong Jun.
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Where Did the Buzz Even Come From?
It all seems to stem from a throwback interview Gong Jun gave back in 2023 while promoting The Legend of Anle. He openly said he’d love to act with Dilraba again, even tossing out ideas like doing a modern drama or playing a “dominant CEO” character. Naturally, fans clung to that – and every rumour since has had people on high alert.
So when Restart popped up on the radar, hopeful fans made the quick connection. But alas, it’s not happening – at least not for this one.
So What Is Restart, Then?
Restart is currently in the works as a fresh time loop drama with a new cast, new setting, and a darker twist. Developed by the same team behind Reset, the new series is reportedly set in the 1970s and will lean more into mystery and social dynamics – think moody period crime meets sci-fi paradoxes.
Though it's not officially labelled as a Reset sequel, it’s clearly in the same storytelling universe. Instead of following the explosive bus loop from Reset, Restart will reportedly dive into another loop-based mystery, but with a different backdrop and cast.
Who’s Starring This Time?
The casting hasn’t been confirmed by Tencent yet, but word on the street (via JayneStars) is that actress Tiffany Tang (Tang Yan) is in talks to take the lead female role, opposite young actor Zhou Yiran. Zhou recently caught attention for his role in When I Fly Towards You, and fans reckon he’s a good fit for a twisty plot with emotional weight.
No word yet on whether Reset’s leads, Bai Jingting and Zhao Jinmai, might pop up in cameo form – but fans are definitely holding out hope.
A Quick Flashback – Why Reset Mattered
If you somehow missed the Reset hype in 2022, here’s a quick refresher. The drama follows uni student Li Shiqing and game designer Xiao Heyun, who are trapped in a deadly bus explosion time loop. Every time the blast goes off, they’re yanked back to the beginning, forced to figure out how to stop it and save everyone onboard.
It ran for 15 episodes and was a certified smash – 8.1 on Douban, massive global interest, and over 2 billion views on Tencent Video alone. But more than the numbers, Reset stood out for its sharp writing, deep themes (trauma, morality, social pressure), and standout performances. It’s widely regarded as one of the best C-dramas of the past few years.
What’s Next for Dilraba?
Even though she’s not joining Restart, Dilraba fans won’t have to wait long to see her in a bold new role. She’s gearing up to star in Sword Rose, an upcoming action drama where she plays Deng Yan, a tough-as-nails anti-trafficking officer.
Gone are the glam looks – this time she’s rocking short hair, minimal makeup, and some seriously intense action scenes. Sword Rose is set to air on CCTV-8 starting 28 July, and it’s already got viewers hyped for Dilraba’s most rugged transformation yet.
TL;DR
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No, Dilraba and Gong Jun aren’t teaming up for Restart.
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The rumour came from fan hopes and old interviews, but both parties have denied involvement.
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Restart is a new project from the Reset team, set in the ’70s with a different cast and a darker tone.
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Dilraba’s next role? Catch her as a gritty cop in Sword Rose, premiering 28 July.