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| Controversy Brews Over “Que Gu” Drama Casting – Hou Minghao Paired with Teen Star Ai Mi Sparks Mixed Reactions |
Well, it hasn’t even started filming yet — but the upcoming iQIYI historical romance drama Que Gu is already deep in hot water. And the drama’s not even on screen yet!
Netizens have been in a right stir ever since word got out that Hou Minghao is tipped to lead the show, opposite rising young actress Ai Mi. While nothing's been officially confirmed, casting rumours have spread like wildfire across Weibo and X (formerly Twitter), and the response? Let’s just say… it’s not been all cheers and confetti.
What’s the Fuss About?
The main bone of contention here lies in the age pairing. Hou Minghao, already a familiar face in the costume drama world, is reportedly being paired with Ai Mi — who, for the record, was born in July 2008 and is still only in her teens.
Despite her impressive CV — having popped up in Novoland: Pearl Eclipse, My Journey to You, The Double and more — many feel Ai Mi is still a tad too young to be headlining a full-blown romantic costume drama. Particularly opposite a much older male lead.
On Weibo, fans were quick to question whether such a casting move is appropriate, with terms like “forced pairing” and “misjudged lead chemistry” flying about.
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Behind-the-Scenes: How Did This Pairing Happen?
Turns out Ai Mi wasn’t the only contender for the role. According to insiders, names like Dai Luwa and Xiang Hanzhi were also in the running before Ai Mi’s agency reportedly clinched the role for her. That alone raised eyebrows, with some fans wondering if agency power played a bigger role than suitability for the part.
Supporters of Hou Minghao, however, have defended him strongly — saying he signed onto the project first, long before any word of who’d be cast as the female lead. “It’s not like he got to choose,” many commented.
Not All Doom and Gloom
That said, it’s not a one-way street. Plenty of netizens and Ai Mi fans are backing her up, praising her talent and on-screen presence despite her age. They argue that experience matters more than years, and that age-gap casting isn’t exactly new in the industry.
Examples have been thrown in from other popular dramas — like Perfect Match featuring Winwin and Huangyang Tian Tian, or Rebirth, where Huangyang Tian Tian starred opposite Li Yunrui — both of which had notable age differences between the leads but still managed to charm viewers.
So What’s Next?
As of now, iQIYI and the drama team haven’t made any official statements — and filming hasn’t kicked off yet. But one thing’s for sure: Que Gu is already on everyone’s radar, for better or worse.
Industry insiders have hinted that the production team might be reconsidering their casting choices. While nothing’s been officially confirmed, there’s talk that the female lead role could still be reassigned if public pressure continues — meaning Ai Mi’s involvement might not be final after all. Whether this ends in a quiet recast or the drama pushing forward as planned, Que Gu is shaping up to be one of iQIYI’s most talked-about projects this year — even before a single scene is shot.
Whether the drama will move forward with the rumoured line-up, or if the backlash will prompt a recast, remains to be seen. But for now, it looks like all eyes are on Ai Mi, Hou Minghao, and the team behind Que Gu — and the pressure’s on to deliver.