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| Hu Yitian's Rumoured Return to Screen Met with Mixed Reactions from Fans |
Chinese actor Hu Yitian hasn’t officially stepped back onto a drama set yet—but that hasn’t stopped the internet from blowing up over his supposed "comeback project."
The rumoured drama in question? A youthful romance titled Genius Girlfriend, supposedly adapted from a novel by Su Guang. The story follows a brilliant young woman and her childhood sweetheart as they go from internships to I-do’s—a classic warm, healing genre piece. Hu Yitian is said to be eyeing the male lead role, opposite rising actress Tian Xiwei and newbie Hani Kezi.
Sounds wholesome enough, right? But netizens are already in a frenzy—and not all of them are cheering.
A Rumour That’s Running Wild
First things first: there’s been zero confirmation from Hu Yitian or his agency. Not even a cryptic emoji or sneaky repost on Weibo. That hasn’t stopped online chatter from going full speed ahead, with some blogs even falsely claiming Hu announced the role himself—claims that were quickly shut down when fans pointed out no such post exists.
Despite the drama being just a rumour, it’s already facing serious flak online. Fans are divided. Some are thrilled at the prospect of him returning to the screen after a nearly two-year hiatus, calling it “long overdue.” Others, however, are calling the casting “lazy,” “misguided,” or just plain unbelievable.
“Still Playing Teenagers at 30?”
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One of the loudest complaints? That Hu Yitian—who just turned 30—isn’t exactly convincing as a school-age sweetheart anymore.
“How long does he plan to stay stuck playing a teenage boy?” one comment read. Another wrote: “He’s been in the industry long enough to try something new. This is just recycling old hits.”
Others pointed out that the rumoured pairing with Tian Xiwei feels unbalanced, with some fans questioning if Hu Yi Tian would be playing second male lead in a drama that seems designed to push female characters to the front. “Is this a comeback or a step down?” someone asked.
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Hu Yitian’s Career: A Bit Too Quiet?
It’s true—Hu Yitian’s been keeping a pretty low profile lately. His last major works, like Dt. Appledog’s Time (the Go Go Squid! sequel) and Unrequited Love, aired years ago.
Earlier this year, HuYitian joked about “retiring” during a livestream, noting it had been 673 days since his last filming gig. That triggered full-on panic among fans, who started wondering whether he was quietly stepping away from acting.
Since switching agencies, he’s had no confirmed projects, no drama shoots, and not much in the way of public appearances. As one netizen bluntly put it: “Even with 20 million followers, he rarely trends anymore. That says something about the current state of his fanbase.”
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Let’s not forget—Hu Yitian shot to fame in 2017 with A Love So Beautiful, where he played the cold, clever, and annoyingly attractive Jiang Chen. With his tall frame, soft visuals, and signature stoic charm, he quickly became the poster boy of high school romance dramas.
But that same image might now be holding him back. The youthful roles that built his career might no longer fit—and audiences aren’t sure where he’ll go next.
If Genius Girlfriend turns out to be real, Hu Yitian will have to face an audience that’s a lot more sceptical than it used to be. But if it’s just another rumour? Well, the buzz alone proves one thing: people are still watching. Closely.