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| Gaming, Friendship, and a Mysterious Life Swap: Joseph Zeng & Zhang Kangle Star in New Esports Series (Photo: Youku) |
Youku has officially rolled cameras for its latest esports-themed drama Jiao Huan Ren Sheng/交换人生 (Exchange Lives or Life Swap, official English title TBA) on 25 October 2025 in Ningbo, Zhejiang.
The team will later move production to Shanghai, with a tight 90-day filming schedule already mapped out.
The series is directed by Cui Rui, the name behind the box-office hit Lost in the Stars, and written by Xu Su and Wang Xiaohan, the same duo who brought audiences the adrenaline-packed Cross Fire.
The show is being produced by Zhang Meng under Youhug Media, marking her third project with actor Zhang Kangle — a combo that fans have come to trust for sharp storytelling and stylish visuals.
⚙️ Swapping Lives and Gaming Thrones
The story follows Mars (played by Joseph Zeng Shunxi), a four-time esports league MVP at the top of his game, and Lin An (Zhang Kangle), a low-key but brilliant mechanic with a quiet life.
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When a freak elevator incident causes them to swap bodies, chaos unfolds — and so does a chance for growth neither expected.
Lin An suddenly finds himself thrown into the electrifying world of professional gaming, juggling intense tournaments, ruthless rivals, and doubting teammates.
Meanwhile, Mars wakes up in Lin An’s small town life, where he discovers a dark thread — an old internet café arson case that still lingers in local memory.
It’s a clever mash-up of esports, mystery, and slice-of-life, with both leads forced to confront what “winning” really means — on and off the screen.
🌟 Star Power and Chemistry Buzz
Joining the main duo are Liu Xiening, Jiang Lai, and Eden Zhao Zhiwei, with Zhang Meng herself making a guest appearance.
The first promo photos have already caused a stir online — both Zeng Shunxi and Zhang Kangle deliver visuals that fans are calling “a next-level duo.”
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Some netizens are even joking that it’s a mini tomb-raiding reunion, since Joseph Zeng Shunxi (Ultimate Note) and Zhang Kangle (The Lost Tomb: Explore With the Note) each portrayed iconic characters from the same franchise universe.
This new pairing, many say, feels like the crossover that never happened — until now.
Interestingly, this project has been in the works for years.
Early reports once linked the title to an official “League of Legends” web drama said to be directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Yi Yang Qianxi, but the plan quietly shifted.
The title, director, and even platform were re-shuffled — with Youku stepping in as the final distributor and Jiao Huan Ren Sheng emerging as a fresh concept rather than a direct adaptation.
Now, with a proven director-writer combo and a popular cast, expectations are running high that this drama could deliver both emotional beats and top-tier gaming visuals — something rare even in the booming esports drama scene.
🧩 Early Hype
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While the official English title is yet to be locked in, fans are already debating translations and predicting OST collaborations.
Some insiders hint that the production might integrate real in-game mechanics and AR sequences, blending the futuristic vibe of Cross Fire with a more grounded human story.
Whether you’re in it for the bromance, the gaming nostalgia, or the mystery twist, Jiao Huan Ren Sheng might just become the next big youth-sci-fi hit in Youku’s 2026 lineup.