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| Wu Lei Leads 300 Million Yuan Blockbuster ‘The One’, Ending 4-Year Break from Historical Dramas (Photo: Weibo) |
After four years away from the historical scene, Leo Wu Lei is finally back — and this time, he’s leading one of Tencent’s biggest productions yet.
The 25-year-old actor is set to star in ‘The One (劍來)’, a colossal 300 million yuan (around 42.18 million USD) fantasy drama adapted from the legendary xianxia novel Sword Comes (劍來) by Fenghuo Xizhu Hou.
The drama, labelled an S+ project by Tencent, is already making waves before filming’s even begun — and with a budget like that, it’s no surprise.
A Return Fit for a ‘Drama God’
Wu Lei, often dubbed one of the “drama gods” of his generation, made his name in hit shows like The Long Ballad, Love Like the Galaxy, Nothing But You, and Amidst a Snowstorm of Love.
After taking a breather from TV to focus on films, he’s back with a full-on historical fantasy — his first in four years — and fans are buzzing.
In The One, Wu Lei steps into the shoes of Chen Ping’an, a humble young lad who sets off on a gruelling quest to become a martial arts and sword master.
But he didn’t just stroll into the role — the lad grafted hard for it.
Leo Wu Lei went through six months of brutal physical training, dropped about 7 kilos, and got his body fat under 10%.
He even picked up bamboo weaving and traditional swordsmanship, ending up with blisters and calluses all over his hands.
The production team’s been calling him “The Chosen Chen Ping’an”, saying he nails that mix of youthful spirit and grounded maturity that made his earlier roles stand out.
A Mega Set and a Star-Studded Line-Up
The crew aren’t messing about with this one either — a massive “Great Wall of Sword Qi” set is being built to bring the novel’s world to life.
Filming’s due to kick off in early November 2025, and the rumoured cast list is spicy.
Whispers suggest Vanda Margraf (Li Wanda) — the Chinese-German actress dubbed the “Little Dilraba” — is in the running for the female lead.
Other names floating around include Yang Xizi, known for Love and Redemption and Immortal Samsara, and Li Meng, who had everyone talking after her intense performance as the “mad princess” in The Double.
And if that’s not enough to get fans hyped, Chang Chen (Zhang Zhen) — the Golden Horse Award-winning Taiwanese legend — is rumoured to play Qi Jingchun, Chen Ping’an’s mentor.
A powerhouse line-up if there ever was one.
A Story that Already Has a Cult Following
The original novel Sword Comes isn’t your average web story — it’s a modern xianxia classic.
With over four million copies sold and a 3.2 billion-play audiobook, it’s already got a loyal fanbase.
The animated version, which dropped last year, scored 8.8 on Douban and has its second season on the way.
No wonder Tencent’s going all in — they’re banking on The One becoming a full-blown fantasy phenomenon.
A New Milestone for Wu Lei
For Wu Lei, this isn’t just another role — it’s a statement.
After proving his acting chops across genres, The One could be the project that cements him as the definitive lead of his generation.
With that mix of discipline, emotion, and raw star power, it’s looking like one of the most anticipated dramas of 2026.
And just to clear the air — the drama’s budget is 300 million yuan, not 3 billion, as some earlier translations mixed up. Still, 42 million USD ain’t exactly pocket change, eh?