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| Tencent’s 2026 Drama Line-up: Yang Zi, Wu Lei, Zhang Ruoyun, Hu Ge & Huang Jingyu Lead a Mega Comeback Year |
Tencent’s gone and dropped its 2026 drama line-up at the 2025 Annual Video Conference, and it’s lookin’ proper stacked.
We’re talkin’ top-tier names like Yang Zi, Leo Wu Lei, Zhang Ruoyun, Hu Ge, and Huang Jingyu all fronting their own big-ticket projects.
Some of ‘em even got solo spotlight announcements — basically Tencent’s way of sayin’, “Yeah, these ones are the real deal.”
Let’s dive into the lot that’s had everyone chatting across Weibo and Douban.
Huang Jingyu, Winner (贏風) – Delivering Dreams, Literally
First up, Huang Jingyu is front and centre in Winner (贏風), based on Zhu Xiaojun and Yang Liping’s Express China.
He’s playin’ Lu Yunxiang, a lad from the countryside who takes over his late brother’s courier biz, Xuntong, and turns it into a full-blown logistics empire.
People are already callin’ it the “delivery industry version of Like a Flowing River,” which says a lot.
The show’s pushin’ the whole “ordinary bloke turns into a national hero” vibe.
Produced by Tencent and Insight, this one’s meant to inspire without feelin’ too preachy — and with Jingyu’s track record, he’ll probably nail it.
Zhang Ruoyun & Liu Shishi, A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains (千里江山图) – Spies, Art, and Double Lives
Now this one’s got pedigree.
Zhang Ruoyun adds yet another heavy-hitter to his résumé, followin’ Joy of Life 3 and Sword Snow Stride 2. A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains is a spy thriller written by Wang Juan (Joy of Life) and Jin Haishu (The Wind Blows From Longxi).
And get this — Chen Daoming is exec-producing.
Ruoyun’s character, Chen Qianli, hides behind the guise of an antique dealer while secretly runnin’ an intel op codenamed “A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains.”
Liu Shishi pops in for a special starring role as Ling Wen, a heroine inspired by real underground resistance martyrs.
With Wang Chuanjun as the villain and Guan Xiaotong droppin’ a guest cameo, this one’s lookin’ lush and proper cinematic.
Leo Wu Lei, The One – The Chosen Swordsman Returns
Here’s one for the action buffs — Wu Lei’s been confirmed to headline The One 剑来, an adaptation of the fantasy novel Jian Lai (Sword of Coming).
He’s playin’ Chen Pingan, a wandering swordsman on a mythical journey that’s equal parts grit and heart.
The lad’s gone full method too — lost 12 pounds, trained sword-fightin’ till his hands bled, and hit 10% body fat.
That’s serious graft.
Produced by Tencent, New Classics Media, and Mahua FunAge, The One could easily turn into the next Nirvana in Fire-style phenomenon.
Fans are already callin’ him the “chosen one” — and honestly, they might not be wrong.
Yang Zi in The Way You Come Back (玉兰花开君再来) – A Lady Boss Ahead of Her Time
Yang Zi’s back in another prestige project, this time playin’ Dong Zhujun, the legendary founder of Shanghai’s Jinjiang Hotel.
Directed by Yang Yang (A Dream of Splendor), it’s a sprawling biopic followin’ her from a teenage songstress to a powerful business icon.
Yang Zi’s pullin’ off the age range from 15 to 60 (aye, that’s mad), learnin’ Shanghainese, Japanese, and even tea ceremony etiquette.
Thematically, it’s right up her alley — strong, self-made women, independence, and legacy. Some reckon she’s due for a genre switch, but with this scale, no one’s complainin’. It’s her first Republican-era drama in over a decade since Battle of Changsha.
Hu Ge in Zhang Juzheng (风禾尽起张居正) – The Reformist Returns
Lastly, the legend himself Hu Ge is takin’ the lead in Zhang Juzheng, produced by Tencent and New Classics Media with Chen Daoming again as exec-producer.
The story’s about the Ming Dynasty reformer Zhang Juzheng, known for his sharp political mind and controversial reforms.
At 42, Hu Ge’s the perfect fit — old enough for gravitas, young enough for fire.
Some fans say he’s too scholarly for Zhang’s “iron-blooded” style, but others reckon that’s exactly the charm he’ll bring.
After Nirvana in Fire and Blossoms Shanghai, this feels like a mature, thoughtful return to historical epics — a nice break from all them idol-costume fluff pieces.
Final Thoughts – Tencent’s 2026 Looks Built Different
So yeah, Tencent’s not playin’ around next year.
From grounded entrepreneurs to sword-swingin’ heroes and historical masterminds, their 2026 line-up screams “quality over hype.”
The takeaway?
The platform’s leanin’ heavy into prestige storytelling, with a nice mix of familiar faces and meaty scripts.
Whether it’s Yang Zi’s emotional depth, Wu Lei’s physical grit, or Hu Ge’s gravitas — 2026’s telly scene’s lookin’ like one proper banger of a year.