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| Shen Yue Returns With Romance, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi in 2026 (Photo: ShenYue Studio/Weibo) |
Chinese actress Shen Yue is heading into 2026 with serious momentum. The Meteor Garden star — who’s now well loved for her range across modern romance, historical, action, and even sci-fi — is gearing up for a major comeback year. Born in 1997 and armed with a Journalism degree from Hunan Normal University, she’s steadily built her reputation since being discovered back in 2017.
From her debut in Autumn Harvest Uprising to stealing the spotlight in Meteor Garden and stepping into film with The Yin Yang Master, Shen Yue’s portfolio keeps levelling up. With 2025 wrapping soon, eyes are firmly on her upcoming slate. And next year, she’s officially set to headline three new dramas — each offering a totally different side of her craft. If you’ve been waiting for Shen Yue to take on more mature, challenging roles, 2026 might just be your year.
Shen Yue Lines Up Three Big 2026 Dramas
Below is the confirmed line-up, complete with what each story promises and why fans are already buzzing.
1. The Great Dreamer (大梦想家)
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| Photo: MGTV |
Romance, Youth | 24 Episodes | Mango TV | Expected Q3–Q4 2026
Shen Yue plays Xia Xia, an 18-year-old accepted into the prestigious Nanjing University Law School. On paper, she’s smashing it academically — but life gets complicated when her stepfather refuses to support her studies. To keep her dream alive, Xia Xia pretends to move out for work, juggling classes with endless part-time jobs to survive.
Enter Xie Huai (played by Ken Wu): her classmate who’s also hustling outside campus. A misunderstanding kicks off their relationship on the wrong foot, but Xia Xia’s straightforward nature gradually melts the tension and sparks a warm, grounded romance.
What to expect
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A relatable coming-of-age love story anchored in ambition, independence, and financial struggle
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Light, sweet romantic beats set against realistic student life
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Shen Yue returning to her youth-romance roots but with a more mature emotional depth
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Strong chemistry potential between Shen Yue and Ken Wu
This one feels like a comfort watch with heart — perfect for Mango TV’s mid-year lineup.
2. One Day in July (七月的一天)
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| Photo: Weibo |
Thriller Romance Fantasy | 24 Episodes | Mango TV Original | Expected Q1–Q2 2026
Adapted from the hit webtoon “July Found by Chance”, this project might be Shen Yue’s boldest pick in years. She stars as A Qi, who one day discovers she’s not a real person at all — just a side character inside a romance manga.
Worse, her “assigned fate” is to die so her organs can save the main heroine. Absolutely not what she signed up for.
Determined to rewrite her destiny, A Qi teams up with Thirteen, a crucial figure who understands the mechanics of the manga world.
But their interference sends shockwaves through the story’s universe. Other characters start gaining self-awareness. The plot unravels. The system panics — and begins hunting them down to restore the original script.
AhQi's so cute🏍#OneDayInJuly #七月的一天 #ShenYue #เสิ่นเยว่ #沈月 pic.twitter.com/MxvaNQiSkq
— ShenYue_Thailand 沈月🇹🇭 (@ShenYue_TH) August 24, 2025
What to expect
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A darker, high-concept twist on self-aware storytelling
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Shen Yue exploring moral dilemmas, fear, hope, and rebellion within a fantasy framework
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Stylish visuals and potentially edgy worldbuilding
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Romance with a thriller undertone, rather than a light youth vibe
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A clever narrative for fans of meta drama and character-vs-fate arcs
Filming wrapped in Sept 2025, meaning Mango TV is clearly positioning this as an early-2026 headline title.
3. Us in Wonderland (明日乐园)
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| Photo: Tencent |
Sci-Fi, Supernatural | Tencent Video Original | Expected Late 2026
This drama marks Shen Yue’s real step into full sci-fi territory, adapted from the popular novel “Doomsday Wonderland.” She plays Chen Xiaoyuan, a character who drops into a post-apocalyptic world and gets entangled with protagonist Lin Sanjiu and Pei Jun.
Chen Xiaoyuan’s arc is messy, morally grey, and unpredictable. She has caused harm, yet much of it roots from being manipulated. Her presence forces Lin Sanjiu — who’s still early in her journey — to question survival, empathy, and what it means to remain humane in a collapsing world.
What to expect
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Shen Yue in her most complex role yet, balancing vulnerability and grit
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A heavy, atmospheric storyline exploring identity, survival, and trust
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Big-scale worldbuilding with supernatural rules and high tension
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A character who pushes the protagonist’s growth — not just a side note
Filming is targeted for late 2025 or early 2026, so this is likely a year-end release or even a winter highlight.
Which Project Should You Be Excited For?
It depends on your flavour:
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Romance lovers: The Great Dreamer will scratch that soft, heart-warming itch.
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Thriller + fantasy fans: One Day in July looks like it could be the breakout hit of Shen Yue’s catalogue.
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Sci-fi enthusiasts: Us in Wonderland may show her most ambitious performance to date.
More Shen Yue cdramas are expected to join her 2026 line-up, but these three alone already show she’s moving into richer, more dynamic territory as an actress.