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| Casting Reveal for The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Triggers Heated Debate Online. (Photo: Tencent Video) |
The long-awaited adaptation of The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage(将门独后/Jiang Men Du Hou) has officially locked in its leads, with Dylan Wang (Wang Hedi) and Meng Ziyi stepping into the spotlight. Instead of universal applause, however, the casting announcement has sparked immediate backlash from devoted readers across China, turning what should have been a celebratory reveal into one of the most talked-about controversies of early 2026.
Widely considered one of the “three giants” of guyan (ancient romance) novels, alongside Black Lotus Strategy Manual and Till The End of The Moon, this IP carries serious weight. The original audio drama surpassed 100 million plays, while related topics on Douyin have racked up over 1.4 billion views. Expectations were always sky-high. As an S+ level historical political romance backed by Tencent Video, Xinli Media, and Yuewen Pictures, the 36-episode production is clearly aiming for blockbuster status.
At the heart of the story is Shen Miao, the sharp-minded daughter of a general who is reborn after a tragic end and vows to rewrite her fate.
The novel’s mix of aristocratic family conflict, palace power plays, and slow-burn romance built a fiercely protective fanbase. For many readers, Shen Miao is not just a character — she’s an image they’ve carried in their heads for years.
That’s precisely why the casting reveal hit so hard.
Fans vs Casting: Why the Backlash?
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Shortly after the official announcement dropped, comment sections on Weibo and other platforms quickly filled with criticism. The drama shot straight to No.1 and No.2 on Weibo’s trending list on February 20, 2026 (WIB) — not purely out of excitement, but largely due to heated debate.
Here’s how reactions are breaking down:
1. “Doesn’t Fit the Image” Argument
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Some long-time novel fans argue that Dylan Wang and Meng Ziyi do not match the character descriptions they’ve envisioned.
Shen Miao in particular is described as poised, calculating, and quietly formidable. Critics claim the casting feels commercially driven rather than faithful to the novel’s tone.
2. Poster Slogan Controversy
The announcement poster included the line:
“一杯温酒策千军，一根红绳系三世”
(“A cup of warm wine strategises for thousands of troops, a red thread binds three lifetimes.”)
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The issue? That line was originally created by fans — not taken directly from the novel.
Some readers viewed its official use as borrowing fan creativity without proper acknowledgement, interpreting it as a lack of respect for the source material.
3. Background Music Debate
Another unexpected flashpoint came from music choice.
In Meng Ziyi’s character introduction video, the production used background music strongly associated with Cheng Shaoshang from Love Like The Galaxy, famously portrayed by Zhao Lusi.
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| Fans of Love Like the Galaxy objected to the background music associated with Zhao Lusi’s character being used for Meng Ziyi’s character. |
Fans of that drama felt the reuse blurred character identities and lacked originality. To them, BGM carries emotional memory — and reassigning it to a new heroine felt off-key.
While criticism has dominated trending tags, not everyone is opposed. Some netizens argue that casting should be judged after seeing styling, acting chemistry, and actual footage. Others believe big-name actors are necessary to secure funding and guarantee production scale worthy of an S+ project.
There’s also a practical camp pointing out that no casting could ever satisfy every reader of such a beloved novel. When an IP reaches this scale, expectations naturally fragment into multiple versions of the “perfect” Shen Miao.
High Risk, High Reward
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The fact that the drama reached double No.1 trending positions overnight proves one thing: interest is massive. Controversy, in a way, has only amplified visibility. But with that comes pressure.
For an IP of this magnitude, scrutiny will follow every costume fitting, teaser drop, and script rumour from now until premiere. The production team now carries the challenge of convincing sceptical readers that their adaptation can honour the essence of the original while delivering mainstream appeal.
Will Dylan Wang and Meng Ziyi silence critics once filming begins? Or will this early backlash shape public perception long term?
What do you think — are fans being overly protective, or is this a fair call-out from loyal readers?