Just when I thought my Thursday couldn’t get better, the main cast announcement for upcoming Tencent mini-drama The Awakening (四十七开机#) just dropped via Tencent’s Weibo and, sheeyut, it’s a good one as it features two of my all-time faves (Zhang Kangle and Simon Yam).
The Awakening main cast is Zhang Kang Le (brilliant in The Way Home), Zhou Jie Qiong (Love in Pavilion), Simon Yam (Hanging Mirrors) and Yan An (Blossom).
Photos from The Awakening booting ceremony also dropped a couple of hours ago, and with the C-drama’s filming officially announced as also starting today.
Along with the main and supporting cast announced, a couple of special guests are also featured in the cast.
They are Alina Zhang (aka Zhang Meng) (Genuine Heroes) and Ming Dao (The Legend of Heroes).
The Awakening character posters out
The first character posters for the C-drama were also released — Zhang Kang Le plays 47, Zhou Jie Qiong is Qi Jun, Simon Yam plays Yan Feng Liang and Yan An is Hao Zu Hai.
RELATED: Zhang Kang Le gets a beautiful birthday visual featuring his character from Rebirth
The message that dropped with the character posters says:
The past is hidden, now it is revealed, destiny is about to begin, gather together!
The Awakening production details
The 12-episode C-drama is being co-directed by Cao Dun (The Longest Day in Chang’an), and Gao Xiang (Hunter). Cao Dun’s latest drama, the upcoming The Litchi Road is due to drop tomorrow,
The Awakening is co-written by Huang Moqi (My Best Summer), Fu Yong Qiang, and Gong Jue.
It stars the previously named Zhang Kangle, Zhou Jieqiong, Simon Yam and Yan An in the main roles, along with supporting cast Zhao Wei (The Legend of Heroes), Tian Lei and Cai Lu (The Longest Day in Chang’an).
The Awakening plot also sounds far different than the usual dramas populated by sword-wielding immortals or Republican spies.
RELATED: The Awakening completes filming and releases wrap ceremony photos of leading cast members
Instead, it goes like this:
The story takes place in the Republic of China, as protagonist and amnesiac “Forty-Seven”, a young man who has spent years imprisoned with his father, climbs out of the dark sewer in Wang Cheng, and accidentally awakens his dusty memories.
Now, he must not only fight against unknown evil forces in the bizarre world, but also unravel the mystery of his own confusing life experience.
Yep, this one sounds more like a psychological sci-fi thriller than the usual rival sect dramas or spy thrillers that have been dropping lately, doesn’t it?
According to Douban, The Awakening is currently scheduled to premiere in 2028, but I have a feeling it will arrive far sooner than that.
I will get back to you as soon as more news drops about that.
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