Calling Leo āno longer a traffic actorā feels like an overstatement. He remains one of the most popular actors…
Heās been making that shift for years. AASOL wrapped filming at the start of 2023, and since then he hasnāt taken on a major drama project for over two and a half years (aside from a small supporting role that hardly counts). In the meantime, though, heās worked on five films ā so yes, the transition to movies is crystal clear.
As for the wuxia you mentioned, thatās the drama The One (also known as Sword of Coming), which I already brought up. Hopefully it gets confirmed, and he can start filming once he finishes his current movie Ghost at No. 29 ā which, by the way, still isnāt listed on MDL yet.
Leo is no longer a traffic actor. Looks like will see him less in cdramas since AASOL as he's now transitioning…
Calling Leo āno longer a traffic actorā feels like an overstatement. He remains one of the most popular actors of his generation, and his past dramas are still among the most-watched on streaming platforms, continuing to challenge new releases years after their premiere.
Amidst a Snowstorm of Love was an idol drama ā but I doubt he would have taken the role if it didnāt present a genuine challenge. His portrayal of a professional billiards player was believable because of the effort he invested: training to play, practicing extensively, and even studying documentaries to capture mannerisms with authenticity. The same can be said of Nothing But You ā the sports element pushed him to train like a real tennis player. Without that layer of challenge, I donāt think he would have done it.
He has openly said in the past that idol dramas don't test his acting skills, which is why he isnāt eager to accept them. Of course, directors and platforms want him in idol dramas ā and for good reason. AASOL became the top modern C-drama of 2024, with only Crystal Liuās The Tale of Rose close in competition. But whether Wu Lei himself will continue to do them is another matter. Unless the project offers something new for him as an actor, itās unlikely ā especially as his focus shifts more toward films.
That doesnāt mean heās done with dramas altogether. For instance, Tencent has already offered him the lead in The One, a massive upcoming project that may even span multiple seasons. Whether he takes it or not, weāll have to wait and see.
Based on the latest rumors, the line-up appears to be finalized. This time, the casting feels far more convincing than the previous speculationsāespecially the heroineāso perhaps we finally have the real deal. Hereās the line-up:
Male protagonist: Wu Lei Second male lead: Zhang Zhen Heroine: Li Wanda (Vanda Margraf) Second female lead: Yang Xi Zi Third female lead : Xia Meng
Yang Xi Zi Initially rumored to be the female lead, Yang Xi Zi is undeniably talented and beautiful, also trained at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy. Viewers of Love and Redemption will recall her role as Lu Yan Ran / Xiao Yin Hua, Si Fengās pet snake.
However, while she is a solid actress, the role of The Oneās heroine is that of a deadly swordmasterālikely requiring months of martial arts preparation, if not prior experience. For that reason, it makes more sense that Yang Xi Zi would take the position of second female lead.
Li Wanda (Vanda Margraf) Vanda Margraf seems like a perfect fit for the heroine. She made a striking debut in Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019) as Wan Yonah. Despite her young age, she underwent intensive Tai Chi training for the role, earning praise for her screen presence and action skills.
Her martial arts background is not limited to that film. Vanda won first prize in Baji Quan at the Beijing International Wushu Invitational and showcased her strength and elegance in fight choreography in Under One Person.
She also trained at the Beijing Dance Academy Secondary School, which enhances her control, movement, and adaptability in choreographed fight scenes.
Beyond her skills, her striking looksāsometimes described as āAI-beauty-likeāāhave made her a rising star on red carpets, earning her the nickname āthe new face of charm.ā
Earlier this year, she appeared in her first drama, Northward, marking another step in her growing career.
According to the latest rumor, sheās set to be the female lead in Wu Leiās next drama ā and if thatās true, sheās on the verge of becoming extremely famous and popular š„
For now, he isnāt filming anything. His movie Dongji Island was released earlier this month, and he has two…
Yang Xi Zi, same as Wu Lei, she attended China's most prestigious university for film acting, directing, and production : Beijing Film Academy.
I am not too familiar with the actress but I know her from the drama Love and Redemption, she played the character Lu Yan Ran / Xiao Yin Hua (Si Feng's pet snake). Anyone who watched the drama would remember her.
Anyway, it is true that this is not the first time she was linked to the drama but it is still a rumor, so let's wait and see
Missing him in dramaland. When is the one supposed to start filming? Is he currently filming something?
For now, he isnāt filming anything. His movie Dongji Island was released earlier this month, and he has two upcoming films lined up (The Decisive Moment, Decent Things). Recently, there have also been two rumors circulating about new projects: a comedy-suspense film reportedly starting production next month, and a costume drama rumored to begin filming in November. Letās wait and see.
first of all that there is nothing to go through from KSH's side from Start-up.! the moment where he used false…
Oh wow, youāre really out here beefing with a fictional characterāthatās dedication. Kim Seon Ho was acting, and ironically his performance was the only thing keeping Start-Up afloat while the writers bent over backwards to demonize his character. I dropped the drama the moment it became obvious they were setting him up as the punching bag just to make their āchosen MLā look good. If Iām playing a sympathy card, itās for the actor who had to carry a rigged love triangle, not for a character in a badly written script. š
Wu Lei: On the day of the event, everyone gave me all the chicken legs from their lunch boxes š
Zhu Yi Long: This kid (Wu Lei) has been part of the crew since he was 8 years old, and he doesn't just flatter people ā he keeps everyone's hearts warm.
Ni Ni: He can describe the broken sofa in the prop room as "a room with a sea view." Even pessimistic people can't help but smile at him.
Dong Yu Hui: A crew member once told me, "Wu Lei walks around the yard every day after work, collecting all the thermoses, scripts, and coats that everyone has left behind" The head of the props team added, "Wu Lei is attentive and remembers everyone's preferences. Even the most demanding field crew members adore him ā they give him sausage every day"
Director Fei Zhenxiang about Wu Leiās versatility :
āI think an actorās versatility also comes from their own strength and charisma. Leilei is a strange and diverse actor. We worked together for Love Like the Galaxy where he played a very handsome and heroic general, with a noble vibe. His acting was so steady for someone this young. For A Dang, he became a cute, innocent and tenacious character, even younger than his real self. His appearance also changed : curly hair, dark skinā¦ his broad shoulders are also very suitable for swimming and diving. He completely transformed into a different person.ā
Director Fei Zhenxiang about Wu Leiās versatility :
āI think an actorās versatility also comes from their own strength and charisma. Leilei is a strange and diverse actor. We worked together for Love Like the Galaxy where he played a very handsome and heroic general, with a noble vibe. His acting was so steady for someone this young. For A Dang, he became a cute, innocent and tenacious character, even younger than his real self. His appearance also changed : curly hair, dark skinā¦ his broad shoulders are also very suitable for swimming and diving. He completely transformed into a different person.ā
Zhang Chiyu (Jian Laiās director š) was at Dongji Rescueās premiere and specifically praised Wu Lei : āThe movie was really good, it depicted warmly and powerfully such heavy historical events - the weight of history really immerses the audience in. Not only did we see the power of human nature but we also saw our Chinese peopleās righteousness. Congrats Director Hu and Fei, it is really an incredible work. Also thanks to the actors for your wonderful performances. I want to point out Leilei because weāve discussed before, and I know Leilei practiced diving for Dongji Rescue. Then he succeeded in freediving down to 5m during the shooting. And during the diving, he also had to create his character and complete his performance which is incredibly hard. I really have to congratulate Leilei, all hard work will pay off. Your portrayal of A Dang is really vivid and touching. Being able to create such an excellent character at your young age isā¦ congrats Leilei.ā
The opening ceremony for Wu Lei's new drama will be held on November 10, 2025
it's available illegally but the quality is bad. As far as I am aware of, it's only available in TS
As for the wuxia you mentioned, thatās the drama The One (also known as Sword of Coming), which I already brought up. Hopefully it gets confirmed, and he can start filming once he finishes his current movie Ghost at No. 29 ā which, by the way, still isnāt listed on MDL yet.
Amidst a Snowstorm of Love was an idol drama ā but I doubt he would have taken the role if it didnāt present a genuine challenge. His portrayal of a professional billiards player was believable because of the effort he invested: training to play, practicing extensively, and even studying documentaries to capture mannerisms with authenticity. The same can be said of Nothing But You ā the sports element pushed him to train like a real tennis player. Without that layer of challenge, I donāt think he would have done it.
He has openly said in the past that idol dramas don't test his acting skills, which is why he isnāt eager to accept them. Of course, directors and platforms want him in idol dramas ā and for good reason. AASOL became the top modern C-drama of 2024, with only Crystal Liuās The Tale of Rose close in competition. But whether Wu Lei himself will continue to do them is another matter. Unless the project offers something new for him as an actor, itās unlikely ā especially as his focus shifts more toward films.
That doesnāt mean heās done with dramas altogether. For instance, Tencent has already offered him the lead in The One, a massive upcoming project that may even span multiple seasons. Whether he takes it or not, weāll have to wait and see.
Based on the latest rumors, the line-up appears to be finalized. This time, the casting feels far more convincing than the previous speculationsāespecially the heroineāso perhaps we finally have the real deal. Hereās the line-up:
Male protagonist: Wu Lei
Second male lead: Zhang Zhen
Heroine: Li Wanda (Vanda Margraf)
Second female lead: Yang Xi Zi
Third female lead : Xia Meng
Yang Xi Zi
Initially rumored to be the female lead, Yang Xi Zi is undeniably talented and beautiful, also trained at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy. Viewers of Love and Redemption will recall her role as Lu Yan Ran / Xiao Yin Hua, Si Fengās pet snake.
However, while she is a solid actress, the role of The Oneās heroine is that of a deadly swordmasterālikely requiring months of martial arts preparation, if not prior experience. For that reason, it makes more sense that Yang Xi Zi would take the position of second female lead.
Li Wanda (Vanda Margraf)
Vanda Margraf seems like a perfect fit for the heroine. She made a striking debut in Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019) as Wan Yonah. Despite her young age, she underwent intensive Tai Chi training for the role, earning praise for her screen presence and action skills.
Her martial arts background is not limited to that film. Vanda won first prize in Baji Quan at the Beijing International Wushu Invitational and showcased her strength and elegance in fight choreography in Under One Person.
She also trained at the Beijing Dance Academy Secondary School, which enhances her control, movement, and adaptability in choreographed fight scenes.
Beyond her skills, her striking looksāsometimes described as āAI-beauty-likeāāhave made her a rising star on red carpets, earning her the nickname āthe new face of charm.ā
Earlier this year, she appeared in her first drama, Northward, marking another step in her growing career.
I am not too familiar with the actress but I know her from the drama Love and Redemption, she played the character Lu Yan Ran / Xiao Yin Hua (Si Feng's pet snake). Anyone who watched the drama would remember her.
Anyway, it is true that this is not the first time she was linked to the drama but it is still a rumor, so let's wait and see
Dong Yu Hui: The warmest moment for the crew?
Wu Lei: On the day of the event, everyone gave me all the chicken legs from their lunch boxes š
Zhu Yi Long: This kid (Wu Lei) has been part of the crew since he was 8 years old, and he doesn't just flatter people ā he keeps everyone's hearts warm.
Ni Ni: He can describe the broken sofa in the prop room as "a room with a sea view." Even pessimistic people can't help but smile at him.
Dong Yu Hui: A crew member once told me, "Wu Lei walks around the yard every day after work, collecting all the thermoses, scripts, and coats that everyone has left behind" The head of the props team added, "Wu Lei is attentive and remembers everyone's preferences. Even the most demanding field crew members adore him ā they give him sausage every day"
āI think an actorās versatility also comes from their own strength and charisma. Leilei is a strange and diverse actor. We worked together for Love Like the Galaxy where he played a very handsome and heroic general, with a noble vibe. His acting was so steady for someone this young. For A Dang, he became a cute, innocent and tenacious character, even younger than his real self. His appearance also changed : curly hair, dark skinā¦ his broad shoulders are also very suitable for swimming and diving. He completely transformed into a different person.ā
āI think an actorās versatility also comes from their own strength and charisma. Leilei is a strange and diverse actor. We worked together for Love Like the Galaxy where he played a very handsome and heroic general, with a noble vibe. His acting was so steady for someone this young. For A Dang, he became a cute, innocent and tenacious character, even younger than his real self. His appearance also changed : curly hair, dark skinā¦ his broad shoulders are also very suitable for swimming and diving. He completely transformed into a different person.ā
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1953831889560555520/vid/avc1/1920x1080/GPq6tixVqqD9rK_x.mp4