RBF

It's still filming (though about to wrap up by the end of September). Most likely will air somewhere in 2026.

It's a miracle how their forums don't blow up under the amount of fandom drama constantly going on :)

Here is a douban discussion on this rumor, in case you are curious: https://www.douban.com/group/topic/336102769/?_spm_id=NDgwNzM1Nzk&_i=7115110sJ3CO8Z

The source of this casting rumor doesn't seem very reliable - just some account on Douban that had already spread quite a few fake rumors about Luo Yunxi, as well as fake rumor about Wan Qian joining Cheng Yi's drama.

ABO Desire isn't being aired in China, only overseas. It's produced by Taiwanese\American production companies, so the censorship rules of mainland China don't apply to it.

I also hope it will land at least on Viki, like many other Mango dramas. Anything, but mango subs 😣

It's rumored to air somewhere in autumn, probably late October or early November.
Will be airing on MangoTV. As for other (Western) streaming platforms - no announcements been made yet.

It's not a romance novel, but there are some romance subplots (overwhelmingly of a tragic\messed up kind).

It looks modestly-budgeted so far, maybe on the lower side of the S-level, or the higher side of the A. And I don't mean it in any negative way; it doesn't seem cheap, and as long as the script is decent, it still might turn out great.
Just set your expectation about costumes and sets accordingly, and don't expect anything extravagant from it.

Here is the ongoing English translation: https://qianjiemei.wordpress.com/

Yes, it's Shadow Punisher.

Not as a main plot. As for the various characters' subplots - who knows.

They might have cut out some as it got shortened from 40 episodes to 30.

"Shadow Punisher tells the story of Li Si (played by Luo Yunxi), known as the “Prince of Qingyang,” who infiltrates the Divine Constable Bureau to uncover the truth behind the Fourth Prince’s death. There, he crosses paths with Meng Rui (played by Fang Yilun), a highly skilled warrior with a tragic past, Bai Zhenzhu (Shen Yujie), the top female forensic expert in the land, and Xuan Yuan Shan (He Hongshan), the powerful female head of the bureau. Together, they unravel a series of eerie and mysterious cases that blend Chinese aesthetic with gothic suspense: from demon brides in palanquins and cursed puzzle boxes to immortal corpses in jade towers—six mind-bending cases are set to unfold, promising a groundbreaking experience in the historical suspense genre."

"Compared to Luo Yunxi’s past roles—like the gentle Runyu or the unhinged Tantai Jin—Li Si places a greater emphasis on the gray areas of human nature, weaving together political schemes and moral dilemmas. The character is constantly caught between loyalty and vengeance, truth and lies, creating a layered emotional arc with strong real-world resonance. For Luo Yunxi, it's one of his most demanding roles yet."

A bit more info about the drama and character setup: https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1834807543522141241
A couple of translated excrepts are under the spoiler below.

No release date at the moment, it hasn't passed censorship review yet.

A "xianxia" where the "deities" turn out to be aliens, and the "ascension"of human cultivators - alien abduction.

More likely someone just fishing for clicks. That "producer" on xhs doesn't seem like a real producer at all - no producer would post a specific actor's name, unless the contract is already signed and the filming is about to begin.
Iirc, that drama was rumored for Wu Lei for a while, but then the project got scrapped because of the Youku's new episode limit.
The novel itself is said to be pretty long-winded, but with a fun twist (see spoiler below).

He’s currently moving away from idol dramas, and his upcoming projects—Whispers of Fate, The Truth Within, and Shadow Punisher—are all non-idol dramas.

Out of his already aired works, Lightchaser Rescue is the closest thing to a “serious drama.” It’s still a bit idol-ish, but not overwhelmingly so.

Character A (Female) – Around 20 years old
Strikingly beautiful, quick-witted, obviously intelligent. She worships money and power above all else. She is jealous of her cousin and often compares herself to her. After Ma marries into the Han Prince’s residence, she willingly acts as her cousin’s stand-in, deluding herself into believing she is superior to the Prince’s consort. Her ambition inflates to the point that she openly competes for the Prince’s favor. When she tries to secure her position through a child, the threat of death quietly looms over her.

Character B (Female) – Around 20 years old
Knows some martial arts. Although born of a concubine, she is deeply loved. On her wedding night, she does not bleed, which causes her mother-in-law and husband’s physician to look down on her with disdain. This sparks her rebellious mindset and she begins to create enemies everywhere within the household. During a difficult childbirth, those closest to her completely disregard her and the child—only the household’s senior doctor comes at her insistence, and at a crucial moment, she chooses to prioritize her own life.
She is someone who repays kindness with loyalty. Among the many cousins, she undergoes the biggest transformation: initially appearing as a villain, she later takes after her sister-in-law and becomes a protector of the family she loves.

Character C (Female) – Around 20 years old
Grew up in a healthy, loving household. She enjoys Suhua poetry and has a heroic aura. Skilled in some martial arts. Straightforward and open-hearted, she falls in love at first sight with the melancholic Chi Hanyu due to a misunderstanding. She becomes the emotional cure that redeems Hanyu. At the plea of Chi Hanzhen, she boldly breaks conventions and brings Hanyu into the Fei family estate. Her decision ultimately preserves the Chi family’s only remaining bloodline.

Character D (Female) – Around 20 years old
A soft and gentle girl, constantly manipulated by her mother and disturbed by her older brother, nearly turned into a pawn for political marriage. Raised in a suffocating home environment, she was forced by her mother to distance herself from her charismatic eldest brother and get close to the shallow and flashy second brother. Later, due to her father’s fall from grace, she had to rely on support from the second branch of the family. Unfortunately, her mother and aunt-in-law were on bad terms, so she suffered many slights in front of her cousins. Even at a young age, she dreamed of escaping her family through a good marriage.

Confidential Project
Character A (Male) – Around 20–25 years old
Second son of the Han Prince, and the one who most resembles his father among ten brothers. Talented in martial arts, handsome, flamboyant, and unpredictable. During the palace infighting, his mother is schemed against by the Prince's main consort and beaten to death by the Han Prince himself. Seizing an opportunity when the heir (his elder brother) makes a mistake, he forces the main consort Wei to her death, drives away his brother, and takes the title of Crown Prince. In the end, during the struggle for power, he, his father, and all his brothers are killed by another grandson of the family patriarch...

Character B (Male) – Around 20–25 years old
A loyal bodyguard to the eldest son. Born a family servant, known for both brains and brawn. When the eldest son turned sixteen and wanted to pick a bodyguard, two to three dozen clever attendants were lined up. The eldest son said whoever could bring him down in ten moves would be selected. While others hesitated, he charged forward and took him down in front of everyone. The eldest son kept him close ever since. Later, they went to serve at Juyong Pass together. The son freed him from servitude, and they rose through the ranks together. He eventually became a Baihu (company commander) in the Shenji Battalion.

Character C (Male) – Around 20–25 years old
Originally from a scholarly family that got caught in political strife. His father was convicted and the whole family exiled. On the way, they were attacked by bandits and dozens of relatives were killed—only he and his sister survived. His sister focused solely on revenge and used a treasure ship expedition to send him overseas. Unexpectedly, he was poisoned through a scheme but was fortunately rescued by Jin and their growing bond became a deep, hidden relationship.