Chinese director Zheng Xiaolong is set to direct a new TV adaptation of “Dream of the Red Chamber”, and it was rumoured that he has been turned down by Sun Li to play one of the leads.
It was reported that Zheng planned to choose between Sun Li and Jiang Xin, both of whom became famous through Zheng Xiaolong’s hit drama, “Legend of Zhen Huan”, to play the role of the clever, humorous, and, at times, vicious and cruel Wang Xifeng from the book.
However, it was said that while Sun likes the role herself, she has decided not to accept the project as she was no longer the right age to play it.
Another supposed reason for Sun Li’s refusal is that filming a historical drama would likely require spending several months in Hengdian, Zhejiang, which would make it difficult for her to care for her two children. The actress has been picking roles in recent years that require her only to shoot in Shanghai.
The team will now choose from Jiang Xin and other candidates to play the role instead. The actress who will be cast in the role is required to have a strong presence, seeing as the character is the central figure in the family’s internal power struggles.
According to mainland media, Zheng Xiaolong’s adaptation of Cao Xueqin’s “Dream of the Red Chamber”, which is one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels, will differ from the iconic 1987 version by adding more “inner court power struggles”and stories about Jia Yuanchun’s life in the imperial palace.
In the original novel, Wang Xifeng is portrayed as a beautiful, shrewd, eloquent, and emotionally complex character. Many netizens believe Sun Li would have been the ideal actress for the role.
(Photo Source: China Daily)