Drama Korea Up To Date

Anyone old enough to have watched Shaolin Popey back in 1994 would remember the cute and clever kids who beat up the bad guys there. In their youth, Ashton Chen and Steven Hao were arguably the most popular Shaolin duo in the 90's. As funny as it was seeing the two beat up the bad guys, time has since moved forward and they're not so little anymore.

After graduating high school in the United States back in 2008, Ashton Chen has since returned to China to continue his acting career. Having just turned 30 years old today (Jan 6 Asia time), he has traded his cuteness for a sturdy built and lean muscles. He still kicks ass in action roles and will play a supporting character in the upcoming drama adaptation of Fearless.

Steven Hao also stopped acting to pursue his studies back in 2003. He was admitted to the Department of Transportation Management at Tamkang University in Taiwan in 2008. After graduation, Steven resumed his acting career as well. Being the funny man of the two, he has continued to take roles in comedy. Like Ashton, Steven, now 28, is often cast as a supporting character. He recently played a shaolin monk again in the 2018 movie Oolong Courtyard with Ng Man-Tat.

It is not easy for child stars to have long lasting fame. There are those that fade away from showbiz, some continue acting and some choose to live normal lives. Regardless of how diverse their chosen paths are, they have been part of movies and shows that many of us have watched and as such, these child stars deserve our respect and applause.

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Fearless 霍元甲 is a 40-episode web drama featuring the life of renowned martial artist, Huo Yuanjia, who brought glory to his nation. It stars Vincent Zhao once again as Huo Yuanjia. It's a character he has played several times before, his first being the 2001 Huo Yuanjia drama series.

Other casts include Nikita Mao Linlin, Wu Chao, Heizi, Yang Zhigang, Sui Mingyang, Eddy Ko Hung, Hasi Gaowa, Tay Ping Hui, Wang Zhiyi. The five students of the famous martial arts federation known as Jing Wu Men are played by Jia Hongwei, Xu Zhengguo, Kou Chia-jui, Zhou Bin and Zhou Yu Jing Hao. Zhang Chunzhong and Ashton Chen who made a career in the martial arts genre round up the cast.

Vincent Zhao

Synopsis from chinesedrama.info:

After the Hundred Days' Reform failed to achieve its purpose, the 'Six Gentlemen' who spearheaded reform were executed. Huo Yuanjia (Vincent Zhao) is a hot-blooded patriot who aspires to do good for his country. His efforts are always met with resistance, and he could only watch helplessly as people became martyrs for their beliefs. Shortly afterwards, the Eight-Nation Alliance launched an attack on China. Wang Wu dies trying to defend against the invaders. Upon hearing news of his death, Huo Yuanjia has gone to collect his remains without knowing that his action would bring great harm to the Huo Family.

One year later, Huo Yuanjia goes out of hiding to become a bodyguard. He falls into a trap laid out by his enemies once again and barely survives the ordeal. Dejected, he decides to go to Shanghai and forms the Jing Wu Men. His success becomes a threat in the eyes of the Japanese and they engage in a battle of wits and will.

Nikita Mao

I've only seen the 2006 movie version of the same and did a little bit of background research on the character after. Apparently, the movie loosely based on the martial artist's life has angered his descendants, earning Jet Li a lawsuit for missing some important figures and for the way Huo Yuanjia was portrayed. It leads back to the question of the significance of historical accuracy in these kind of adaptations.

Regardless, with a cast like this, expectations are surely high for this new drama to bring an impressive display of traditional martial arts choreography.

Release date: TBA iQiYi

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