2024's Most Awaited Costume Dramas: The Ten Shows You Can't Miss

On May 6th, the advanced screening ceremony for "Joy of Life 2" was held in both Beijing and Chongqing. The screenwriter Wang Juan and director Sun Hao appeared at the event in Beijing, while lead actors Zhang Ruoyun, Li Qin, and Guo Qilin interacted with the audience in Chongqing. Many viewers, after watching a portion of the series, expressed that this season is even more profound in its thematic exploration of the clash between ancient and modern ideas compared to the first season.

According to incomplete statistics, there are over ten major historical dramas yet to be aired, including Joy of Life 2, Lost You Forever 2, Zang Hai Zhuan, Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact, Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Love in Pavilion, Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Sword and Beloved, Flourished Peony, Win or Die, and Guardians of the Dafeng. Below is the information on notable upcoming costume dramas.

 

Joy of Life 2

• Production Companies: Tencent Video, Yuewen Films, New Classics Media
• Genre: Historical
• Creative Team: Directed by Sun Hao, starring Zhang Ruoyun, Li Qin, Chen Daoming, Wu Gang, Guo Qilin, Tian Yu

Series Highlights: Based on the novel of the same name by Mao Ni, the show tells the story of Fan Xian, a young man with a mysterious background who endures various family, societal, and governmental trials, forging a legendary life journey.

 

Lost You Forever 2

• Production Company: Tencent Penguin Pictures
• Genre: Historical
• Creative Team: Directed by Qin Zhen and Yang Huan, starring Yang Zi, Zhang Wanyi, Deng Wei, Dai Luwa, Wang Hongyi, with special appearances by Tan Jianci, Huang Cancan, and Ye Xiaowei, and featuring Wang Zhen, Hou Changrong, Zheng Guolin, and Chen Chuang.

Series Highlights: Based on Tong Hua's novel, it tells the story of Princess Xiao Yao, who becomes the healer Wen Xiaoliu after years of hardship. She meets Xuan Yuan, Tushan Jing, Xiang Liu, Ah Nian, and others, weaving a tale of family, love, and friendship.

 

Zang Hai Zhuan

• Production Companies: Youku
• Genre: Historical, Legendary
• Creative Team: Directed by Zheng Xiaolong, with Cao Yiwen as co-director. Starring Xiao Zhan, Zhang Jingyi, Zhou Qi, and Huang Jue, with special appearances by Yu Nan and Qiao Zhenyu.

Series Highlights: The series revolves around Zhinu, the son of Kuai Duo, head of the National Observatory, who returns to the capital as Zanghai after the massacre of his family. With his learned skills and wit, he seeks to avenge his family.

 

Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival

• Production Companies: Youku, Alibaba Pictures
• Genre: Historical, Mystery
• Creative Team: Directed by Yang Fan and Xiong Chen, starring Zhang Songwen and Bai Baihe, with special appearances by Zhou Yiwei and Hou Yansong.

Series Highlights: Based on the novel by Ye Wenbiao, the story is set in the Northern Song Dynasty. Zhao Buyou and his family are inadvertently caught in a case involving the Plum Blossom Ship, and together they expose the villain's hypocrisy to protect the city.

 

Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact

• Production Companies: iQIYI, Tencent Animation, Stellar Media
• Genre: Historical, Fantasy
• Creative Team: Directed by Mai Guanzhi, starring Yang Mi and Gong Jun, with a supporting cast including Guo Xiaoting, Wei Zheming, and others.

Series Highlights: This series narrates the romance between Tushan Honghong, head of the Tushan Fox Clan, and Dongfang Yuechu, a descendant of the Dongfang family, who gradually fall in love.

 

Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Love in Pavilion

• Production Companies: iQIYI, Tencent Pictures, Stellar Media
• Genre: Historical
• Creative Team: Directed by Du Lin, starring Liu Shishi and Zhang Yunlong, with Wu Xuanyi, Zhai Xiaowen, Shen Yue, and others.

Series Highlights: Based on the comic series by Tuo Xiaoxin, the story revolves around Dongfang Huaizhu and Wangquan Hongye, leaders of their respective families, who work together to restore the Yiqi League and bring peace amidst the tense relationship between humans and spirits.

 

Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Sword and Beloved

• Production Company: iQIYI
• Genre: Historical, Romance, Fantasy
• Creative Team: Directed by Du Lin, starring Cheng Yi and Li Yitong.

Series Highlights: Wang Quan Fugui (portrayed by Cheng Yi), the son of Wang Quan Baye and Dongfang Huaizhu, is the strongest member of the Wang Quan family. Trained as a warrior for the family, his life lacks freedom, leaving him yearning for the outside world that Qing Tong (played by Li Yitong) introduces to him. Initially sent as a spy by Madam Du to gather intelligence on the Wang Quan family, Qing Tong gains her freedom with Fugui's help. Together, they forge a bond under the Tree of Bitterness, pledging to reunite in their next lives.

 

Flourished Peony

• Production Company: Huace Film & TV
• Genre: Drama, Historical, Legendary
• Creative Team: Directed by Ding Ziguang, starring Yang Zi and Li Xian, along with Wei Zheming and others.

Series Highlights: Adapted from the novel by Yi Qianzhong, it narrates the inspiring story of a remarkable woman who begins her journey by cultivating peonies, ultimately becoming a benefactor to the world.

 

Win or Die

• Production Company: iQIYI
• Genre: Historical
• Creative Team: Directed by Cao Dun, starring Jing Boran.

Series Highlights: The story follows Chen Guang, a Night Patrol commander, who escorts Su Hantai Ji, the mediator of a peace agreement between the Ming Dynasty and the Oirat. After being pursued to the city gates, the tribal general Sukhebaru suddenly rebels. Zhao, a commander at Ping'an Fort, hesitates to get involved in the tribal conflict, leaving Chen Guang to lead Qiao Sanyi, Guo Song, Lao Lei, and Zhang Shun on a mission to bring Su Hantai Ji to Ningxia Prefecture for support from their superiors.

 

Guardians of the Dafeng

• Production Companies: New Classics Media, Tencent Pictures, Yuewen Films
• Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Mystery
• Creative Team: Directed by Deng Ke, starring Wang Hedi, Tian Xiwei, Liu Yijun, and others.

Series Highlights: In a twist of fate, modern office worker Yang Ling (played by Wang Hedi) finds himself transported to the mystical Dafeng Dynasty, where he assumes the identity of Xu Qi'an, a night watchman responsible for investigating government officials and solving crimes for the citizens. Utilizing his modern skills, scientific knowledge, and logical reasoning, he solves a series of mysterious cases, earning a reputation as a top investigator. In this world of demons, magic, and intrigue, Xu Qi'an and his like-minded companions stand against the dark forces of the court, sacrificing themselves for justice and the people, and striving to maintain peace in the Dafeng Dynasty.