Recently, a legal action information has aroused the attention of netizens. According to Tianyancha, Shanghai Zhang Han Film and Television Culture Studio and Xin Ying Film (Fujian)** will be tried in Shanghai Songjiang District People's Court on April 15 due to a service contract dispute. Xin Ying Pictures is one of the producers of the large-scale epic historical TV series "Kunpeng and Butterfly", and Zhang Han is one of the leading actors in the play, playing the role of Zhuang Yijiao. Behind this case, the filming dilemma and uncertain prospects of the show are exposed.
Kunpeng and the Butterfly is a costume TV series based on the original works of "Historical Records" and "Zhuangzi", which tells the story of Zhuang Zhou's growth from a young genius to a philosopher, as well as his emotional entanglements with his wife, friends, and kings, showing his wisdom in life and the spirit of pursuing truth. The play is co-produced by Xin Ying Pictures (Fujian) ** Best Film and Appointment (Beijing) Film and Television, Yang Gang is the producer, Han Qingxiang is the consultant, Sun Hongtao is the producer, Huang Jianzhong is the director, Zhang Han, Lin Yun, Sheng Yilun, Zhao Yingzi and other starring. The show held a press conference in Beijing on May 28, 2023, announcing the main creative team and cast, which attracted a certain amount of attention.
However, the filming of the show did not go well. In August 2023, a blogger broke the news that the show was shut down due to a funding gap. It is reported that the funding problem of the show existed long before the project was launched. The play has been filed as early as 2015, and the producers at that time were Zhong'an Minsheng Shengda Media *** and Beijing Television Art Center *** The director is Huang Jianzhong, starring Yan Yikuan, Li Feier and others, but there is no follow-up news after the show was launched in early 2019. The 2023 press conference is considered to be a reboot of the show, but the producer and the lead actor have changed, and Xin Ying Pictures and Zhang Han and others have joined the production of the show. At the moment, there have been no updates to the show's official account, and the production of the series seems to have come to a standstill.
For this drama, the audience's reaction was not very enthusiastic. Many people think that Zhang Han is not suitable for the image of a philosopher like Zhuang Zhou, and they also doubt that the TV series can restore the classic stories and ideas in "Zhuangzi". Now, the contract dispute between Zhang Han Studio and Xin Ying Pictures has made the future of the show even more uncertain. We do not know the specific cause and outcome of this case, nor do we know whether the production of the show will be able to continue and be completed. We can only hope that this historical drama can overcome the difficulties and present a work of depth and quality to the audience. Zhang Han's studio sued Xin Ying Pictures