Chinese dramas and films

Youku and iQiyi have announced the premiere date for the series «Pull Strings» (师兄太稳健, 我師兄實在太穩健了, 我师兄实在太稳健了).

The lead roles are played by Ao Ruipeng («Coroner's Diary», «The Blood of Youth»), Sun Zhenni («Till the End of the Moon», «Summit of Our Youth»), and Ao Ziyi («Whispers of Fate», «Hello My Girl»). The cast also includes Aimee, Zeng Keni, and other actors.

On Youku, the drama has already been marked as «want to watch» by over three million users, reflecting high audience interest. The series is one of the most anticipated dramas of the year, and its protagonist — nicknamed the «King of Caution» — is expected to become a new fan favorite.

The series consists of 30 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long.

The drama is based on the popular Chinese novel «My Senior Brother Is Too Steady». The original work has amassed over 3.2 million library additions and nearly 6.8 million followers on the Qidian platform. An anime adaptation was previously released.

The story takes place in the era before the great battle of the gods, where the protagonist, Li Changshou (Ao Ruipeng), finds himself transported from the modern world. In his previous life, he suffered from a serious illness and died, so his primary goal in this new world is to survive at all costs. He avoids matters of destiny, steers clear of intrigues, and calculates every risk before taking a single step. His motto is: «Always leave yourself an escape route». His treasure chest is filled not with weapons, but with escape amulets and life-saving pills.

Li Changshou's life changes with the arrival of his junior sister — the clumsy and carefree Lan Ling'e (Aimee) — who constantly drags him into trouble. At the same time, the mysterious and powerful Yun Xiao (Sun Zhenni) appears on the horizon, taking a keen interest in Li Changshou.

The drama is positioned as a fantasy comedy with xianxia elements.

Read more:
Ao Ruipeng and Sun Zhenni to Star in a New Drama
Ao Ruipeng and Sun Zhenni Wrap Filming on a New Fantasy Drama
Ao Ruipeng and Sun Zhenni in the First Trailer for the Drama «Pull Strings»

The series was filmed using new virtual production technologies, which became one of the most talked-about aspects of the production. Instead of shooting on real sets or in front of a green screen, the crew used a specialized stage equipped with a massive 10-meter-high LED screen that displayed digital backgrounds — mountains, skies, clouds — in real time. Real objects, such as rocks, snow, and plants, were placed in front of the screen to make the scenes look as natural as possible. A dedicated program synced the virtual background with the live footage in real time, allowing the director to adjust the environment on the fly. The technology helped create visual effects that would have been too complex and expensive to achieve with traditional methods.

A total of 19 such virtual scenes were used, accounting for nearly 40% of the entire production — a record for Chinese dramas to date.

The premiere is scheduled for August 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM Beijing time.

Sources