Chinese dramas and films

The June issue of the Chinese edition of ELLEMEN hits newsstands with actor Chen Zheyuan on the cover.

This marks his second appearance on a title belonging to China's "big five" men's magazines, following his previous cover for 时装男士L'OFFICIEL HOMMES. The quintet comprises 智族GQ, 时尚先生Esquire, 芭莎男士 (BAZAAR Men), 时装男士L'OFFICIEL HOMMES and 睿士ELLEMEN.

The issue was released on June 18, 2026.

The central concept of the photoshoot is contrast and a dark, edgy image. The magazine produced two cover variants that stand in stark opposition. One presents the actor in a black suit with black gloves, projecting a cold, sharp aesthetic. The other features shots bathed in red light, lending a more mature and defiant charisma. Lighter-toned images in blue hues were also included in the editorial.

Chen Zheyuan, known for his fresh and innocent looks, has crafted a "dark and unhinged" persona for this project, which has sparked considerable buzz among fans.

The actor posted several photos on his Weibo account with the caption: "Gone dark ⚫️ @ELLEMEN" (a phrase that can also be interpreted as "turned evil" or "become a villain").

Indeed, a glimpse at the cover video reveals that Chen Zheyuan relishes the creepiness and has fully embraced the darker aesthetic, delivering a performance that could easily see him cast as the lead psychopath in a thriller right now.

Sources 1, 2, 3