Chapter 396: Xiaolongbao, *Wolf Warrior* Wraps Up

The film circle was focused on the first-day box office of *About Time*.

The first day, a daily box office of 38.5 million, undoubtedly proved one thing: this film is very strong!

According to market laws, if a film's word-of-mouth doesn't collapse midway, its total box office will be at least 10 times its first-day box office!

And the massive amount of positive reviews online had already destined that the word-of-mouth for *About Time* would not collapse.

The result was self-evident; the final total box office for this film would definitely not be bad.

Striking while the iron was hot, Lin Nan, Liu Yifei, Guo Fan, and all the leads conducted another wave of promotion online.

There were many actors and artists in the circle who gave face and showed support, forwarding and promoting it one after another.

The competition in August was too intense; they couldn't afford the slightest slack.

The opening success on the first day allowed the cinema chains to directly increase the screen share for *About Time*.

Although the screen share only increased by 3 percentage points, this meant that the survival space for other films in the same slot would shrink.

The pressure was instantly shifted to *Tiny Times 2*, *A Moment of Love*, *One Night Surprise*, *Mad 2*, and a host of other domestic films.

There were more reviews for *Young Style* online, and the ratings were quite good, but the quantity was very small.

This also meant that the audience for this film was small, or rather, the screen share was equally small.

After all, apart from Qin Hailu, all the actors were newcomers just starting out, and they had no appeal at all.

"Starting from the 8th, films like *Tiny Times 2* and *A Moment of Love* will be released one after another."

Lin Nan looked at the excited Guo Fan and said unhurriedly.

"I understand; it means that in the first week, *About Time* basically has no domestic film competitors, and we just need to withstand the pressure from imported films."

"Correct, that's how it is. I don't think the few domestic films coming later can exceed the box office of *About Time*, but they will definitely affect our screen share and divert the audience.

So starting from the second week, the daily box office of *About Time* will inevitably drop significantly; after all, so many films are opening together."

Lin Nan gave Guo Fan a reminder; for how far the total box office of *About Time* could go, the first week was crucial and accounted for the bulk of it.

"Mm, Lin Dao, don't worry. This week, our promotion won't fall behind."

Guo Fan nodded and said with great effort, incomparably serious.

Entering August, the atmosphere in the film and television circle seemed to be the same as the film market, becoming much more murderous.

With less than a week left until its release, *Tiny Times 2* was once again besieged by more than half of the film circle.

It felt as if they wanted to completely crush Guo Jingming and *Tiny Times 2* before the film was even released.

And Guo Jingming still appeared very "tenacious," taking his fans online to engage in "battle."

"On the second day of *About Time*'s release, the daily box office hit a new high, raking in 39.8 million, leaving others far behind."

"The low-budget youth film *Young Style*, starring Dong Zijian, Qin Hailu, and others, had a first-day box office of 3.55 million, with decent word-of-mouth."

"Guo Jingming, Yang Mi, Guo Caijie, Guo Biting, and others are calling on fans and audiences to support *Tiny Times 2*..."

Looking at the film news reported by the media, people in the circle had to admit one fact: *About Time* had taken off.

Thinking about what Guo Fan said at the premiere, the first goal of this film was to aim for exceeding *The Wrath of Vajra*, and now it looked like there was an 80% chance it could be done!

And the summer slot box office champion that Lin Nan mentioned really wasn't impossible, and the hope was very high.

The only uncertain factor was that fan-oriented *Tiny Times 2*; it was hard to judge its box office potential!

Just as the film and television circle was staring at the film market, the casting for the remake of *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, which had attracted much attention from the industry and media a while ago, finally had a result.

Yu Zheng Studio released a casting announcement to the outside world.

One could only say that this casting result caught the entire film and television circle, the media, and the entire internet off guard.

It seemed that "caught off guard" couldn't even describe the explosive state of mind of the netizens.

One had to add "dumbfounded" and "stunned," as well as the most profound "my eyes... are blinded!"

"After careful consideration and screening by the team, and multiple auditions, we have decided: Chen Xiao will play Yang Guo, Chen Yanxi will play Xiaolongnü, and Zhang Xinyu will play Li Mochou...

The new version of *The Return of the Condor Heroes* will officially begin filming at the end of this month; the makeup photos of the main cast are as follows..."

Not to mention the attitude in the industry, the internet had exploded, the entire internet had exploded.

In that second row, the four makeup photos of Chen Yanxi from different angles and expressions were simply... simply, polluting everyone's eyes, subverting the image of Xiaolongnü that everyone had in their hearts.

In everyone's heart, Xiaolongnü should be someone like Liu Yifei or Li Ruotong, but what was this in front of them?

Lin Nan was holding a tablet, looking at the makeup photos released by Yu Zheng Studio, then looking at Liu Yifei, who was doing waist-stretching exercises in the practice room; he really couldn't hold it in!

"Hahaha... ouch, I'm dying of laughter, my stomach hurts... haha..."

Liu Yifei also had a brilliant smile on her face; she had already seen those photos just now.

"This version of *The Return of the Condor Heroes* clearly shows that the food in the Ancient Tomb is too good!" Lin Nan was laughing so hard he was choking.

Online, a massive number of netizens were scolding, and there was simply nothing to praise.

Yu Zheng Studio's Weibo, Yu Zheng's Weibo, and the director's Weibo had all been breached.

"I fuck his grandfather, which idiot chose the actors? Is there urine in their eye sockets?"

"It simply blinded my eyes, my Xiaolongnü, so fat..."

"This is Xiaolongnü? Wouldn't a Xiaolongren (Little Dragon Person) be more suitable?"

"Although Chen Xiao isn't very famous, his Yang Guo look is okay."

"Zhang Xinyu's Li Mochou is quite cold and glamorous..."

"What the hell is choosing Chen Yanxi? Such a big face, is the director blind?"

"This isn't Xiaolongnü, this is Xiaolongbao (Little Steamed Bun)! No, this is a big bun, with pleats!"

"This isn't Yang Guo's Aunt Xiaolongnü anymore, this is Yang Guo's real aunt! Too old..."

"How did she have the nerve to take this role?"

Although every remake of a Jin Yong drama would trigger heated discussion across the internet during casting, with some supporting this actor and some supporting that star.

But being scolded by the entire internet like Yu Zheng was truly a first in the film and television circle; he had broadened their horizons!

Even Zhang Jizhong couldn't help but jump out and mock:

"Xiaolongnü sleeps on a rope; the person Yu Zheng chose must have to sleep on an iron chain, right? I'm very curious about her fight scenes, whether they can be agile and elegant..."

Liu Yifei's Weibo became lively again.

However, Miss Liu was quite smart and directly turned off the comment function, not wanting to get involved in this kind of topic.

She was at peace, because everyone had run to Lin Nan's Weibo, and even Lin Nan Film Industry's Weibo had gathered quite a few people.

"Starting today, Yu Zheng's version of *The Return of the Condor Heroes* can be considered to have highlights. Since there's no confidence in surpassing the previous work, then just do something different, like this 'Xiaolongbao', hehe..."

Facing the mockery of the entire internet, Yu Zheng was very tough and responded directly using his personal account:

"Xiaolongnü, I chose her; her look, I also like it. I am very satisfied and firmly believe that it can rival the previous Xiaolongnü, and even achieve transcendence. Time can prove that I am right!"

Good heavens, Yu Zheng's statement truly made this *The Return of the Condor Heroes* famous before it was even filmed. Because it started being boycotted by a large number of netizens!

From Wu Jing's side, news came that the film was about to wrap up.

Starting filming at the beginning of June and wrapping up at the beginning of August, in over two months, he had finished a military action film.

Lin Nan could only say that Wu Jing was ruthless enough; he really used borrowed military equipment without feeling any heartache, and even "used" the actors with overtime work!

Lin Nan followed Liu Yifei to Jin Ling again.

Compared to the simple opening ceremony, this wrap-up was relatively much grander, and quite a few media outlets were invited.

When they arrived at the filming site, Wu Jing was still shooting the last shot.

"Lin Dao, Yifei."

"I'm wondering if Chairman Wang will deduct your salary?" Lin Nan joked.

Xie Nan shook her head with a smile: "I'm just a host, not very busy, and I can find someone to substitute. Besides, most programs are recorded, so there's a lot of flexibility."

In the distance, following the assistant director's shout of "Cut," Wu Jing returned to the monitor to check the shot.

Immediately, he heard him shout excitedly in a high voice, "Thank you all for your hard work over the past two months, *Wolf Warrior*, wraps up!"

"Wrapped up."

Lin Nan also recited, looking at Liu Yifei, "Xixi, the first film you independently produced, has wrapped up."

"Mm, this is the first one, there will be a second, a third... many more!"

Liu Yifei hooked her arm into Lin Nan's, her face filled with smiles, her confident appearance very charming.

"Lin Dao, Yifei. Let's go over there; the afternoon is the wrap-up press conference and the wrap-up banquet."

Wu Jing looked truly excited, laughing until crow's feet appeared; he was also a person about to turn 40.

In the afternoon, there was more news about the *Wolf Warrior* crew in the media and online.

"The military action film *Wolf Warrior*, produced by Liu Yifei, directed by Wu Jing, and starring Wu Jing, Yu Nan, Ni Dahong, and others, successfully wrapped up this morning at the Jin Ling National Forest Park."

"Lin Dao Nan and Liu Yifei attended the *Wolf Warrior* wrap-up ceremony and banquet."

"Facing reporters' questions, Liu Yifei avoided talking about the casting of Yu Zheng's version of Xiaolongnü..."

When returning to the capital in the evening, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei, as well as Wu Jing, Xie Nan, Yu Nan, and others, were on the same flight.

"I will polish the post-production of *Wolf Warrior* slowly; Producer Liu, don't rush me." Wu Jing made a joke.

"I won't rush you, take your time."

Liu Yifei waved her hand lightly; she understood the principle that slow work produces fine products.

"Will you keep filming this type of film in the future?" Lin Nan looked at Wu Jing and asked.

"What else can I do? I'm an action actor by trade, and as a director, I can only film action films. Military themes just happen to suit me, and I can't play with anything else."

"If you were to let me direct a costume action film, I wouldn't be able to play the male lead, because my current appearance isn't what it was back then; time is a ruthless butcher's knife, haha..."

Wu Jing laughed at himself, having great self-awareness, which made everyone on the side laugh.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 397 =====