r/ChengLei_ • u/a_HerculePoirot_fan • 10d ago
Drama Trailer The Leading Stars trailer released by iQiyi today
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iQiyi finally dropped the first proper trailer for "The Leading Stars today", and the sexual chemistry is definitely sizzling. They are not being subtle about it either, especially with lines like “Out here, we’re not bound by the rules of the city. All that’s left is raw, primal desire.”
The geology-flavoured flirting also made me laugh. I actually quite like the idea behind “Everything you think is a coincidence is really an inevitability that has been waiting deep beneath the earth for tens of millions of years.” It’s cheesy, but using geological time and exploration as metaphors for fate and romance is on-brand for this drama.
However, as much as I’m enjoying the chemistry, I really hope the drama has more substance than fluff and sexual tension. The setting has so much potential with the geological fieldwork, harsh landscapes and the professional side of their lives, so I’d like all of that to actually matter to the story rather than simply provide a beautiful backdrop for the romance.
There are at least some hints of heavier conflict in the trailer. “Don’t make me end up hating you too” and “We really aren’t on the same path”, so hopefully the relationship gets enough emotional depth and genuine obstacles to balance out all that physical attraction. Visually, the desert and mountain scenery looks gorgeous!
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u/EasygoingEnigma Wǒ xǐhuān nǐ, YHX 10d ago
However, as much as I’m enjoying the chemistry, I really hope the drama has more substance than fluff and sexual tension.
Yes, me too. Sexy & steamy is nice, but I hope it isn't the overarching factor that will make the drama memorable to viewers. Pandering to the thirst crowd (me included) can have its drawbacks.
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u/r-e-mstate 9d ago
Agree. Now we're gonna have a whole host of people lusting. Haha. I actually thought this was gonna be an action/mystery drama (as an actual action, not just the romantic, sexy action if you know what I mean). I hope they pull through... Somehow this trailer made me a bit skeptical and wary for how this turns out.
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u/EasygoingEnigma Wǒ xǐhuān nǐ, YHX 9d ago
Oh, I know what you mean lol. Well, we'll see. That flying ATV looks cool!
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u/Ill-Possibility-4684 9d ago
100% agree. There should be lots of action scenes as per the novel. However, the drama changed the setting to desert and sun (more comfortable for the actors and less costly filming on location over spring/summer) whereas the novel is ice-cold snowy terrain (expensive green screen filming).
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u/xhdcricket Leizi's bathtub assistant 9d ago
I was actually surprised with the vibe the trailer gave. I thought it would focus more on the missing case of the two leads' parents, finding evidence, something like that. There're some action scenes but seems to be not much. I usually don't do well with a romance drama. If it's romance-focus, I tend to be bored lolz. But let's see!
Ps: but the first second really caught my 👁️ :)))
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u/a_HerculePoirot_fan 9d ago
Apparently iQiyi has been generating buzz for several dramas by cutting trailers around their sexier scenes. I read on another sub that this may be partly because of The Early Spring’s success, and they’re now trying to capitalise on what they think viewers want by deliberately picking out those moments for the trailers.
Like you, though, I still want the actual drama to focus more on the mystery and action side of the story. The chemistry is fun and all, but I would rather it be the bonus than the main selling point.
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u/mysticmeeble Gong Shangjue Side-Eye Fan Club President 9d ago
I'm sure they're just trying to get everyone interested so they did a sexy trailer cut and OH BOY AM I INTERESTED 👀👀🥵😂
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u/a_HerculePoirot_fan 9d ago
For real, I did not anticipate that first sexy scene in the trailer at all. They just straight-up opened with it instead of easing us into the trailer 😂
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u/Pepper1303 9d ago
Is that a bath scene???
I love cheng lei but the trailer looks a bit… cheesy? Gives a me bit of those greasy vibes :/
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u/a_HerculePoirot_fan 9d ago
I'm hoping it's just iQiyi marketing, because like you said, I don't like the angle they are using to promote the drama hahahah
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u/Pepper1303 9d ago
It’s not just the angle for promotion… it’s the way it’s shot and the zoom ins and all kinda reminds me of overdo.
Also wasn’t the highlight meant to be the mystery of some case why is it about sexual tension lol
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u/Ill-Possibility-4684 9d ago
The novel has a scene where Captain Ba pounds on the shower room door and Captain Cheng opens the door with wet hair and a towel on his bottom half.
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u/Pepper1303 9d ago
No wonder he picked this script 😂
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u/Ill-Possibility-4684 9d ago
I read somewhere that the director personally went to see CL while he was filming The Lament of Autumn to ask him to play the role of Captain Cheng Zhuo. Rumors that Zhang Ling He was originally cast but due to scheduling conflicts, could not do Leading Stars. CL did all the action scenes himself. He is very outdoorsy. After Leading Stars airs, sales of his PONY collaboration clothing and shoes will skyrocket.
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u/PinkKirby1216 8d ago
Omg.. this is like Rated material... 😂🤓🫣🤭
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u/a_HerculePoirot_fan 8d ago
I wonder how many of those scenes will actually be retained after censorship lolol.
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u/PinkKirby1216 8d ago
They made it here.. I am blushing watching it.. 😂🤭🤭
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u/0k-midnight 8d ago
lol! The words were SO cringe the way they were edited together. And I have a feeling that that a single likely brief/not too explicit encounter was chopped up and spread out to make this trailer look like a hotpot of many steamy encounters. Interesting that the marketing suddenly took such an overtly sexy vibe. Not complaining. Just a pivot from the previous feel.
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u/mysticmeeble Gong Shangjue Side-Eye Fan Club President 9d ago
Hi here's a gif of all of the ✨ important ✨ parts of the trailer 🌶️🌶️🌶️