Zhao Liying’s next drama The city creator is showing many strong signs and is seen as a key opportunity for the actress to regain her footing after a series of recent moves that have attracted criticism and negative ratings.
Zhao Liying and the cast of The city creator. The drama is a serious and modern piece in the social reform genre, marked as a major project of late 2025. Directed by Sun Hao and written by Yuan Keping – a team known for successful socioeconomic dramas – the cast brings together prominent talents such as Huang Xiaoming, Chen Minghao, Chu Yuan‑yuan, Qin Junkie together with senior artists Zhang Guoqiang, Liu Yuyu, Li Khe‑Nüe (Li Keh‑Rui).
The story is set in the early 1980s, following the journey of two young cadres Li Chu‑Chu (Zhao Liying) and Zheng Decheng (Huang Xiaoming) determined to build a brand new city from scratch without relying on national budget support. Early promotional material shows that over 500,000 advance bookings have already been made for the drama via Tencent Video. This success is seen as a potential turning point for the 1980s-born actress.
Previously, Zhao Liying had taken a strong stance in response to rumors and criticism. It has filed lawsuits against numerous individuals and organizations including Guangzhou Hemu Shiguang Biotechnology Co. Ltd.; Bai Mu Mu; Zhao Mu Mu; Guangzhou Hemu Biotechnology Co. Ltd.; and Blue Whale Film & TV Cultural Media Co. Ltd. for using his image and information misleadingly for profit and violating his personal rights. Some defendants have been placed on the list of “unreliable debtors” and the total compensation imposed is estimated to exceed RMB 500,000. His legal action is widely regarded by the media and public as a symbolic victory, which underlines his determination and respect for the rule of law.
However, the actress has also made some missteps that have affected her public image. In 2025, he faced several controversies that affected his status as a “national star.” Two of his great dramas Sunflowers AND Alongside humanity was criticized for weak scripts and lack of groundbreaking acting, resulting in it not receiving any awards at important ceremonies such as the Golden Rooster.
Additionally, her outspoken social media posts tagging major news outlets and aggressive tone in response to rumors of romance rumors have caused criticism of her lack of restraint and professionalism. Rumors of dating director Zhao Deren – a figure with a controversial past – have further disappointed fans and audiences.
Other actions, such as an unconventional birthday photo set, absence from most major events, and the contradiction in his schedule announcing the priority of artistic projects while participating in many live streams promoting mass-market brands, led the public and fans to question his career strategy.
In this context, the success of The city creator it is seen as an opportunity for Zhao Liying to reaffirm his position and regain the public’s trust.
Sources: Saostar
