King's War, also known as Legend of Chu and Han, is a Chinese television series based on the events in the Chu–Han Contention, an interregnum between the fall of the Qin dynasty and the founding of the Han dynasty. It started airing on Anhui TV, Zhejiang TV, Jiangxi TV and Tianjin TV on 28 December 2012.

King's War
Poster
Also known asLegend of Chu and Han
Chu Han Chuanqi
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese楚漢傳奇
Simplified Chinese楚汉传奇
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChǔ Hàn Chuánqí
GenreHistorical drama
Written byWang Peigong
Wang Hailin
Yan Gang
Directed byGao Xixi
Shen Yan
Guo Miaoxin
Presented byYu Dong
Chi Yufeng
Ouyang Changlin
Yang Shoucheng
Zhang Suzhou
Wan Ke
Wang Tongyuan
Wang Xiaodong
Zhao Shuqing
Gu Yongqiang
Luo Hao
He Ling
StarringChen Daoming
Peter Ho
Duan Yihong
Qin Lan
Li Yixiao
Sun Haiying
Yang Lixin
Huo Qing
Yu Hewei
You Yong
Elvis Tsui
Yu Bin
Opening themeTianxia Yingxiong (天下英雄) performed by Han Lei
Ending themeWei Ai Er Sheng (为爱而生) performed by Song Zuying
ComposerXu Peidong
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes80
Production
Executive producersZhao Hongmei, Zhang Huali, Kong Lingquan, Cheng Weidong, Gu Shunkun, Zhao Duojia, Guo Man, Zheng Gang, Xue Huixuan, Ding Yilan, Guo Li, Xiao Rong, Guo Yan, Ma Baozhou, Zhang Heng, Yang Yuming, Yu Wanqin, Liu Jun
ProducersLu Guoqiang, Li Chaoyang, Feng Weiwei, Jiang Zhong, Mu Xiaosui
Production locationChina
CinematographyNiu Mingshan
Guo Qingrui
Zhang Yong
Li Li
Production companies
  • Bona Film Group
  • Beijing Xishiji Film and TV Culture Development
Original release
NetworkAnhui TV
Zhejiang TV
Jiangxi TV
Tianjin TV
Release28 December 2012 (2012-12-28)

The show began streaming on Netflix in 2017.[1]

Cast

edit

Production

edit

King's War is the second historical drama television series directed by Gao Xixi, after Three Kingdoms (2010). The production cost for King's War was expected to break records, as Bona Film Group announced on 8 June 2011 that it would provide Gao Xixi with a budget of 1.7 billion yuan for the project, excluding the costs for possible future expansions.[2]

Filming started on 25 August 2011[2] and ended on 5 May 2012.

Set construction

edit

According to reports, apart from its huge budget, one of the highlights of the series is its realistic sets. The palace, along with other important locations in the television series, had to be totally reconstructed in accordance with the requirements stated in the script. The sets were expected to be completed by July 2011.[2]

Casting

edit

Chen Daoming formally signed on to play Liu Bang, one of the lead roles in the drama.[2] On 25 August 2011, Gao Xixi appeared in public with six confirmed members of the cast, including Chen Daoming, Peter Ho, Hu Dong and Liu Yuxin. Chen Daoming had been confirmed to play Liu Bang while Peter Ho was a likely choice for the role of Xiang Yu.[3]

Script

edit

Screenwriter Wang Peigong spent years creating the script for King's War. Gao Xixi said in an interview, "Peigong and I would discuss about King's War when we have time. It has been four years, I believe the time is ripe now. The story will begin from Liu Bang starting off as a patrol officer in Pei County, until he established the Han dynasty and became the emperor. This series will not follow the narrative style of historical dramas. The clever part about Legend of Chu and Han lies in the word Legend."[3]

English dub

edit

On 15 August 2015, an English dub of all 80 episodes was completed for release on South African Cable Television.

Reception

edit

The series received average ratings, but Gao Xixi claimed that it was attracting a highly educated audience.[4]

Awards and nominations

edit
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2014 1st Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China Best Actor Peter Ho Won
Best Actress Li Yixiao Won

International broadcast

edit
Country Network(s)/Station(s) Series premiere Title
  Thailand True4U August 10, 2015 ฉู่ฮั่น ศึกชิงบัลลังก์ สะท้านปฐพี (Chu Han Suek Ching Ballang Sataan Pattapi[5])

References

edit
  1. ^ "King's War". Netflix.
  2. ^ a b c d (in Chinese) 高希希陈道明联手打造《楚汉》
  3. ^ a b (in Chinese) 传奇大剧《楚汉传奇》开机 何润东担纲项羽
  4. ^ (in Chinese) 高希希:《楚汉传奇》受众学历高
  5. ^ "True4U เอาใจคอหนังจีนส่ง "King's Wars ฉู่ฮั่น ศึกชิงบัลลังก์ สะท้านปฐพี" ลงจอ". asian.truelife.com. 23 August 2015. Thai: ภาษาไทย
edit