Macau, China — Production for the much-anticipated drama series Glittering City relaunched this week in Macau, featuring a stellar cast including Julian Cheung (Chilam), Ron Ng, Kelly Cheung, and Samantha Ko. The project, which had faced a significant hiatus due to script revisions, held its principal photography ceremony, signaling an intense push to complete filming. The narrative underwent a substantial overhaul following initial development challenges, transforming the dynamics from an entirely antagonist-focused plot to one incorporating complex moral ambiguity, spanning themes of virtue and villainy.
The core motivation for the temporary suspension was to address fundamental script issues. Producers opted to refine the storyline, resulting in pronounced character shifts for several key actors. Ron Ng and Kelly Cheung noted their roles specifically experienced a “180-degree change,” utilizing the delay to prepare for their newly conceived characters.
Cheung Embraces Villainy in Controversial Role
Julian Cheung, who plays a central antagonist, confirmed that his character remains largely unchanged despite the broader script revisions. He discussed the intense portrayal of his villain, stating his role is intended to manipulate and “torture” most other characters, especially female roles, acting as a consistent malevolent force throughout the series.
Cheung also addressed the series’ daring approach to mature content, admitting the drama features unusually explicit intimate scenes designed to “push the boundaries of television standards.” He expressed doubt about whether some of the controversial content would survive final broadcast editing due to censorship concerns. “The boldness of the production is considerable,” Cheung commented.
When jokingly pressed by media and co-stars about maintaining his youthful appearance, Cheung dismissed the compliment, humorously noting his long work hours. He also lightheartedly mentioned co-star Samantha Ko’s complaints that his thin physique makes her look larger by comparison, quipping that he finds women with more curves to be attractive.
Significant Character Reversion for Co-Stars
The script changes profoundly impacted Ron Ng and Kelly Cheung. Ng confirmed his new character deviates from his previously typecast impulsive younger brother archetype. Instead, his role is centered on navigating ethical compromises to protect his family’s interests. He emphasized a greater focus on internal conflict and less reliance on action sequences.
Kelly Cheung revealed her character’s trajectory became significantly darker, embodying extreme actions like vehicular assault and attempted murder, all rationalized through devotion to her fictional husband. She embraced the opportunity to play a more “evil” role, contrasting with her initial character profile.
Beyond the dramatic plot points, the set experienced lighter moments. Ng shared an amusing exchange with Kelly Cheung regarding her penchant for high heels, admitting initial resistance before conceding that her height worked well in elegant scenes. He insisted he would not use height-increasing insoles, stating he prefers authenticity.
Professional Reunion and Positive Set Atmosphere
The production marks a highly anticipated reunion between Julian Cheung and Ron Ng, who last collaborated 13 years ago on Triumph in the Skies 2. Cheung praised Ng’s enduring energy and sense of humour.
Samantha Ko, who plays Cheung’s on-screen partner, initially felt pressured working alongside the veteran star but quickly praised his professional demeanor. She highlighted Cheung’s diligence: “He is extremely hardworking, constantly practicing lines and blocking on set, often completing scenes in a single take. His professionalism elevates the performance of everyone around him.”
The successful relaunch of Glittering City, despite the complicated production history, underscores the enduring demand for sophisticated, morally complex drama in the region. The series is poised to ignite significant discussion due to its controversial themes and daring approach to television limits.
