Drama Update: Meteor Shower (Chinese Hana Yori Dango)

Now what is this that I hear of another adaptation coming out?  Apparently, a new mainland Chinese version (not to be mistaken with the Taiwan version) will be coming out soon.  Filming has begun in Xiamen and the drama is due to air on Hunan TV (Hunan Tai) in August. It is said that the drama will be called Meteor Shower.  However, instead of the typical romantic idol drama format, statements have been made about changing the plot for the Chinese version and turning it into an "inspirational drama."  This was foreseeable since the Chinese government had banned Meteor Garden due to the "bad themes" promoting a love for money.  

Many fans are disappointed in the casting, complaining that the producers should have chosen more well-known actors to compete in this contest to be the best.  The only slightly well known figures to be casted for the main five characters, are Yu Hao Ming playing Duan Yulei (Hanazawa Rui) and Wei Chen playing Ye Shuo (Mimasaka Akira).  Joining these two will be Zhang Han, playing Yun Hai (Domyouji Tsukasa), Zhu Zixiao playing Ximen Ruiqian (Nishikado Sojirou), and Zheng Shuang playing Chu Yuxun (Makino Tsukushi).  Apparently Hangeng, the Chinese member of the Korean idol boy band Super Junior, was one of the top picks to be part of the F4 but turned down the offer to focus on promoting Super Junior's 3rd album. 

This Chinese production has brought along quite a bit of controversy.  Apparently, Group 8 Media, which produced the Korean Boys Over Flowers purchased rights the the Hana Yori Dango franchise.  With this contract in place, no new adaptations are supposed to begin production in the following two years.  However, Meteor Shower has not only already started filming, they have begun their slew of press releases.  Korean fans are, of course, furious.  In return the producers of the Chinese adaptation states that they are not basing the drama on the manga, but will instead be producing a "completely different story."  They have even changed the name of the boy idols, converting from "F4" to "H4."

Do we want to watch this?  The Chinese dramas that I have watched thus far have been rather good and well done, lacking the over-the-top factor I find appears often in Taiwan dramas.  However, I am slightly worried about the plot changes in store.  I guess I will watch it to see how it differs from the rest. The music trailer is officially out.  Hope you enjoy!


Pictures of the Chinese F4:

The new table of each different portrayal of the main five characters:

Music Trailer for Meteor Shower :





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To my surprise, there is a much older version of Hana Yori Dango pre-dating all of this craze.  The first live-action movie Hana Yori Dango (Japanese) was actually made in 1995, directed by Yasuyuki Kusuda, starring Uchida Yuki as Makino Tsukushi, Shosuke Tanihara as Domyouji Tsukasa, Naohito Fujiki as Hanazawa Rui, Koichi Hashizume as Mimasaka Akira, and Kensaku Saeki as Nishikado Sojirou.  Naohito Fujiki also made a cameo appearance in the Hana Yori Dango Final.  Does anybody know where I can watch this?