Actor Huang Lei Midnight Diner. [Photo/Weibo.com]

It's been confirmed that Chinese actor Huang Lei will play the lead character in the Chinese adaptation of hit Japanese manga series Midnight Diner.

The TV series' official weibo account has released a set of photos showing Huang Lei's portrait, playing the protagonist in the drama.

Shooting of the 34-episode TV series began in mid-January. However, the cast had been kept a close secret.

Midnight Diner follows the life of a lone chef who opens a restaurant that runs from midnight to sunrise.

The restaurant has only one dish on the menu, but the chef cooks anything his clients ask with the ingredients he has on hand.

The Chinese adaptation is directed by Taiwan director Tsai Yueh-hsun, who's also behind hit series such as Meteor Garden and Black & White.

It's being reported that Lin Chi-ling, Barbie Hsu and Mark Zhao have cameo roles in the series.

Midnight Diner has already been made into television series in Japan and South Korea. The two series are both very popular in China.