Chinese drama promises international success

The Longest Promise, currently one of the most popular dramas on domestic internet platforms, has successfully expanded its reach to international markets.

Adapted from writer Cang Yue's popular novel Zhu Yan, the 40-episode fantastic story made its debut on Netflix on July 7, five days after its release on WeTV, the overseas streaming platform of Tencent Video.

According to WeTV, which is available in over 110 countries and regions, the drama has emerged as one of the top five most popular series in Thailand and has secured the top spot for single-day viewership in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand since its premiere.

Starring actor Xiao Zhan and actress Ren Min, the drama portrays a fictional world where three races possess distinct supernatural powers, ranging from reviving withered plants to transforming tears into pearls. The main storyline revolves around a prince and a princess who develop feelings for each other and unite their forces to save the world from an unprecedented state of turbulence.

Jeff Chiang, the show's director, said during a recent interview that the production team built multiple expansive soundstages, spanning a total area of 30,000 square meters, in order to vividly re-create the enchanting scenes described in the novel.

Garnering a rating of 7.9 points out of 10 on MyDramaList, a fan-aggregated review site for Asian dramas and movies, the series has captured the attention of foreign audiences with its spectacular scenes and lavish costumes inspired by Eastern aesthetics.

The series is also set to be released in a number of other Asian markets, including Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.