Yu Zheng (; born 28 February 1978) is a Chinese screenwriter and showrunner. Founder of Huanyu Entertainment, Yu is known for the historical romance dramas Palace (2011), Story of Yanxi Palace (2018), and The Double (2024), as well as for his high-profile, outspoken, and sometimes controversial media presence.
Biography
Early life Yu was born and raised in Haining, Zhejiang. After high school, he moved to Shanghai, where he became an auditor at Shanghai Theatre Academy.
Career In August 1998, Yu signed with TVB as a screenwriter. One year later, he signed with Li Huimin Studio (). In July 2003, Yu transferred to Taiwan Star International Entertainment Company (). In 2008, he founded Yu Studio (). In June 2009, he founded the Quansheng Time Film and Television Company (). In 2012, Yu co-founded Huanyu Entertainment with Yang Le (Coco Yang), subsuming Yu Studio.
Controversies
Feuds
Raymond Lee In December 2004, Yu, then a total unknown, 于正称借鉴不是问题 琼瑶打压晚辈 was threatening to sue director Raymond Lee over the drama Assassinator Jing Ke, because Yu's name did not appear in the credits. 《荆轲传奇》刚播就惹官司 编剧要告“编剧” Lee did not respond, but writer Wang Qiuyu () published a blog asking for Yu's apology, adding "Finally some sincere advices to Yu, a creator is not a businessman. Spend more time creating, less energy on gaining exposures." Yu did not follow up on his legal threats. Talking about the incident in 2014, Lee said, "Yu is very smart, he knows how to make himself known."
Ruby Lin In 2010, actress Ruby Lin, who starred in Yu-produced Beauty's Rival in Palace, declined to participate in his subsequent project, Beauty World, opting instead to become a producer. Many actors from Beauty's Rival in Palace chose to join Lin's debut project, The Glamorous Imperial Concubine, over Beauty World. On December 12, Yu posted on his Weibo account, insinuating that "someone" was a copycat of his production. Lin responded by expressing her disappointment at Yu, who later denied that his comments were directed at Lin. Despite this, he continued his veiled attacks, writing on Sina Weibo: "What are the benefits for an actress to become a producer?...The correct answer is, for a chance to make out with all the young, hot guys!" 于正微博大骂林心如 借老板之名泡帅哥 In 2014, Yu suggested on a talk show that Lin was his most despised actress due to her "double-dealing." In 2016, half a month after Lin's marriage to Wallace Huo, Yu posted on Weibo a photo of Lin's wedding pastries, extending his best wishes for her, indicating a reconciliation of their years-long feud.
Xi Xin On October 30, 2012, Yu alleged on his Weibo that a "certain director" had fired an actress for refusing his sexual advances. On November 6, director Xi Xin () publicly accused Yu of defamation and filed a lawsuit when Yu refused to apologize. In November 2013, Beijing First Intermediate People's Court ruled in Xi's favor.
Shen Tai On March 18, 2013, Yu was physically assaulted by actor Shen Tai () in a coffee shop. Shen served three days in detention but refused to apologize. Yu claimed he was beaten because he refused Shen's demands for a role in his drama. Shen denied this allegation and wrote on Weibo: "Everybody has a bottom line. Knowing such a person can only be described as disgusting. If he does stupid things again, I will slap him just the same."
Plagiarism
Chiung Yao On April 2, 2014, actress Shirley Dai claimed that the Yu TV drama Palace 3: The Lost Daughter she starred in was based on Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao's 1992 novel Plum Blossom Scar (). Yu responded with a rant on his Weibo, calling "a certain actress" an attention seeker.
Shortly after the drama aired in China on April 7, Chiung Yao released an open letter to China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television on April 15, accusing Yu of blatant plagiarism and seeking the immediate suspension of the TV series broadcast. Yu denied the claim, stating he was a fan of Chiung Yao with no intention of offending her. On April 28, a team led by Wang Jun from Beijing-based Yingke Law Firm filed a plagiarism lawsuit against Yu.
On April 17, novelist Meiyuzhe () claimed that Palace 3: The Lost Daughter plagiarized not only Chiung Yao's novel but also her own The Imperial Enterprise (). Meiyuzhe claimed that it was not the first time Yu plagiarized from her novels.
On July 14, Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court denied Yu's objections to the jurisdiction of the Chiung Yao lawsuit. 琼瑶著作权案 法院驳回于正管辖异议申请 On December 12, 109 Chinese screenwriters published a joint statement supporting Chiung Yao's lawsuit against Yu.琼瑶诉于正抄袭 109名编剧联名支持 The following day, an additional 30 Chinese screenwriters expressed their support for Chiung Yao.继续声援! 又有30余位编剧支持琼瑶诉于正 On December 25, 2014, the court ruled in Chiung Yao's favor, ordering four companies to stop distributing and broadcasting The Palace: The Lost Daughter. The court also demanded that Yu publicly apologize and pay Chiung Yao ¥5 million ($800,000).
Other plagiarism Yu's 2006 drama Concubines of the Qing Emperor () had been suspected of plagiarizing the Hong Kong drama War and Beauty (2004). Yu denied it, but stated that his drama "contained the successful parts of classic dramas like War and Beauty, Dae Jang Geum, and Winter Sonata". 《大清后宫》抄袭《金枝欲孽》？
Yu's 2011 hit drama Palace was allegedly a plagiarism of several television series and novels, including Tong Hua's Bu Bu Jing Xin as well as the Taiwanese series Meteor Garden. On June 3, 2014, Tong Hua threatened legal actions if Yu continued his plagiarism. 于正桐华互指抄袭 圈内人士一边倒支持桐华
Writers Fu Xing () and He Zizhuang () have claimed that, in 2003, Yu and Fu Xing co-wrote a script for the drama Take Me to Fly, Take Me for a Walk (). Whereas Fu came up with all the characters and relationships, Yu claimed all the credits when he published the script as a book. Yu later wrote an apology letter to Fu, who forgave him. Yu also offered to compensate Fu ¥30,000 but never did.
On May 6, writer Li Yaling (), who co-wrote 2 Yu dramas Pretty Maid (2010) and Spell of the Fragrance (2010), offered to be a witness to support Chiung Yao's lawsuit. She claimed that back in 2008 Yu had asked her to "borrow" Plum Blossom Scar'''s story for a new script, but she refused. Li Yaling further claimed that Yu had copied scenes from the Singaporean drama The Little Nyonya (2009) for Pretty Maid, an action that also damaged her reputation because she was listed as the writer. She also claimed that Yu once told her that as long as plagiarism does not exceed 20% then the courts would have no case. Another writer Zou Yue () also claimed to have heard the "20% rule" from Yu. 于正，他们忍你很久了
On March 12, 2015, Yangzhou Intermediate People's Court accepted a plagiarism lawsuit filed by author Zhou Haohui () against Yu and others, for allegedly plagiarizing from his novel The Evil Hypnotist () for their 2014 TV series Cosmetology High.
On December 21, 2020, Yu and Guo Jingming were highlighted in a joint letter signed by 111 Chinese film and television industry insiders. The joint letter called for immediately stop the publicity and hype of the two who have plagiarism and bad traces, and revise and adjust the related variety shows they are currently participating in. On December 31, 2020, Yu and Guo Jingming issued their own individual apology through their respective Weibo accounts. Yu made a long-issued court-ordered apology for plagiarizing Chiung Yao's 1993 novel Plum Blossom Mark in his TV drama Palace 3: The Lost Daughter broadcast in 2014. Following his apology, Yu's appearances as a judge in the third episode of the third season of variety show I am the Actor'' have been removed.
Filmography
Film Year English Title Chinese Title Post Notes Screenwriter 2013 Palace: Lock Sinensis Screenwriter
Television series Year English Title Chinese Title Role 2003 Carry Me Fly and Walk Off Screenwriter 2004 Assassinator Jing Ke Screenwriter 2005 Misty Love in the Palace Screenwriter, Producer 2006 Screenwriter Concubines of the Qing Emperor Screenwriter, Producer Golden Age Screenwriter 2007 The Legend of Chu Liuxiang Screenwriter 2008 The Last Princess Screenwriter, Producer Rouge Snow Screenwriter A Thousand Teardrops Screenwriter, Producer 2009 Love Tribulations Screenwriter, Producer Rose Martial World Screenwriter, Producer Good Wife and Mother Screenwriter 2010 Pretty Maid Screenwriter, Producer Beauty's Rival in Palace Screenwriter, Producer Happy Mother-in-Law, Pretty Daughter-in-Law Screenwriter, Producer Spell of the Fragrance Producer 2011 Palace Screenwriter, Producer Beauty World Screenwriter, Producer Hidden Intention Producer 2012 Palace II Screenwriter, Producer Bounty Hunter Producer Allure Snow Producer Beauties of the Emperor Screenwriter, Producer In Love with Power Screenwriter, Producer 2013 Swordsman Screenwriter, Producer Legend of Lu Zhen Producer Old Days in Shanghai Producer 2014 Palace III: The Lost Daughter Screenwriter, Producer Cosmetology High Screenwriter, Producer The Romance of the Condor Heroes Screenwriter, Producer 2015 Love Yunge from the Desert Producer Legend of Ban Shu Producer 2017 Above the Clouds Producer 2018 Untouchable Lovers Screenwriter, Producer, Cast Story of Yanxi Palace Producer 2019 The Legend of Haolan Producer Arsenal Military Academy Producer2020 Winter Begonia Producer Consummation 拾光的秘密 Producer 2021 Ode to Daughter of Great Tang Producer, Visual director Marvelous Women当家主母Producer2022 The Heritage Screenwriter, Producer Royal Feast尚食ProducerDelicacies Destiny珍馐记Screenwriter, Producer2023Hi Producer正好遇见你ProducerGone with the Rain微雨燕双飞ProducerScent of Time为有暗香来Producer 2025 Perfect Match Producer
Web series Year English Title Chinese Title Role 2013 Crazy for Palace Screenwriter, Producer 2014 Crazy for Palace 2 Screenwriter, Producer 2015 The Backlight of Love Producer2016Demon Girl ProducerMemory Lost ProducerDemon Girl 2 Producer 2017King is not Easy Producer 2021Couple of Mirrors双镜ProducerPalace: Devious Women一纸寄风月Producer
Awards Year Work Award Category Result Notes 2008 The Last Princess Annual Golden TVS Award Best Screenwriter 2009 Shanghai Modern Award Screenwriter Award 2011 Palace Grand Ceremony of Movie & TV New ForcesMost Popular Screenwriter 16th Asian Television Awards Best Screenwriter Youku Film and Television Award Screenwriter Award 2012 Palace II 2012 Qiyi Festival TV Producer of the Year 2014 SwordsmanChinese American Film FestivalBest Screenwriter 2019 China Entertainment Industry Summit (Golden Pufferfish Awards) Celebrity Producer of the Year
References
External links
Yu