Producer Law Wing Yin announced that Michelle Yim has joined the cast of one of TVB’s heavyweight dramas next year, Big Eunuch <大太監>. Michelle replaced Maggie Cheung in the role of Empress Dowager Cixi. Producer Law indicated that the casting change was due to Maggie’s scheduling conflict and will not affect the filming progress of Big Eunuch. Yesterday, Wayne Lai, Raymond Wong, and Raymond Cho shaved their heads for filming, as the men will portray eunuchs in the Qing era drama. Although it was announced earlier that Maggie Cheung would portray Empress Dowager Cixi, a last minute casting change was made to replace her with Michelle Yim. In last year’s sales presentation video clip for Big Eunuch, Michelle had appeared as Empress Cixi. Maggie Shiu will portray the role of Empress Ci’an.
Contacted by reporters, Producer Law Wing Yin confirmed that Michelle Yim will portray Empress Cixi. “The casting has been finalized. Michelle is a wonderful candidate for the role! She is currently in mainland China and will return to Hong Kong within the next two weeks to start filming Big Eunuch.” (Why was Maggie Cheung unable to film for the series?) “It was due to a scheduling conflict. Big Eunuch will film through April 2012, which would conflict with Maggie’s other scheduled work engagements in the interim. Today was the first day filming took place inside the studio, thus the impact will not be significant.”
It was reported earlier that Ruco Chan would portray an eunuch in Big Eunuch, but he was no longer part of the final cast list. Producer Law indicated that it was due to deployment of staff, as Ruco was expected to film another drama in January.
Currently filming in Wuxi, China, Michelle Yim responded in a telephone interview that she has been busy filming in mainland China this year. Big Eunuch was scheduled to film on location in Hengdian, China in March 2012, upon which Michelle noted that she was accustomed [to hectic filming schedules]. Since Michelle portrayed Empress Dowager Cixi in the past, she was not too concerned [about preparation for the role].
Source: Oriental Daily
Translated by: Jayne @ JayneStars
