The long-shelved drama Shadow Detective 暗影侦探, filmed when Wang Xingyue was just 20 years old in 2022, has finally secured a premiere date this November 27, 2025 on iQIYI. For the actor known for many historical dramas, this Republican-era setting will offer a distinctly different vibe. Filming for the 24-episode series was completed in only 56 days. Though he was quite young when he shot this even before The Double which turned out to be a hit, the actor, who’s still just 23, has gained a reputation for “acting beyond his age.” This time, he is paired with Wu Jiayi who is seven years older and also from his agency though the actress has shifted to vertical dramas as of late.

Wang Xingyue plays the cold-faced inspector Guan Cen, whose slicked-back hair and sharp suit give him a composed look. Wu Jiayi portrays rookie police officer Lu Yizhen, who initially clashes with Guan Cen before eventually becoming his partner. Set in the 1930s French Concession of Shanghai, the drama weaves together several bizarre murder cases, with the central plot revolving around the reopening of an old case that gradually exposes the dark forces operating beneath society.

Its production company Wanda has had several dramas shelved, but the show managing to secure an air date on iQIYI is seen as a sign of the platform’s confidence in Wang Xingyue’s commercial value. And having “detective” in the English title can’t be a coincidence. It will be his next drama to air following The Wanted Detective. It will also go head to head with Youku’s modern romance drama Second Chance Romance, which stars Wallace Chung and Qin Lan.