Youku 优酷 upgrades 悬疑剧场 to 白夜剧场; opens with Tender Light 微暗之火

#白夜剧场 #Youku #优酷 #TongYao #童瑶 #微暗之火 #Tender Light #ZhangXincheng #张新成​​​ #cdrama 

On April 22nd, Youku announced a significant change: the company has “upgraded” its Suspense Theatre (悬疑剧场) to the White Night Theatre (白夜剧场), set to officially launch on April 24th. Alongside this announcement, they revealed that Gone with the Wind (微暗之火) has been chosen as the inaugural drama for this newly rebranded anthology series, with the premiere scheduled for three days later, on April 27th.

This move represents a rebranding and a fresh start for the content previously offered under the Suspense Theatre banner. By transitioning to the White Night Theatre, Youku signals its intention to take a new direction, adopt a different tone, and potentially elevate the quality of suspense drama series released on their platform.

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Youku shared this rebranding news via their Weibo channel, accompanied by a video featuring the new ident and the following text:

黎明前的黑夜终将走向光明，在抽丝剥茧的悬疑之旅中，总有人不忘对真相与正义的追求与探索。悬念迭起，终见光明；长夜必尽，真相大白！4月24日

"The darkness before dawn will eventually turn to light. Amidst the suspenseful journey of unraveling mysteries, there are always those who persistently seek truth and justice. As suspense builds, the light becomes visible; the long night will end, and the truth will be revealed! On April 24th."

It appears that more details about this rebranding will emerge from Youku tomorrow (24th April). Fans of Chinese suspense series should keep an eye on Youku’s Weibo account to stay informed about any further developments.

Additionally, Youku likely issued a press release to various media outlets, as several of them have carried similar information. The essence of this announcement is that the White Night Theatre aims to delve into deeper social issues, portray profound human emotions, create an immersive viewing experience, and evoke resonance and empathy among viewers. In doing so, it hopes to carve out a new path and establish a fresh space for high-quality Chinese dramas.

Youku’s commitment to differentiated content suggests a departure from the norm, promising something novel and refreshing for their audience. Perhaps we can anticipate unconventional narratives, complex characters, and unique themes.

Earlier, Youku had already announced its intention to produce high-quality short dramas helmed by renowned filmmakers. Three such dramas have been revealed:《雪迷宫》The First Shot,produced by Zhang Yimou and directed by Lü Xing;《边水往事》produced by Cao Baoping and directed by Suàn; and《新生》, directed by Shen Aozhi. While not explicitly stated, industry expectations are that these three series will also fall under the White Night Theatre banner.

This is exciting news for Chinese suspense fans, offering a fresh direction and new possibilities for the genre.

sources: Sina, 北京商报, 北京青年报官网