Zhang Zhe Han has come a long way in the 11 years since he has embarked on his acting journey in 2010.
He has performed many different types of roles in both modern and period settings since, in dramas, movies and even in variety.
Coming up as a fresh-faced supporting actor, ZZH started out in dramas even before he graduated from Shanghai Theatre Academy. In 2015, he started on the path of all fledgling leading men, acting in his share of 甜宠剧 / romance dramas, as they usually must. From starring in Legend of Banshu, Demon Girl I & II, he also took on supporting roles in other action dramas to gain exposure and experience in other genres.
古装帅瀚
Although the man himself doesn’t agree with fans that he looks best in period garb, many would say he has an undeniable alluring quality when he is in 古装.
Zhang Zhe Han did so many period dramas that he eventually started growing out his hair so that he can do away with the hair pieces that have a glued hairline, which tend to be distracting on close up. I would say this is another level of dedication on his part to look his best for the roles he plays.
A fun anecdote of how ZZH came to be the young Lin Shu of Nirvana in Fire, was while filming as the lead in 班淑传奇 | Legend of Ban Shu, ZZH was pulled into the production ‘next door’ when the directors came over to look for someone suitable to be cast as the young version of their male lead.
Even though the role was a small one, ZZH was very memorable as the charismatic and brave young man. His natural acting shone through.
After having relative success in 2018 with Legend of Yunxi | 芸汐传 ( filmed Jul 2017 , Aired Jun 2018), he reunited with his co-star from Yunxi and did another Duke role in The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion | 如意芳霏 ( filmed Sep 2019, Aired Oct 2020 ). Both series were very popular with audiences.
Zhang Zhe Han’s career has not always been smooth sailing. In early 2016, before the Korean entertainment ban ‘限韩令’ in 2017 took place, ZZH starred in a modern day rom com 时光之城 / Castle in the Time, with popular Korean actress Park Min Young. By the time the drama was ready to air, the ban was in place, and sadly this was yet another project which audiences never got to see. There has been a reshoot with a Chinese actress in 2021, although I am not sure how involved is ZZH in this process… but I for one, feel that this drama has probably fallen ‘out of time’ due to all the old drama tropes that was popular 5 years ago.
His biggest production, 朝歌 which he filmed for nearly 6 months, from Sep 2016 to Feb 2017, is still to date, not yet airable. It happened that right around that time, SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film and Television) has not relaxed its rules for dramas which ‘distorts history’, and so this drama could not pass censorship.
However, after reshoots in 2018 ( which unfortunately interrupted ZZH’s rehab period for his left knee injury and exacerbated it ) and alot of editing work, there have been positive signs in 2021 that it may finally see the light of day.
ZZH worked nearly nonstop, and started filming another modern romantic comedy drama Fall in Love at Second Sight | 一见不倾心 in Feb 2017. There was no official reason, but this drama has not gone to air even after the project wrapped after four long years. It must have been very demoralizing to have worked on so many consecutive projects but not seen them come to fruition, but ZZH kept his head down, and continued working hard.
ZZH finally caught his big break when he accepted the starring role of Zhou Zishu in 2020.
Word of Honor <山河令> was ready to start shooting when the pandemic hit and the original cast left after the schedule delay. Hence the project underwent a fateful re-casting process. After a grueling summer shoot from June to late September as the production missed the cooler seasons, WoH went on air in Feb 22 2021, and became a dark horse that won over audiences of all ages not only in China, but shot its two leads to considerable worldwide fame with Cdrama viewers.
The only genre that ZZH has not yet done, is fantasy 仙侠/xianxia. I am so torn, because I usually find this kind of drama really boring… On the other hand… he will look fantastic… as we got a tease of how he shines even in the relatively simple costumes from his endorsement photos from the 梦幻新诛仙 mobile game. Any great xianxia script with a big budget willing to cast our talented Zhang Zhe Han?
While Zhang Zhe Han is blessed with obvious good looks, he also has a versatile face which allows him to become the character he is playing. Not one to be tied down to a fixed image, ZZH has shown that he can transform convincingly into whatever a role requires of him.
ZZH’s character was literally the only ‘bright spot’ in The Bravest for me.
He also had a very frightening near-death experience during the filming of the movie, as recounted by the director during interviews later on.
[ Weibo Movie Night Clip ]
ZZH has already shot a detective action drama in Nov 2020, right after he finished WoH.
Retro Detective | 复古神探 will start airing tentatively in Sep 2021.
He has also finished the principle filming for another movie, Formed Police Unit / 维和防暴队 slated for release in 2022.
If you want a complete list of his past works, please check out his wikia.
But as Zhang Zhe Han says, his future work will always be the better role. hehe
I sincerely hope that Zhang Zhe Han will be able to have alot of great opportunities to be cast in quality projects and have breakthroughs in his career trying on different roles that he is interested in.
Zhang Zhehan 