The adapted Chinese version of "High School Musical" crafted by Jiang Cheng features seven main characters: male lead Zhang Jun, female lead Ning Ning, second female lead Yang Yang, second male lead Yuan Jie who is also Zhang Jun's best friend and teammate, Zhang Jun's rival Liu Chen, Ning Ning's close friend Yuan Yuan, and pianist cum amateur hacker Wang Ming.
These seven characters were envisioned with specific actors in mind during the creative process, with the four male roles even modeled after Jiang Cheng himself, Hu Ge, Yuan Hong, and Sun Xiao.
Zhang Jun, the male lead, naturally went to Jiang Cheng. Portrayed as a tall, sunny, and handsome high school student with exceptional basketball skills, Zhang Jun appears somewhat aloof due to his strict upbringing and limited socializing time. Those who get close know him as a sunny person who cherishes his friends. The "cold" vibe he gives off stems mainly from the immense pressure imposed by his father, leading him to find solace through song and dance. This complex role required high acting skills to display both "cool" and "warm" sides, so Jiang Cheng took it up himself, not trusting anyone else.
Hu Ge was cast as Liu Chen, not Yuan Jie. Jiang Cheng felt that Hu Ge had been typecast as the good guy for too long and believed that occasionally playing an antagonist could enhance his acting skills. Liu Chen isn't a true villain but acts out of jealousy. With his slender build and comedic potential, this role seemed perfect for Hu Ge, who enjoys making people laugh.
Jiang Cheng assigned the role of Yuan Jie to Yuan Hong, believing his potential was no less than Hu Ge's. Yuan Hong's talents had been overshadowed, so this film was an opportunity to showcase him more.
Wang Ming's character was specifically adapted for Sun Xiao. Originally female in the American version, Jiang Cheng felt the character's gender was irrelevant and thus changed it to male. Additionally, he added a hidden identity to the character, inspired by Gabriella's friend "Taylor McKessie" from the original. The idea of a pianist who is also a hacker in the dark world added a cool, dramatic conflict and made the story more coherent.
For the female roles, Jiang Cheng planned to invite Liu Yifei, Han Xue, and Jin Sha. Ning Ning, quiet and intelligent on the surface but a dynamic superstar when performing, seemed to fit Liu Yifei perfectly. For the role of Yang Yang, the rich bad girl, Han Xue's somewhat ambiguous vibe made her the ideal choice. Jin Sha, appearing even more gentle and considerate than Liu Yifei, was perfect for the role of the kind-hearted yet somewhat clumsy Yuan Yuan.
As for Zhang Jun's father, Ning Ning's mother, Teacher Li Da, basketball players, classmates, and other roles, there was no worry about casting. Young roles didn't require stunning looks or supreme acting skills, and plenty of options were available for older actors in Hengdian, where capable middle-aged actors were abundant and affordable.
Jiang Cheng left the selection of these supporting roles and the submission of the script for approval to Zheng Hai. His immediate priority was to finalize the main cast. Although he had ideal actors in mind, their agreement was not guaranteed.
Jiang Cheng first returned to school to discuss the film plan and his intention to cast his three roommates.
The trio was initially surprised by how quickly Jiang Cheng had come up with a new film plan and then excitedly discussed it. However, they already had a commitment to a stage play...
"Although we'd love to go, we can't. We've already promised someone else!" Hu Ge said regretfully. Even though it was a leading role, the impact of a stage play couldn't compare to that of a film.
"Yeah, you should have told us earlier!" Sun Xiao, probably the most disappointed among them, had always aspired to make it in the entertainment industry. The opportunity to act in a film was too good to miss, but now he had to let it go due to scheduling conflicts.
Jiang Cheng explained that the film wouldn't start shooting immediately and that there was still a lot of preparatory work to do. He aimed to begin shooting in late February, by which time their stage play would likely be completed. However, they would need to undergo some singing and dancing training beforehand, which might be tight on time but manageable.
Despite the tight schedule, Jiang Cheng himself was the busiest among them, juggling the upcoming release of "[Immortal]," post-release interviews, promotional activities, pre-film preparations, continuous dance training, composing work, and various appearances. Embracing the path he had chosen, he was prepared for the hectic schedule.
The trio, already enchanted by the allure of being seen on the big screen, found the prospect of acting in a second film incredibly tempting. After some contemplation about the challenging schedule ahead, they all agreed to participate, willing to endure the hardships for the sake of their passion.
With the male roles confirmed, Jiang Cheng's next step was to secure the female leads, a task that required more urgency. Liu Yifei and Jin Sha had other engagements that year, making Han Xue the most likely to be available.
Jiang Cheng first approached Han Xue, who agreed to play Yang Yang after reading the script and discussing the role with Jiang Cheng. However, he noticed a wistful look in her eyes when he described the character of Ning Ning.
Next, Jiang Cheng contacted Liu Yifei. While she didn't immediately agree, needing to consult with her agent Chen Jinfei, Jiang Cheng was optimistic. Knowing that Chen Jinfei had worked hard to secure roles for Liu Yifei in the past, he believed Chen would not turn down a good opportunity like this film.
Finally, Jiang Cheng reached out to Jin Sha. Despite her busy schedule with her upcoming album and a role in "[Eighteen-Year-Old Sky]," she agreed to join and even offered to persuade her agent.
With the cast nearly finalized, Jiang Cheng's next concern was finding an experienced assistant director to help with the workload. He approached Zhang Da, who had previously worked on "[Autumn's Concerto]" and was currently underutilized at Tangren. Zhang Da, eager for more work, quickly agreed, pending approval from Tangren.
Now, with most preparations in place, Jiang Cheng turned his attention to the upcoming release of "[Immortal], his immediate concern.