Shaun Tam, Mandy Wong, Joel Chan, and Vivien Yeo for TVB’s “Confession of Murder: 18 Years Later”
Mandy Wong (黃智雯) will no longer be Hong Kong’s “Sunday Queen” as it has been announced that she will be leading the new TVB investigative drama, Confession of Murder: 18 Years Later <十八年後的殺人告白>.
The drama stars Shaun Tam (譚俊彥) and Joel Chan (陳山聰) in lead roles, playing a pair of friends who had committed a murder together 18 years ago. Mandy Wong plays the detective in charge of investigating their cold case.
“I am looking forward to my relationship line with Shaun Tam,” shared Mandy at the show’s press conference. “At the start, he was the criminal and I was the investigator, but I end up falling for him. I look forward to how our future scenes play out.”
The title of the TVB drama is inspired by the 2017 Japanese film Memoirs of a Murder, or 22 Nenme no Kokohaku: Watashi ga Satsujinhan desu <22年目の告白－私が殺人犯です－>, literally translated to “A Confession 22 Years Later: I Am a Murderer.” The film tells the story of an author who publishes a memoir 22 years later admitting to a series of murders he committed two decades ago.
As a result of the similar titles, netizens wondered if 18 Years Later is inspired by the Japanese film. Mandy said, “[TVB] prefers short names, but I personally like long names. It does have a Japanese feel to it. (Netizens are saying that the drama is trying to copy the Japanese title.) Well, the storyline and plot are different. It’s just a temporary name for now.”
In regard to her fans being overjoyed that she would no longer be the “Sunday Queen”, Mandy said, “This is a police thriller, so I do think it’s more suitable to be aired on the weekdays.”
Joel Chan and Vivien Yeo Head to the Lead
Confession of Murder: 18 Years Later is Joel’s first TVB primetime drama as male lead. The show is also Vivien Yeo’s (楊秀惠) first time playing a lead female character. The 33-year-old plays a bar waitress and Joel Chan’s love interest.
Vivien, who plays a mute waitress, has been taking sign language lessons for her role. She shared that the producer initially told her that her movements were too stiff, which prompted Vivien to practice hard for the next two months. “I’m okay now. I’ve gotten a lot better,” she said.
Joel, on the other hand, has been training hard at the gym. He shared that he would be having many action scenes on the show, including shirtless scenes. “The most stressful thing is knowing that I would have to take off my shirt. Because I’ve been busy with filming, I don’t have time to train. Fortunately, the producer knows this so he purposely arranged those scenes to be shot in the end. Hopefully I get to squeeze out some chocolates later!”
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
Omg…Vivien Yeoh is a lead female character now…so fast…Cant Tvb promote Selena Li, Yoyo Chen, Tracy Chu, Katy Kung and other actresses that act better then her?…sigh…even Mandy had to wait in queue for a long period for her chance to become female lead…
@snoopy fast? I feel like I have been seeing her forever too no? I never like Mandy Wong if she can be lead why not give all these forever supporting actresses/actors who have been there forever a chance to lead. Since it says MW is the lead, doubt she’s really lead more like a 2nd lead.
@snoopy right?! Why is Selena not the leading lady status is beyond me. She’s had excellent roles since like ten years ago in The Seventh Day and Gloves comes Off. Yoyo and Tracy are quite popular eith the audience too.
@snoopy @wm2017 Glad that Joel is finally being given leading roles.
@snoopy
WTH are you on about? Vivien has been at TVB for about 15 years
@snoopy selena has been leading for a long time
@snoopy
Too fast? Vivien joined TVB earlier than Mandy Wong and has been working as a supporting actress for more than 10 years. If Vivien Yeoh getting lead is fast, Mandy’s is bullet speed.
Selena and Tracy have already gotten their chances as female lead. Remember ‘Brick Slaves’ and ‘Over Run Over’?
I’m happy that Vivien finally get her chance as lead. She’s a good actress. The only thing hindering her is her Cantonese. But, she playing a mute here. So, this won’t be a problem.
That plot reminds me of “When Heaven Burns”.
Which I think was a remake of the original Korean movie from 2003? 2002? Nothing is original these days. TVB will put in more fillers but if the story is similar, well Mandy’s character won’t be in much dilemma over the love story.
Actually it’s her second time leading the first time was sunshine heart beat
It says a lot about Tvb’ s sad state of affairs when we have people like Samantha and Vivien taking on first lead roles. Vivien is ok in supporting roles (much prefer her to Samantha) but I don’t think she has female lead pulling power.