On December 23, QQ reported that the movie Heroes of the World: The Great Battle of the Spirits, directed by the renowned director Tiêu Chiến, has released its first trailer. This is still a major project as it is directed by the famous director Tiêu Chiến, based on the novel by the beloved author Kim Dung. The lead actor is none other than the hottest name in the Chinese entertainment industry – Tiêu Chiến, which has raised expectations from the public since the announcement of Heroes of the World in 2025.
However, when the trailer was released, many opinions diverged regarding the appearance and portrayal of Tiêu Chiến. According to QQ, the character Quách Tĩnh has been portrayed many times, with successful versions by Huỳnh Nhất Hoa, Trương Trí Lâm, and Lý Á Bằng. Therefore, the pressure on Tiêu Chiến is immense. Unfortunately, it seems that the 1991-born star could not overshadow his predecessors.
According to QQ‘s assessment, in the trailer, Tiêu Chiến appears with a less impressive exterior, lacking the heroic aura that is characteristic of the original character as described in Kim Dung’s novels. QQ further notes that Quách Tĩnh is originally from Sơn Đông, China, and possesses a tall stature, large facial features, and a square jaw, embodying a strong masculine presence. Quách Tĩnh is known for his cold demeanor, and his current facial features seem to portray a more delicate image, which makes him less suitable for the role that requires a strong masculinity.
Conversely, Tiêu Chiến’s slender build and unassertive facial expression have sparked debates, as his face does not convey the necessary heroic charisma. His portrayal of Quách Tĩnh has been described as “messy and lacking the heroic spirit,” along with the dark atmosphere shown in the trailer, which leaves audiences struggling to recognize the new Quách Tĩnh.
Currently, on Weibo, keywords related to Tiêu Chiến and the movie Heroes of the World 2025 are trending, with “The new Quách Tĩnh of Tiêu Chiến” reaching 94 million interactions, while “Tru Tiên 2.0” garnered 25 million views. Many viewers believe that Heroes of the World 2025 could mark a new turning point in Tiêu Chiến’s career following the success of Tru Tiên.
According to QQ, even before the film began shooting, many viewers felt that the movie’s content seemed dull. Heroes of the World has been adapted multiple times on screen with various angles. As a result, the plot has become familiar, making it difficult to find fresh elements. Some fans expressed their disappointment, as they expected a visually stunning film, but the trailer has left them feeling that the movie lacks artistic imagination.
Netizens strongly critique Tiêu Chiến’s portrayal of Quách Tĩnh:
– Quách Tĩnh looks handsome in the original story, but why does he look like this?
– The hero in the trailer lacks any iconic scenes, which is disappointing.
– This portrayal of Quách Tĩnh has been criticized for months without improvement.
– Tiêu Chiến doesn’t fit the role; this film’s portrayal resembles Tru Tiên.
– Before, Quách Tĩnh looked fierce and imposing, but now he appears feeble and meek. Only this version of Quách Tĩnh looks bad.
– The actor is not attractive enough; he lacks the heroic temperament that Quách Tĩnh should possess.
– Watching the trailer today, one might think it’s a parody.
– Releasing this trailer feels like a bad marketing strategy; the main character seems poorly represented.
– I love Tiêu Chiến but dislike this portrayal.
– The hairstyle looks too similar to Tru Tiên, lacking any connection to the original character.
– The movie feels like a typical adaptation that lacks depth and original charm.
– This portrayal makes all upcoming films of 2025 seem bland.
– Audiences are always critical of Chinese films that feature main characters with poor portrayals, which adds to the difficulty in understanding this adaptation.
