Baidu YY Maixu Short Drama Acquires Film Adaptation Rights for "Star Wish" - Xiong Li's JuStar Plan Outstanding Actors Will Receive Acting Opportunities

Recently, Baidu YY’s short drama label Mai Xu officially announced that it has acquired the adaptation rights for the classic film “Star Wish.” The short drama will be titled after the original film’s theme song “Star Language, Heart Wish,” and is scheduled to begin filming in May of this year. Renowned short drama director Lian Yi will serve as the chief director, and Liu Tianchi, a teacher from the Central Academy of Drama’s acting department, will act as the artistic consultant. Meanwhile, the Mai Xu “Star Language, Heart Wish” project team announced their participation in the “Xiongli · Juxing Plan,” opening certain key roles for outstanding actors selected through the plan, thereby building a bridge for newcomers in the short drama industry to access this classic IP.

Revitalizing Classic IP, Incorporating Popular Elements into Short Drama Adaptation

As a film that once moved countless audiences, “Star Wish” has become a youth memory for a generation with its sincere and touching emotions and its fantastical, romantic storyline. This time, Baidu YY’s Mai Xu short drama has obtained the rights to adapt it, aiming to leverage the advantages of short dramas—being concise, fast-paced, and close to the audience—to present this warm story in a new form to contemporary viewers.

The involvement of renowned short drama director Lian Yi has further heightened market expectations for the project. Director Lian Yi has created many acclaimed short dramas that combine reputation and popularity, such as “Ripples of the Flying Bird,” “Youth of Half Summer,” “Holding Hands and Not Letting Go,” and “The Back of the Sun.” Under her direction, the “Star Language, Heart Wish” short drama will incorporate more modern popular elements while preserving the emotional core of the original work, aligning with current audience aesthetics.

Strong Partnership, Upgrading the Xiongli · Juxing Plan

The “Xiongli · Juxing Plan” is a large-scale actor recruitment initiative launched by Baidu YY’s artist management company Xiongli Juliang on January 24, 2026, at the YY 2025 Annual Peak Gala. Its goal is to discover and cultivate potential new stars for the short drama industry, injecting fresh talent into this rapidly growing sector. The plan involves collaboration with Liu Tianchi and his team from the Central Academy of Drama’s acting department, who serve as artistic consultants throughout the process. Using a multi-stage selection process—including online recruitment, auditions, competitions, and offline finals—the criteria emphasize not only appearance and basic acting skills but also the actors’ understanding of short drama pacing, emotional expression, and character development.

The participation of the “Star Language, Heart Wish” short drama team in the “Xiongli · Juxing Plan,” with some key roles open for outstanding actors selected through the plan, undoubtedly adds an attractive practical pathway. For contestants, starring in such a widely recognized classic IP adaptation is an excellent opportunity to showcase their acting skills and a significant stepping stone for career advancement. For the short drama project, recruiting talented newcomers from the “Xiongli · Juxing Plan” can bring fresh energy to the work, allowing the classic story to shine anew through the performances of new actors.

Since its launch, the “Xiongli · Juxing Plan” has attracted nearly a hundred performance enthusiasts nationwide, thanks to its accessible registration process, professional selection standards, and abundant resource support. The first audition phase is scheduled for the end of March, with registration nearing completion. The organizers will hold two additional audition rounds and a final in April and May. The selected outstanding actors will then qualify to participate in the filming of “Star Language, Heart Wish.”

A Baidu YY spokesperson stated that “Star Language, Heart Wish” represents a strong collaboration between Mai Xu and Xiongli Juliang artist management, exemplifying a deep integration of content creation and talent development in the short drama industry. It also demonstrates Baidu YY’s strategic layout in this field—expanding its self-produced drama portfolio through partnerships, continuously incubating and empowering short drama artists, and leveraging the vast traffic and resources within the Baidu ecosystem to build a complete short drama production industry chain.