# Lucas Wong Makes Acting Debut in Taiwanese Drama 'A Time' Director Tsao Jui-yuan unveils a multi-generational folk music drama at TCCF. - **Source:** [Variety](https://variety.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/02a4e79e-5e23-4ccc-8578-939dfd988c86 ## New Drama Unveiled Director Tsao Jui-yuan introduced his upcoming series A Time at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest. The project explores Taiwan's 1970s campus folk music movement, tracing four decades of friendship and personal transformation. Tsao, known for his previous works like A Touch of Green, spent eight years developing this ambitious narrative. ## Star-Studded Ensemble Cast The series features two generations of actors portraying five friends across different life stages. Established stars Jerry Yan, Ning Chang, and Wu Kang-ren lead the older ensemble. Meanwhile, the younger cast includes former NCT member Lucas Wong, Suri Lin, Fandy Fan, Iain Lu, and Joseph Huang, marking Wong's professional acting debut. ## Narrative and Themes Written by Chi Hsi-lin, the story begins after a character named Si Mao suffers a diving injury. As he remains in a coma for decades, his friends navigate love, guilt, and long-buried secrets. The drama aims to capture the transition from youthful recklessness to the complexities of adult life. ## Director's Creative Vision Tsao Jui-yuan describes campus folk music as a vital cultural intellectual property in contemporary Taiwan. He sought to reconcile with his own youth through this storytelling process. The director is noted for his intense focus on performance, with cast members describing him as an actor scanner who detects subtle emotional shifts. ## Production and Collaboration Ning Chang serves as an executive producer for the first time, alongside her acting role. The production team includes over 30 professionals recognized by prestigious awards like the Golden Horse and Golden Bell. Tsao compared Chang's resilience to that of Parasite producer Kwak Sin-ae, highlighting her significant influence on the project. ## Cast Training Challenges The younger cast members underwent rigorous preparation to inhabit their roles fully. Lucas Wong learned diving, guitar, and dancing to portray the younger Si Mao. Joseph Huang noted that while the dance sequences were challenging, the group enjoyed expressing themselves through music and movement, even performing at the press conference. ## Cultural Significance By focusing on the 1970s folk music era, the series aims to preserve a specific period of Taiwanese cultural history. The production emphasizes authenticity, requiring actors to remain focused and fully immersed in their characters. This commitment to detail reflects the director's long-term dedication to high-quality, character-driven television storytelling. ## Future Release Outlook The highly anticipated series is currently scheduled to premiere in 2027. As the project moves toward completion, it represents a significant collaboration between veteran filmmakers and emerging talent. Audiences can expect a deep exploration of friendship and memory, anchored by the nostalgic backdrop of Taiwan's influential folk music scene. ## Sources covering this story - https://variety.com/2026/film/markets-festivals/nct-lucas-wong-acting-debut-taiwan-drama-a-time-1236942261/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._