Summary
IQiyi has announced three seasons and roughly 1,000 minutes of the fantasy series No Envy for Mandarin Ducks, Only Immortals, described in a Sohu commentary as China’s first long-form AI drama built around formally licensed human performers. Actors Shen Yujie and Chen Heyi reportedly licensed their likenesses and voices for digital doubles, while contributing voice work and initial appearance capture rather than conventional on-set performances. IQiyi says more than 100 performers have consented to join its AI talent library under a “one project, one role, no automatic extension” rule. The report says detailed contract terms—including compensation, storage, deletion and enforcement—remain private. China’s synthetic-content rules require consent for deep synthesis and visible and embedded labels for generated media, creating a regulatory floor but not a complete performer-rights framework.
Hana’s perspective
I think “one project, one role” is the right starting unit because consent should attach to a defined performance, not become a permanent license to a person. It still leaves the hard terms hidden: payment, data custody, deletion, model reuse, approval of final scenes and remedies for misuse. A digital double can generate value without an actor’s continuing labor, so compensation should reflect reuse and reach, not only capture time. This production will matter most if its contract becomes transparent enough to improve industry standards.
Are you a writer with a great story? We'd love to hear from you: APPLY HERE