A major controversy has rocked the Chinese entertainment industry, centering on actress Nashi, whose scandal has reportedly caused a catastrophic loss of up to 150 million yuan (~230 million USD) for the blockbuster film Blades of the Guardians. The incident is also affecting a slew of A-list stars and top-tier investors, prompting widespread debate online.
According to circulating reports, Blades of the Guardians was a high-stakes project with an initial budget of 550 million yuan, filmed in Xinjiang between July and November 2024, spanning a total of 185 days. Nashi held a pivotal role, with substantial screen time that was integral to the film’s narrative.
However, due to her abrupt departure following a major education scandal, the production is now being forced to reshoot all of her scenes a move that could inflate the budget by 50 to 150 million yuan. Since her character cannot be digitally replaced, simple editing or AI enhancement is not a viable option.
The film’s break-even point is now projected at 1.5 to 2.1 billion yuan, a daunting figure unless the storyline and execution are exceptionally strong. Originally slated for release during Lunar New Year, Blades of the Guardians would be up against other heavyweights, including films from Stephen Chow and Jia Ling making box office success even more uncertain.
Nashi gained widespread acclaim for her role as Deng Chan Yu in Creation of the Gods. Born in 1989, she stood out for her commanding screen presence and skilled execution of complex action sequences many hailing her as one of the most impressive female generals in modern Chinese cinema.
However, her rising career came crashing down after she was exposed for exploiting preferential university admissions policies. Despite being registered in Inner Mongolia, Nashi was reportedly raised and educated in Beijing at elite institutions. She returned to Inner Mongolia only to claim minority and hardship status benefits during her university entrance exams.
Under those special admissions policies, she was obligated to return to her hometown to work after graduation. Instead, Nashi moved to Norway for further studies and never fulfilled that obligation, sparking national outrage over the perceived abuse of educational equity.
The scandal has not only destroyed her budding career leading to her complete blacklisting from the industry but also inflicted significant collateral damage. Investors, production teams, and co-stars have been deeply affected, including major names such as Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse, Jet Li, Yu Shi, and Zhang Yi.
Sources: K14