Lucas Wong, known to K-pop fans as a former member of NCT and WayV, is stepping into acting for the first time. He plays the younger version of a character named Si Mao in the Taiwanese drama “A Time,” directed by Tsao Jui-yuan. The project was presented at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) on November 8, 2026, with a premiere planned for 2027.
The series pairs two generations of actors to tell a story about five friends across four decades. Jerry Yan, famous for Meteor Garden, plays the older Si Mao, while Ning Chang stars and also serves as an executive producer for the first time.
Lucas Wong Plays a Young Man Frozen in Time
Wong’s character, Si Mao, is injured in a diving accident early in the story. He dives into an empty swimming pool and remains in a coma for decades. While his friends grow older, Si Mao stays frozen at eighteen, a detail that shapes the emotional weight of the entire series.
The role required Wong to learn skills he had never tried before. He trained in diving, guitar, and dance for the part. Diving proved to be the hardest physical challenge. Wong said he was scared to jump from the springboard the first time and had to build up courage to overcome the height. Training in an outdoor pool during winter left him numb from the cold.
“Being able to work with such an outstanding cast on my first acting project taught me so much. I also learned diving, guitar and dancing for the role. This performance has been a very meaningful experience for me.” — Lucas Wong
Wong also listened to old Hong Kong songs before filming to get into the mindset of the era. The story begins in the 1970s and stretches into the present day.
A Story About Friendship, Guilt, and Buried Secrets
Written by Chi Hsi-lin, “A Time” follows five friends whose lives are changed by Si Mao’s accident. While Si Mao lies in a coma, the others deal with love, guilt, and personal struggles. A reunion decades later brings secrets from their youth back to the surface.
Director Tsao Jui-yuan spent eight years developing the project. He has previously directed Crystal Boys, A Touch of Green, and Seqalu: Formosa 1867. Tsao said the story came from a personal place.
“The starting point for this project was my desire to come to terms with my own youth. I’ve always believed that campus folk music is one of the most important cultural IPs in contemporary Taiwan.” — Tsao Jui-yuan
The series uses campus folk music from the 1970s as a narrative thread. Tsao described the music as more than nostalgia. For him, it represents a generation’s attitude and way of thinking.
Two Generations, Five Roles, One Shared Story
The drama’s structure relies on two separate ensembles playing the same five characters at different ages.
The older cast includes Ning Chang, Jerry Yan, Chen Yi-han, Wu Kang-ren (a Golden Horse best actor winner), and Liang Cheng-chun. The younger cast features Lucas Wong, Suri Lin, Fandy Fan, Iain Lu, and Joseph Huang.
Ning Chang was first approached to act in the series. She later took on the executive producer role as well. Tsao said he invited her because of her resilience and commanding presence, qualities that reminded him of Parasite producer Kwak Sin-ae. Chang described Tsao as an “actor scanner” who notices even the smallest change in a performer’s emotional state.
Iain Lu, who plays the younger version of Chang’s character, said the director demands full commitment. “If we lose focus or get distracted, even for a moment, he notices,” Lu said.
Jerry Yan plays Si Mao in three different phases: the eighteen-year-old before the accident, the coma patient whose spirit lingers near his friends, and an older man living in Japan. Tsao praised Yan’s performance, saying it surprised him in ways he did not expect.
Folk Music and Dance Built Into the Story
Music is not just background in “A Time.” Songs and dance sequences carry the emotional weight of the friendships. The younger cast performed the Taiwanese folk song “Seasonal Rain” at the TCCF press conference, recreating a dance sequence from the drama.
Joseph Huang, who plays the younger Mian Yang, said the dance movements were difficult for everyone. “But we also really enjoyed being able to express ourselves through singing and dancing in addition to acting,” he said.
Ning Chang admitted that singing while spinning during one scene was a real challenge for her. “Singing is really hard, so singers are truly amazing,” she said at the event.
What Lucas Wong Learned From His First Acting Job
For Wong, the most emotional moment came off-camera. While talking with Ning Chang and Chen Yi-han, he began to cry without expecting it. He explained that he was thinking about what his character had lost: the chance to grow up with his friends.
“At that moment we were just chatting privately. I don’t know why I cried. I was thinking, ‘If I had stayed awake, would things have been different?’” — Lucas Wong
Chang said she was startled by his tears and jokingly asked if she had put too much pressure on him. She and Chen Yi-han then hugged him to comfort him.
Wong also praised his co-star Suri Lin, who plays the younger version of Chen Yi-han’s character. He said Lin could switch emotions on and off instantly. “She would suddenly cry. She’s a real professional,” Wong said.
Production Scale and Release Plans
“A Time” has a budget of over NT$200 million (roughly US$6.2 million). The series consists of ten episodes, each running about 45 minutes. It is currently in post-production.
A preview of the first two episodes was shown at the Kaohsiung Film Festival. The full premiere is scheduled for 2027. No specific date or streaming platform has been announced for the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, or other global markets.
The production brings together more than 30 creative professionals whose work has been recognized by the Golden Horse, Golden Bell, and Golden Melody awards, as well as international festivals.
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From K-Pop Group to Acting Lead
Lucas Wong was the first Hong Kong-born artist to debut under South Korea’s SM Entertainment. He left NCT and WayV in May 2023 and later ended his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment in April 2026. “A Time” marks his first professional acting role after that transition.
The drama also brings Jerry Yan and Ning Chang back together on screen. The two previously worked together more than twenty years ago. Their reunion has drawn attention from Taiwanese media, with outlets noting the pairing of two well-known stars from the early 2000s.
“A Time” is set to arrive in 2027. The combination of a veteran director, a cross-generational cast, and a story rooted in Taiwan’s folk music history gives the project a distinct identity. For Wong, it is a new chapter after years in the K-pop industry.
Stay with VvipTimes for more updates on “A Time” and other major entertainment stories as they develop.
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