Inbound Troubles <老表，你好嘢!> stars, Wong Cho Lam (王祖藍) and Joey Meng (萬綺雯), are currently in discussion to star in Wong Wai Sing’s (黃偉聲) new TVB drama, Food for the Slaves <食為奴>, a period comedy drama about Emperor Yongzheng and his personal chef. Food for the Slaves was promoted as an upcoming television drama at the 2013 TVB Sales Presentation event, which was held on November 8, 2012. The sales presentation trailer featured Raymond Lam (林峯) as Emperor Yongzheng, Ron Ng (吳卓羲) as his “golden-tongued” chef, Sharon Chan (陳敏之) as Yongzheng’s concubine, Fala Chen (陳法拉) as assassin Lu Siniang, and Nancy Wu (胡定欣) as her associate. Actors who star in TVB sales presentation trailers usually have their schedules booked to star in the actual productions as well. However, Raymond Lam, citing work scheduling conflicts, turned down to star as the lead role in Food for the Slaves. Ron Ng, Sharon Chan, and Fala Chen are also unavailable to meet the drama’s February principal photography deadline, and turned down their roles. As Inbound Troubles is currently airing in Hong Kong to high ratings and favorable reviews, producer Wong decided to cast Inbound Troubles lead, Wong Cho Lam, as the golden-tongued chef, a role previously portrayed by Ron Ng in the sales presentation trailer. Producer Wong said, “The role suits Wong Cho Lam really well. Also, the audience has never seen him with a shaved head before!” The story of Food for the Slaves will center on Wong Cho Lam’s character, a humorous golden-tongued chef, and his close relationship with Emperor Yongzheng. The character design will resemble The Duke of Mount Deer’s <鹿鼎記> Wei Xiaobao. Wong revealed that he had plans to cast Linda Chung (鍾嘉欣) in the role of Lu Siniang after Fala turned down the role. As Linda will be away in Canada after she completes her filming for Brother’s Keeper <巨輪> in February, she will also be unavailable to film Food for the Slaves. As a result, Wong turned to Joey Meng, Wong Cho Lam’s costar in Inbound Troubles, to star as Lu Siniang. Wong expressed that Joey is still considering, and has not given him a definite reply yet. Creds: ihktv
