Darren Wang Da Lu , the lead in The Wolf, has been in the news recently for having troubles with the law. First, he was investigated and detained for evading military service in Taiwan. Just after he was released, he was arrested again for an attempted murder case before the charge was downgraded to causing injury. As of now, he is out on bail. His bail money of NT$5 million (USD152,000) is reportedly the highest ever recorded for those in the entertainment industry who have been charged in the past.
What started off as evasion of military service has taken a surprising turn that Wang Da Lu himself would not have anticipated. The facts of the case that have emerged and sequence of events is just like a drama plot to me. Earlier this year, the police arrested a fraudster who have cheated on old woman in an investment scam. Their investigation shows this fraudster was also involved in a syndicate that helps people to evade military service. And guess what, Wang Da Lu’s name came up as one of the fraudster’s clients.
Further investigation shows that Wang Da Lu had paid millions in the past to obtain fake medical certificates to evade the required military service. For that, he was detained and his mobile phone was confiscated. His mobile phone ultimately caused him an even bigger problem which is attempted murder in the initial stages.
Argument With A Taxi Driver
In April 2024, Wang Da Lu had a disagreement with a taxi driver for what is a pretty common occurrence. He complained that the driver was taking a longer route which the latter denied. Upon reaching his destination, there was yet another disagreement. Wang Da Lu wanted to retrieve his belongings that he had left in the car seat. But he couldn’t open the car door which was already locked although the driver did open it for him to get his things eventually. Wang Da Lu then took a picture of the taxi number plate before leaving.
Subsequently, the taxi driver was tracked and beaten up. Wang Da Lu had complained about the taxi driver to his friend, You Xiang Min, who is from a wealthy family and has vast connections. Thugs were told to do the necessary. Wang Da Lu’s mobile records showed his intention and knowledge of the incident. As such, he was arrested and charged. The charges were reduced from attempted murder to causing injury after further investigations. However, the charges still carry a jail sentence of up to 5 years if found guilty. His friend and the thugs involved were also arrested.
Upcoming Dramas With Wang Da Lu
There are 3 upcoming dramas that have Wang Da Lu on its cast list. The first is Quiet Among Disquiet which is a workplace drama revolving the magazine publishing industry and based on a novel. It also stars Ma Yi Li and Xu Ya Jun. There is not much news on this drama or its broadcast schedule although it has been completed for quite some time. There was even reports of a scheduled broadcast in 2023 which was brought forward to 2025. Now, the chance of it ever seeing the light of day is even more remote.
The second drama with Wang Da Lu is Ji Wu. Ji Wu is a suspense drama centered around a haunted house. Starring opposite Wang Da Lu is Su Xiao Tong who is the female lead in The Imperial Coroner. Filming started in June 2024 but there has been little update on its progress. Chances are it is in the post-production stage now and with Wang Da Lu’s recent cases, they are just going to put it on hold.
The last drama is Faith & Law. However, Wang Da Lu only has a guest role in this one. Faith & Law has 24 episodes in total and it is a crime drama. Among its cast members are Liu Yi Jun, Qu Chu Xiao, Yan Ni, Ren Zhong, and Zhou Fang. It is scheduled to be broadcast by iQIYI in 2025. Now, it may take a bit more time if they need to rework Wang Da Lu’s scenes.
With the time, effort, and money put in by everyone in a drama production, it is indeed a pity if the drama can’t be aired because of one single individual. It’s not the first time this has happened, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last either.
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