A-List Chinese Stars Could Lose Their Top Billing Under New Industry Policy

China’s entertainment industry is undergoing a major shake-up after the country’s broadcasting regulator introduced new rules aimed at ending the long-running battles over actor billing and on-screen credits. The policy, issued by the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), standardizes how actors are credited in film and television productions, a move that has drawn both praise and criticism across the Chinese entertainment industry.

Under the new regulations, productions can only use three official categories when crediting performers:

• Leading Actor
• Special Appearance
• Guest Appearance

Producers are prohibited from creating additional titles or modifying these classifications. Furthermore, the number of guest appearances listed cannot exceed ten performers. The rules are designed to eliminate the increasingly confusing billing titles that have become common in recent years.

Previously, Chinese productions frequently introduced customized designations such as:

• First-Billed Lead Actor
• Special Lead Actor
• Featured Lead Actor
• Friendly Appearance
• Co-Leading Performer
• Collaborative Lead

These titles were often created to satisfy multiple high-profile stars appearing in the same project without diminishing their perceived status.

One of the most controversial aspects of Chinese entertainment culture has been the battle over “billing order,” known in the industry as “fanwei.” Billing order often serves as a symbol of an actor’s popularity, market value, influence, and importance within a project. As a result, agencies, fan clubs, and production companies have spent years negotiating and sometimes fighting over whose name appears first. The issue became so intense that some productions reportedly delayed official cast announcements while actors’ teams negotiated billing arrangements.

According to the new policy, actor names will now be ordered according to the number of strokes in their legal names, beginning with their surnames. The performer whose surname contains fewer strokes will be listed first.

In addition, productions must use actors’ legal names as registered on official identification documents, followed by their stage names if applicable. For example, actor Ren Jialun will reportedly be credited using his legal name, Ren Guochao, followed by his stage name. The regulations are scheduled to take effect on July 10.

The new system has led to widespread discussion online, with some fans joking that actors such as Yu Shi and Ding Yuxi are among the biggest beneficiaries because their surnames contain relatively few strokes, potentially placing them higher in official credits.

Meanwhile, younger stars who have frequently been involved in billing disputes may no longer need to negotiate ranking positions before projects begin filming.

Not everyone is pleased with the new policy. Top-tier stars such as Zhao Liying, Yang Zi, Liu Yifei, Yang Mi, and Zhang Ruoyun have traditionally received first billing due to their commercial value and ability to attract investment, advertisers, and viewers. Under the new system, some of these stars could find themselves listed after co-stars with less industry influence simply because of how their legal names are written.

Industry observers note that many established celebrities view first billing as recognition of their contributions to a project, making the changes potentially controversial among major agencies and talent managers.

While some celebrities and fan communities have expressed concerns, many Chinese viewers have welcomed the new regulations. Supporters argue that the rules could reduce toxic fan wars, prevent excessive demands for screen time, and discourage actors from leveraging billing status to negotiate higher fees or additional privileges.

For years, disputes over billing order have fueled online harassment campaigns, fan conflicts, and pressure on production companies to alter scripts or redistribute screen time to satisfy competing interests. Critics say these disputes have sometimes harmed productions by shifting attention away from storytelling and creative quality.

Many industry analysts believe the regulations represent an effort to redirect attention from celebrity hierarchy back to the quality of film and television productions. By removing subjective billing negotiations and eliminating inflated titles, regulators hope to reduce unnecessary conflicts and allow producers to focus on content rather than celebrity politics.

Whether the new system succeeds remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: China’s entertainment industry is entering a new era where actor rankings may no longer dominate headlines as much as the projects themselves.

Sources: K14