Despite not starring in “Zhu Yu,” Peter Ho gains a million followers, while Zhang Linghe personally responds to the viral “foundation general” buzz

(Taipei, April 16) The historical drama Zhu Yu has recently drawn attention, particularly for its male lead Zhang Linghe. His portrayal of General Wu’an Marquis, with a refined and polished look, has sparked online debate, with some netizens jokingly calling him a “foundation-wearing general” and comparing him to Peter Ho’s more rugged portrayal of Xiang Yu in past roles.

Responding to the discussion, Peter Ho attended a press event on April 15 for his directed project The Prophecy of Falling for You. He acknowledged the buzz and noted that it has brought him more opportunities, but emphasized his focus on directing, quoting Xiang Yu’s famous line: “burn the boats”—a symbol of full commitment.

Reflecting on his career, Ho shared that about nine years ago, after the success of Nothing Gold Can Stay, he reached one of the peaks of his acting career, with numerous offers coming in. However, he chose to pivot to directing, turning down projects to focus on his first directed series Memory of Enmity, which later earned him a Golden Bell Award for Best Director. “If you try to do both, you risk doing neither well,” he said, stressing the responsibility a director holds toward the production and cast.

As for the comparison with Zhu Yu, Ho said he has not yet watched the series and believes different genres should not be directly compared. For his new project, he required actor Tsao Yu-ning to build muscle and improve basketball skills, though he joked there was no need to bulk up like Xiang Yu, “since he’s not heading into battle.”

Ho also shared his personal fitness journey, revealing that he once weighed only 66 kg at a height of 185 cm when he first debuted. Motivated by a desire to avoid criticism while filming underwear advertisements, he began working out and eventually built a stronger physique—helping him land roles as powerful executives and warriors.

He humorously recalled an incident over 20 years ago when he gained media attention for his appetite. At an event alongside his idol Jacky Cheung, he was challenged to an eating contest and consumed eight bowls of rice, earning praise and headlines the next day.

Today, Ho maintains a weight of around 74 kg, though he has slimmed down to 68 kg for roles when needed. He noted that he can still adjust his physique quickly if required—and joked that his fitness journey all began thanks to that early underwear commercial opportunity.