The highly anticipated 2025 flagship Taiwanese series The World Between Us II held its grand teaser premiere on November 6, 2024 on the main stage of the 2024 Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF). Reuniting the award-winning original team, this new chapter presents a fresh cast and storyline, with Golden Bell Awards-winning producer Jayde Lin, acclaimed writer Lu Shih-yuan, and celebrated director Lin Chun-yang leading the project. Leading actors Vic Chou (Meteor Garden) and Hsueh Shih-ling (Taiwan Crime Stories), alongside rising stars Liu Tzu-chuan (The Pig, The Snake and The Pigeon) and Ryan Pai (Old Fox), attended the premiere event, where the latest teaser was unveiled to much excitement.
The teaser announcement at TCCF drew industry professionals and media from Taiwan and abroad, eager for a first look at The World Between Us II. Shaped by five years of script development and an expanded production scale, the two-minute teaser revealed a 20-year storyline following six intertwined families affected by incidents like a police stabbing, a train derailment, and a parliamentary clash, all confronting society’s failures to support them. Director Lin Chun-yang described the project as “equivalent to producing three dramas at once,” while screenwriter Lu Shih-yuan noted the sequel’s deep exploration of choice, healing, and gaps in the social safety net, inspired by judicial rulings. Building on the first season’s focus on social issues, the narrative opens with a large arson case, reflects on profound topics, woven through the lives of characters portrayed by Vic Chou, Hsueh Shih-ling, Liu Tzu-chuan, and Ryan Pai, who joined the event to share their experiences in bringing these complex roles to life.
Vic Chou shared insights into his role as Ma Yi-sen, a man whose life is shattered by the loss of his wife and child in a tragic accident. “Ma Yi-sen is a heavy, emotional role with moments of intense grief, breakdowns, and uncontrolled anger,” he said, reflecting on the unforgettable impact of portraying such a complex character. Hsueh Shih-ling, who plays newly elected legislator Kao Cheng-kuang, facing a recall, described his character as “idealistic and caught between self-realization and traditional politics.” Hsueh compared Kao to “a sandwich filling,” navigating a struggle between aspirations and reality. “Working with Yang Kuei-mei – a seasoned veteran of film and TV who has collaborated with many renowned directors and talents – in the role of my mother was an exhilarating experience,” he added.
Liu Tzu-chuan, another key character in the series, spoke about his role as Hu Guan-jun, a young man with ADHD whose challenging family dynamics and social circumstances drive him to commit an irreversible tragedy, becoming the thread that weaves the stories together. Rising star Ryan Pai, just 15, brings poignancy to his portrayal of Luo Yu, the son of Hsieh Hsin-ying’s character, whose once-happy family is upended by a violent act, forcing him to confront both societal judgment and personal upheaval.
The World Between Us II is co-produced by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency, Public Television Service Foundation, Asiaplay Taiwan Digital Entertainment, and KOKO Entertainment, with DaMou Entertainment at the helm. International sales for the series are managed by Screenworks Asia, the production arm of CATCHPLAY. The highly anticipated series is slated for release in 2025.
