Actor Zhang Han's uncanny resemblance to 'Black Myth: Wukong' character creates buzz in Chinese Gaming Community

The game, which was released on August 25, is an action-adventure game inspired by the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West." Erlang Shen is a character in the novel and is known for his incredible strength and fighting skills.

However, Weibo users were quick to point out that the game's depiction of Erlang Shen looks uncannily like Zhang Han, a popular Chinese actor and singer. Some users jokingly suggested that the game's developers must be fans of Zhang Han and secretly modeled the character after him.

One Weibo user, @偶像冲浪达人, posted a video comparing the game's Erlang Shen to Zhang Han, with the caption "真的牛逼！PS.杨戬好像张翰" ("It's really awesome! PS. Erlang Shen looks like Zhang Han"). The post has garnered over 10,000 likes and 2,000 comments, with many users agreeing that the resemblance is uncanny.

Another user, @二郎神张翰, posted a screenshot of the game's Erlang Shen with the caption "#二郎神张翰#游戏黑神话悟空发售，有网友玩后发现里面的二郎神建模神似张翰，有网友表示是不是制作团队悄悄混进了张翰的粉丝，怎么可以建模的这么像" ("#ErlangShenZhangHan# The game 'Black Myth: Wukong' has been released, and some players have discovered that Erlang Shen's model is very similar to Zhang Han. Some people think that the production team might be secret fans of Zhang Han, how can they make him look so similar?").

Not all users were impressed, however. Some pointed out that Erlang Shen should have been modeled after Jiao Enjun, a Chinese opera actor who is known for his portrayal of the character. One user, @青春娱乐网, posted a video with the caption "网友发现黑神话悟空里二郎神撞脸张翰！！！大家觉得像吗？" ("Netizens discover that Erlang Shen in 'Black Myth: Wukong' looks like Zhang Han！！！What do you think?").

The controversy has sparked a wider discussion about the use of celebrity likenesses in video games. Some users have pointed out that it is not uncommon for game developers to use celebrity likenesses as inspiration for their characters, but others have raised concerns about copyright and intellectual property rights.

The game's developer, Game Science, has not responded to the allegations, but the controversy is unlikely to affect the game's popularity. "Black Myth: Wukong" has been a highly anticipated game in China, and its release has been widely covered in the media.

The incident has also sparked a wider discussion about the cultural significance of "Journey to the West" and its characters. Erlang Shen is a beloved character in Chinese mythology, and his depiction in the game has sparked a lively debate about cultural representation and authenticity.

As one Weibo user, @游弟, pointed out, "二郎神是一个很伟大的角色，他应该被描绘成一个英雄，而不是一个偶像" ("Erlang Shen is a great character, he should be depicted as a hero, not an idol").

The controversy surrounding Erlang Shen's likeness has also raised questions about the role of celebrity culture in China. Zhang Han is a popular actor and singer, but some users have pointed out that his likeness should not be used without his permission.

As Weibo user @偶像冲浪达人 pointed out, "如果游戏开发团队真的想要用张翰的样子来描绘二郎神，他们应该得到他的同意" ("If the game developers really wanted to use Zhang Han's likeness to depict Erlang Shen, they should have gotten his consent").

The incident has highlighted the complexities of cultural representation and celebrity culture in China, and has sparked a wider discussion about the use of celebrity likenesses in video games.