Emerald Hill to make Netflix debut

Emerald Hill looks set to be the must-watch local blockbuster series of 2025.

- Joanne Soh

For one thing, the 30-episode period drama features a who's who of Mediacorp.

There are the veterans such as Zoe Tay and Chen Liping, as well as A-listers like Jesseca Liu, Jeanette Aw, Elvin Ng and Romeo Tan.

Rounding up the star-studded cast are next-generation rising stars like Chantalle Ng, Tasha Low, Ferlyn G, Tyler Ten and Zhang Zetong.

Beloved home-grown balladeer Kit Chan has been roped in to sing the theme song Echoes Of Petals, written by Singaporean composer Lee Si Song and lyricist Mu Zi.

Emerald Hill, premiering in March on Channel 8 and mewatch, is a spin-off of the popular Mandarin series The Little Nyonya (2008 to 2009), which traces the ups and downs of a Peranakan family.

The production will also have an international release as it will debut simultaneously on streaming platform Netflix, a first for a Mediacorp Chinese-language drama.

While the original series focused on titular character Yueniang, who was immortalised by Aw, Emerald Hill will revolve around three "little Nyonyas" from a huge Peranakan family as they collide in a tale of ambition and power struggles.

Low, 31, plays protagonist Xinniang, a homeless girl who roams the streets with her foster mother (Chen). Xinniang is later believed to be Anya, the long-lost daughter of Shuqin (Liu) from the wealthy Zhang clan.

Ten and Zhang will play Xinniang's love interests Bai Ahli and Huang Zuye respectively.

Meanwhile, Chantalle Ng, 29, portrays antagonist Anna, whose goal is to sabotage Xinniang in any way possible.