'Only Thirty-Five' Sequel in Development at Mediacorp, Linmon Media

Singapore-based broadcaster Mediacorp has joined forces with Chinese production company Linmon Media to create Only Thirty-Five, the follow-up to the highly praised contemporary drama Nothing But Thirty. The collaboration was officially confirmed at the Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF), supported by Singapores Infocomm Media Development Authority. This project builds on a memorandum of understanding the two companies signed at last years ATF.

The new series continues the story of protagonist Gu Jia, who relocates to start a new chapter in life after turning 35. She teams up with Jiang Lili, a business leader overcoming personal setbacks, to launch a domestic services enterprise. The storyline explores themes of trust, renewal, and second chances as the characters rebuild their lives.

Production is scheduled to start in 2026, with filming planned in both China and Singapore. The series will showcase talent from both nations. The original drama Nothing But Thirty became a cultural sensation, achieving over 5.5 billion views on Tencent Video and holding the platforms top spot for 21 days in a row. It has inspired adaptations in Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea.

Virginia Lim, Mediacorps Chief Content Officer, commented: Partnering with Linmon Media combines complementary creative strengths, ensuring the sequel remains authentic and relevant. The first series was hugely successful, and this new chapter continues that momentum with production in both China and Singapore.

Su Xiao, Linmon Medias chair and founder, highlighted the strategic value of Singapore: Singapore is one of our most important international markets due to its hub position and advantages across Southeast Asia and beyond. We export Chinas mature creative concepts and industry standards while gaining inspiration from overseas remakes to enhance domestic IP development.

At ATF, Linmon Media also unveiled its 2026 slate of projects, covering genres such as fantasy, romance, medical drama, and large-scale costume productions. Upcoming titles include Infinite 10 Days (fantasy), Huo Wang (drama/fantasy/adventure), Light Through the Eternal Storm (costume/legend), Sunshine Through the Rain (romance/drama), The Heart Season 2 (medical/drama), In the Moonlight (costume/romance), and Love Between Lines (romance/comedy). The event included an on-stage discussion with Bao Shangen and Wang Hongyi, stars of In the Moonlight, who shared insights about their roles.

Author: Sophia Brooks