LOS ANGELES, CA – July 2025 — Zhang Chi’s latest project, 28 Days with the Alpha, emerges as a bold and emotionally charged reimagining of the supernatural genre. Fueled by psychological intensity and a fresh visual language, the series stands at the intersection of fantasy and inner reckoning, offering a narrative that is both personal and primal.
Set over the course of a single lunar cycle, 28 Days with the Alpha follows a gripping countdown where transformation is not just physical but profoundly emotional. The series captures a unique urgency: each episode moves closer to an irreversible fate, pulling the audience deeper into themes of identity, power, and fear of the unknown.
Following the success of Unwanted Mate—voted Best Werewolf-Themed Project of 2024 by audiences—Zhang Chi advances the genre with elevated storytelling. While Unwanted Mate explored resilience through romance and survival, 28 Days with the Alpha ventures into darker territory, reflecting on inner conflict, inherited trauma, and the primal cost of self-denial.
The creative foundation for the series draws from Zhang Chi’s rich artistic background. Raised in Beijing, she grew up immersed in Chinese painting and calligraphy before studying Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management at Columbia College Chicago. Her tenure at Legendary Entertainment, where she contributed to global productions such as Dune, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Detective Pikachu, shaped her cinematic sensibilities before she pivoted toward high-impact, vertical-format storytelling.
Production on 28 Days with the Alpha was a study in precision. The storyline’s tension-driven calendar format demanded strict continuity and real-time emotional escalation. To mirror the series’ lunar pacing, the production team adapted schedules, lighting, and set transitions to support an evolving emotional tone, enhancing realism through strategic design.
With each passing day in the story, characters unravel and truths surface. Unlike typical werewolf narratives centered around external conflict, 28 Days with the Alpha internalizes the transformation, revealing how monsters are often born within. This philosophical layering has resonated with early viewers and test audiences, who praised the series for its character-driven depth and emotional sophistication.
Zhang Chi’s influence in the vertical series format continues to grow, with a dynamic slate of forthcoming titles currently in development with DramaBox and Gingerbread Man Pictures. Her body of work includes notable titles such as My Mom’s Best Friend, Anino, Triple Life with My Billionaire Crush, and Alpha King's Mistake. Recognition from top-tier festivals—including Ecozine, Greenpoint, Berlin Indie, Rhode Island, and the LA Independent Women Film Awards—further cements her standing as a rising force in global filmmaking.
28 Days with the Alpha challenges genre conventions while deepening emotional engagement. With its blend of fantasy, suspense, and raw human vulnerability, the series marks a pivotal moment in supernatural storytelling—and a defining chapter in Zhang Chi’s creative evolution.
IMDb: Zhang Chi IMDb Profile
