When crime pays

Zhang Luyi plays the mathematics genius.

Su, who made his debut with the Taiwan band Xiao Hu Dui (Little Tigers) in the 1980s, earned nationwide popularity thanks to a series of hit TV dramas penned by Chiung Yao, then an influential romance novelist.

But the 43-year-old star knows times have changed. "I was once a favorite of the showbiz industry. But it is unavoidable that an idol will be overtaken by someone else. Fame is not everlasting," says Su, at a recent Beijing event.

Since taking the producer's job in the 2013 TV series Destiny by Love, Su has shifted his attention to the camera.

He won recognition for the 2015 coming-of-age drama The Left Ear, his directorial debut.

It raked in nearly 500 million yuan ($7.26 million) at the box office, and was nominated for the best new director award at the Taiwan's 52nd Golden Horse Film Festival.

But this success was not enough for Su, who was looking for more challenges.

When domestic media outlets reported in 2016 that Su would direct The Devotion of Suspect X, the news sparked interest online.

As filmmakers in Japan (2008) and South Korea (2012), respectively, had already adapted the Higashino novel－seen as one of his best works－into acclaimed movies, fans were wondering if Su was the right choice to make a Chinese film version of the book.