The 10-month televised marathon audition looking for actors for the new adaptation of A Dream of Red Chamber, is over, but the debate has just begun.

Li Xudan bets other hopefuls to win the role of Lin Daiyu in the new television adaptation of the story. [file]

Li Xudan and Yao Di beat other hopefuls to win the leading female roles of Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai amid much controversy over the weekend during the four-hour final televised casting call.

Yao Di (R) [file]

But who will play the leading male role of Jia Baoyu is still unknown, since the jury and audience felt the pool of candidates were not good enough, according to Hu Mei, the director of the new television series. Some of the actors who were screened out will have minor roles.

However, there were heated debates on the Internet, with many netizens raising suspicions over how Li got the role of Lin Daiyu.

Hu was reportedly furious after Li, then a promising candidate, was surprisingly eliminated during the audition process. The director threatened to quit if the talent selected by the jury and audience did not meet her expectations.

As part of the audition process, if an actor is screened out, they can still "survive" but playing a "revival game," giving the ousted candidates a second chance. Li managed to win the game and in the end was given the leading role. But many netizens doubt the fairness of the contest.