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When it was announced that actor-director Stephen Chow would be dropping out of Seth Rogen and Michel Gondry's adaptation of the classic radio serial The Green Hornet, many questioned whether this might be the final nail in the coffin of a production already beleaguered by a number of setbacks.
Gondry was offered the director's chair following Chow's departure, but that still left the hero without his trusty sidekick, Kato (famously portrayed by Bruce Lee in the '60s TV show). Enter Jay Chou, an award-winning musician, singer, producer, actor, and director from Taiwan, most widely known in the U.S. for his appearance in Curse of the Golden Flower.
In a recent interview with Channel News Asia, Chou said there were a number of reasons why he simply "had to" take the role of Kato.
It's a role that Bruce Lee once played, plus it's a positive Asian role which is rare in Hollywood.
Anyway, I went to Hollywood not just to make it big and develop my film career. I went there to also introduce my music to the Americans. So that they will notice me.
In a separate interview with The Star Online, Chou said that he had fun working on The Green Hornet, but that the Hollywood-style production tried his patience.
In Asia, we get through a movie very quickly. We get the script, we get working and it's done. In Hollywood, they have rehearsals that go on for half a month before they begin shooting and shooting can go on for months.
The Green Hornet was adapted for the screen by Rogen and his frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg. The movie also stars Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz, Edward Furlong, and Edward James Olmos.
Posted 01.02.10 by BrentJS -
There are plenty of reasons for fans to be excited about the upcoming adaptation of The Green Hornet. For one, it's being helmed by Michel Gondry, who lent his visual panache to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep. So we can expect an eye-opener. Secondly, Seth Rogen has invested himself fully in the project: He will not only executive produce and write the script, but also star (in the title role, no less). But unfortunately, the big news as of late has been the movie's unstable release date. After being pushed back several times, the pic is now tentatively scheduled for a December 2010 release, much to the chagrin of rabid fans.
Not to worry, though, because Rogen, Gondry, and company are moving forward anyway. Screen Rant reports that Sony released an official statement saying that the movie is a go. We can thus assume that production will begin shortly, and we will undoubtedly see oodles of production photos, stills, maybe even the odd interview or two.
Sony also commented on the movie's cast, possibly to dispel any ongoing rumors:
In addition to Rogen, the film also stars Taiwanese actor-pop star JayChou as Kato, Cameron Diaz (Charlie's Angels, What Happens in Vegas), Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), David Harbour (Revolutionary Road), and Tom Wilkinson (Valkyrie). Nicolas Cage is also in negotiations to appear in the film.
So, it appears Nicolas Cage is indeed still in the running to play the criminal mastermind Mr. X. We'll keep you updated as we hear more.
Posted 09.03.09 by reelz -
The Green Hornet cast just expanded by casting Jay Chou as Kato, and now Edward James Olmos announced at the Chicago Comic-Con he will be joining the cast as well.
I'm on my way to do The Green Hornet. It'll be a lot of fun with Seth [Rogen], Nicolas Cage, and Cameron Diaz.
Cage will be playing the villain, but what role Olmos will play is unknown at this time. However, his involvement should bring a rousing cheer from the fanboy community.
The Green Hornet is the comic book and TV show adaptation that follows newspaper publisher and crime fighter Britt Reid and his martial arts expert sidekick, Kato. The movie will open two weeks later than planned on July 9, 2010. Michel Gondry will direct from Rogen's and writing partner Evan Goldberg's script.
Posted 08.10.09 by Ryan