In a press release sent out today Columbia Pictures announced Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle) will direct and star in The Green Hornet. Chow will star as Kato, opposite Seth Rogen who co-wrote the film with Evan Goldberg. The film is set for release on June 25, 2010.
Chow was quoted in the release saying, “I’m excited to be taking on The Green Hornet — obviously, I’ve been a huge fan of the show since I was a kid. The idea of stepping into Bruce Lee’s shoes as Kato is both humbling and thrilling, and to get the chance to direct the project as my American movie debut is simply a dream come true. I’m grateful to my friends at Sony, who have shown so much faith in me for so many years. I’m looking forward to working with Seth, Evan, Neal, and the team at Sony, and I’m eager to get started.”
Rogen followed up this comment with a statement that already has me thinking. Rogen said, “Stephen was always my and Evan’s first choice for director and to play Kato. We just hope that he never finds out we’re not the Wachowski brothers.”
The mention of the Wachowski brothers makes me think instantly of Speed Racer and its epic failure. Where is the audience for The Green Hornet? Considering the comedic angle the film demands in the relationship between the Green Hornet and Kato, Stephen Chow is a perfect choice but Chow doesn’t exactly have a box-office draw here in the States and this is a Hollywood film after all.
Two of Chow’s most acclaimed films to date are Shaolin Soccer, which earned a hefty $489,600 upon its release and Kung Fu Hustle did much better with $17 million, but his most recent release, CJ7 was one of the star’s worst domestic result to date with only $206,678.
Personally I like Chow, and Rogen has his moments as well, but I just wonder if this film is shaping up to be another Speed Racer considering it is based primarily on an old school television show starring Van Williams and Bruce Lee.
I don’t know enough about the product to say anything one way or another, but it does raise some eyebrows and I hope I am pleasantly surprised with what they create and more people are introduced to Chow’s talent.
