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August 07, 2009
Press Release du Jour: Good Or Bad News?
“THE GREEN HORNET™” GETS HIS KATO IN
TAIWANESE SUPERSTAR JAY CHOU
CULVER CITY, Calif., August 7, 2009 – After a worldwide search, Jay Chou, the multi-hyphenate singer-actor and a star throughout Asia, has joined the cast of Michel Gondry’s The Green Hornet in the iconic role of Kato, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Columbia Pictures.
Michel Gondry, the film’s director, added, “Jay is incredibly unique and charming and fights like a wild dog! When I filmed him next to Seth, they had such great chemistry, and I knew the movie will be great."
Chou said, “It’s an overwhelming experience to take on a role made famous by Bruce Lee. I won’t try to be Bruce Lee’s Kato – I will try to bring my own interpretation to the part. Of course, it’s a dream role, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
A classic character of film, television, radio, and comic books returns to the big screen in Columbia Pictures’ feature film The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen as the vigilante crime-fighter. The film will be directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) from a screenplay written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express), based upon “The Green Hornet” radio series created by George W. Trendle, and produced by Neal H. Moritz (The Fast and the Furious). The film is slated for release summer 2010.
A pop-star phenomenon throughout Asia, JAY CHOU brings unexpected gravity and depth to his acting roles. Born Chou Chieh-Lun in Taiwan, 1979, Chou began playing the piano at age four. His mother supported his musical gifts and he went on to master piano and cello. Music, songwriting, and basketball dominated his high school days, and he was first noticed in 1998 when a friend sang one of his pop compositions on a TV talent contest, accompanied by Jay on piano. Alfa Music launched Jay's career, first as a tunesmith and then as a singer. In 2000, his debut album "Jay" quickly propelled him to stardom with numerous hits. His unique musical style is a fresh-sounding fusion of eastern and western traditions featuring strong lyrics and a personal style of storytelling.
With his soulful voice and infectious tunes, his second album, "Fantasy," and seven subsequent albums, have continued to win legions of fans young and old throughout Asia. He has been the best-selling Mandarin artist in the world for the past nine years, with a busy performance schedule touring Asia and North America and numerous music industry awards.
Apart from many music videos, Jay began film acting in a starring role in Initial D (2005), a comedy-action hit in China. In 2006, he starred opposite Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li in Zhang Yimou’s The Curse of the Golden Flower. Since then, he starred in Kung Fu Dunk, and made his directorial debut and starred in Secret. He will next be seen in the Chinese film Ci Ling and in Yuen Woo-Ping’s True Legend.
Posted by dpoland at August 7, 2009 11:53 AM
Comments
He is definitely THE star in Asia right now, although it's mostly because of his music. For his acting roles, I haven't seen anything memorable or been impressed.
Posted by: xiayun ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 7, 2009 12:28 PM
If they were going to hire an Asian singer... couldn't it have been Rain, so at least we could have gotten some amusing Colbert bits out of it?
Posted by: Mr. F. at August 7, 2009 01:54 PM
If they were going to hire an Asian actor-singer... couldn't it have been Rain, so we'd get some amusing Colbert bits out of it?
Posted by: Mr. F. at August 7, 2009 01:56 PM
(curse you, multiple posting... apologies)
Posted by: Mr. F. at August 7, 2009 02:05 PM
Bullshit. Ernie Reyes Jr. was the easy choice, but these assholes want some cash from Asia. Good for them, but a goofy ass choice.
Posted by: IOIOIOI at August 7, 2009 03:09 PM
Hey, coulda been worse. Coulda been Jonah Hill.
Posted by: Cadavra at August 7, 2009 05:27 PM
Still don't give a shit about this movie.
Gondry doing a superhero flick is vaguely interesting. Nothing else about it is.
Posted by: LYT at August 7, 2009 10:06 PM
Okay, I'll do it:
"Ernie Reyes Jr. was the easy choice"
Who?
Posted by: jeffmcm at August 8, 2009 04:33 AM
He was in a couple of the live action Ninja Turtle movies.... and probably an episode of Psyche or something - making him an obviouse hot property.
Posted by: storymark at August 8, 2009 09:40 AM
Also, check him out in THE RUNDOWN--a most formidable opponent for the much taller The Rock.
Posted by: Cadavra at August 8, 2009 10:01 AM
I thought Kato was Kato was Peter Sellers's sidekick in the old Pink Panther films...
Posted by: EthanG at August 8, 2009 10:28 AM
I thought Kato was Kato was Peter Sellers's sidekick in the old Pink Panther films...
Posted by: EthanG at August 8, 2009 10:28 AM
Stephen Chow would have been cool, but maybe he doesn't like acting in stuff he hasn't written or directed...
Posted by: doug r at August 8, 2009 05:49 PM
Jeff ineptitude to grasp pop culture is only rivaled by his ability to be a douche. Ernie Reyes Jr. is in countless films Jeff, and he and his father are martial art legends. Use the imdb the next time doofy. I do not have the time for someone such as yourself... a doofy motherfucker.
Posted by: IOIOIOI at August 9, 2009 12:34 AM
I did look him up on IMDB. I saw a bunch of titles that I hadn't heard of, and a few that I had seen. It looks like his highest profile part was as one of the faceless, dialogue-less 'Cemetery Warriors' from Crystal Skull. Maybe he was amazing in Redline or Poolhall Junkies, but those weren't exactly titles that lit up the marquees.
And IOI, why do you get so angry and offended when people refuse to constantly validate your tastes?
Posted by: jeffmcm at August 9, 2009 03:31 AM
Ethan, the Kato in the Panther films was a spoof of the original Kato, the twist being that he would attack Clouseau instead of the villains.
Posted by: Cadavra at August 9, 2009 12:39 PM
Is this the one where the guys has the ring and yells "shazam?" I heard about that because I used to watch Gomer Pyle when I was a kid and that stupid word stuck with me.
Not sure why anyone would want to see a movie about some guy yelling "shazam" while fighting Burt Quok's younger cousin. Shazam!
Posted by: Wrecktum at August 9, 2009 12:43 PM
The ring is Green Lantern; "Shazam!" is Captain Marvel. And it's Burt KWOUK.
Posted by: yancyskancy at August 9, 2009 02:00 PM
They're all the same!!!
Posted by: Wrecktum at August 9, 2009 03:05 PM
What are all the same, Asian last names? BOOO-urns.
Posted by: jeffmcm at August 9, 2009 03:20 PM
No...old, dead comic book characters that no one cares about.
Posted by: Wrecktum at August 9, 2009 07:34 PM
(I know.)
Posted by: jeffmcm at August 9, 2009 07:39 PM
Jeff, why are you such a duffy in the first place? You have never answered this question. Again, the dude is a freakin martial arts master. His man handling of the Rock alone, should have gotten him this role. Again: Columbia are looking for international dollars from a market, that would usually be soft with the Canadian guy starring in the film. Good for them. Does not change the fact it's a shitty choice.
Posted by: IOIOIOI at August 10, 2009 12:38 AM
Why would anyone want to see a movie about William Bastion? Hmm. I wonder. BLACK FUCKING ADAM YOU POP-CULTURE ILLITERATE NOOBS!
Posted by: IOIOIOI at August 10, 2009 12:39 AM
There are lots of martial arts masters who wouldn't be right for Kato.
I don't see The Green Hornet as a superhero, really. More of a crime fighter. He doesn't even have Batmans cool utility belt and gizmos.
Posted by: The Big Perm at August 10, 2009 09:15 AM
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