Stephen Chow Still Kato but Not Director/Kato
Following what's being called "creative differences," Stephen Chow has dropped out as director of Seth Rogen's Green Hornet script, though the actor still plans to play Kato. From Variety:
There's been another change in the "Hornet" nest: Stephen Chow has dropped out as director of "The Green Hornet" but will still play Kato in Columbia Pictures' latest bid to get the crimefighter to the bigscreen.The studio and producer Neal Moritz are in the process of setting a new director to keep the picture on track to begin production by spring.
Chow, who directed and starred in "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Shaolin Soccer," signed in September to direct the film and play the role originated in the TV series by Bruce Lee. He stepped out as director over creative differences.
First I thought, "Oh, he must have a problem with all the racial implications of being an Asian servant to a white man," but nope, he's OK with the Kato business. Just some creative differences. He probably wanted some crazy Shaolin Soccer-style stuff to happen, the studio didn't like that direction, but he was a professional about it. Told them, "OK, I'll just be the man-servant. That part I'm still fine with."