Dec 19 2008Stephen 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."
Reader Comments
1. bog teeth - December 19, 2008 11:47 AM
Someone had creative differences with Stephen Chow? Well.. good for Columbia, giving the disabled a chance by hiring blind retards to produce their movies..
2. ber - December 19, 2008 11:53 AM
This is going to be all kinds of awful....hopefully. I really want to see Seth 'the one expression' Rogan go down in flames.
3. Brian - December 19, 2008 12:19 PM
Bruce Lee fought very hard to be respected as an Asian in film... I'd like to see a good representation of Kato on the big screen that doesn't diminish Bruce's efforts. Sadly I don't think this will be it.
4. Hal - December 19, 2008 1:59 PM
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCKITY FUCK... FUCK.
Figures, the ONE TIME Hollywood does something right, it all goes down the shitter. The hell with being polite and not cursing, FUCK FUCK FUCK SONY. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. This was THE ONLY MOVIE I actually gave a shit about. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.
5. Jannah - December 19, 2008 2:53 PM
I wholeheartedly agree, Brian.
6. Dogless - December 20, 2008 1:46 AM
I wholeheartedly agree, Hal.
7. SlowMonkey - December 20, 2008 3:12 PM
Fuck NO. The SON of Raymond Chow who MURDERED Bruce Lee is going to (further) profit from his death by playing him? Why did I think there was at least a modicum of decency in Hollywood if it came down to Bruce Lee
8. FastChimp - December 20, 2008 9:24 PM
I wholeheartedly agree, SlowMonkey.
9. forthelulz - December 21, 2008 2:24 AM
I wholeheartedly agree, FastChimp.
10. SlowMonkey - December 22, 2008 7:21 PM
@8 & @9 - when Seth Rogan is done with that script, maybe he could get OJ to play Ron Goldman in a "The Glove Don't Fit" movie.
11. anonymous superstar - August 14, 2009 10:21 AM
Raymond Chow did not contribute to lee's death, lee died of a brain swelling. and the movie was doomed from the beginning when Rogan was cast, is this movie a comedy or what. a lot of times when Hollywood does not respect the source material they turn the movie into a comedy like Starsky and Hutch.