Marvel Still Looking For Captain America 
'Sopranos' Creator To Film Rock Drama 
LIVE-SNARKING THE 82ND OSCARS... 
'ALICE' IS A MONSTER! $116.3M Blows Past … 
Oscar Not-So-Thriller: Diller Mogul Picnic 
'Precious' Sweeps 25th Indie Spirit Awards 
Howard Stern Won't Be Next 'Idol' Judge 
Justin Theroux Readying 'Zoolander 2' For … 
Mickey Rourke Wooed For Two Big Roles, … 
CBS Reups Les Moonves Through 2015 
EXCLUSIVE: Who Will Be Captain America? 
Matt Damon To Star In New RFK Biopic 
Claire Danes Leaves ICM For WME; Also, ICM's … 
EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Lopez And Sony Music … 
TAYLOR LAUTNER UPDATE: Universal Pays Him … 
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.”
Asian Star Jay Chou Hired As Hornet's Kato
Comments (35)
|
Post a Comment
Comments On Deadline Hollywood are monitored. So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, don't get your facts wrong, and don't bore me.
Marketplace
News/Opinion Poll
Loading ...Box Office Poll
Loading ...
The Green Hornet looks ready to take its rightful place alongside such other comic book film masterpieces as The Spirit, The Rocketeer, The Shadow, and The Phantom.
I just don’t get the whole Seth as Green Hornet thing.
Jay’s “new interpretation” will be playing the role as a non-Asian.
What?? Not Nicholas Cage??!
Now please recast the title role and lose Seth Rogen.
This looks like Speed Racer part 2 to me. This wasn’t even an amazing property 40 years ago when it was on TV. Nobody knows about it now. Nobody cares about it now. There is nothing about it that hasn’t already been vastly overserved to the audience in eight million other poorly chosen variations. The only reason it’s still on the radar to any degree, which it isn’t, is because Bruce Lee was in it. There’s no more Bruce Lee. It wasn’t even the role that made him a star anyway. Hint to producers: these things only work with iconic characters. Batman, Superman, Spiderman, etc. All those guys are taken. So rather than dusting off C-level non-starters … make something new!
With a bizarre low-budget indie director, a gravely-voiced ethnic moron in the lead, and a comic book no one read as the basis – and a huge budget – this film could turn into a disaster of Heaven’s Gate proportions. Can’t wait to see it and mock it.
This film will be next summer’s Land Of The Lost.
Mark my words.
Does anyone think this is a good idea?
The Rocketeer was a great film.
Still, I guess I should get another job and not wait for the sequel.
Hearing Seth Rogen on Howard Stern discussing his total lack of interest in getting ready for this role made me think even HE doesn’t give a shit about it. At least the car looks great.
I’m beginning to think Hollywood doesn’t care about its audiences…
How many Katos have they gone through, and they haven’t even shot a frame of the actual movie?
Name-The Green Hornet looks ready to take its rightful place alongside such other comic book film masterpieces as The Spirit, The Rocketeer, The Shadow, and The Phantom.
The thing is, those films actually got made. They didn’t just make casting announcements on a near weekly basis.
Personally I have a bad feeling that this hornet isn’t going to fly.
Personally, I suspect this was all just a big scam to get Seth Rogen to lose weight.
Chou’s an incredibly talented guy…. too bad they’re stuck with Gondry and FUCKING ROGEN.
Anonymous hater,
Not only are you a moron, but a rascist.
“Ethnic moron”?
Glad I’m not you.
Those who can enjoy things are luckier than those who can’t.
I’m with you Warner Brog. This film will be a major disaster.
This is a blue chip flop in the making. No one is asking for this movie, and who thinks there is a demand for Seth Rogan in the title role? Yeah, this time it will be different. It won’t flop like Zack and Miri, Observe and Report or Funny People.
This will be a flop. Rogen can’t pull this off.
Don’t expect the phrase “The Green Hornet strikes again!” to appear on any movie ads for the Green Hornet next year. This movie has been in the planning stages for over a decade, with different people attached to a e movie that never gets made. There is little chance this new turnaround attempt will succeed. When Stephen Chow walked from the project, the Green Hornet lost its best chance for completion.
Comment by Name — August 7, 2009 @ 10:54 am
You took the words right out of my mouth!!!
Hey, I loved Rocketeer!
It was and is a great popcorn movie.
The only thing that doomed it was the recession.
Oh, and lack of knowing how to market it.
If it were released today, it would be a profitable summer flick and strong word of mouth.
Right movie, wrong time.
This movie could work.
Like any film it is all about the script and the execution.
The Green Hornet was all about Kato, The Car the Gadgets and that song!
Seth is a good enough actor to pull this off. As a fan of the show (admittedly on DVD) I’m hoping they can do it.
Actually, THE ROCKETEER (one of the first comics adaptations to actually get the creator involved in the production- the late Dave Stevens had already worked on many films, including the Indiana jones movies) would STILL bomb today, as it was essentially a nostalgia piece (a good one, too). I doubt HORNET’s BO potential, too, but I do think it’s actually going to get made this time.There IS something in the source material (a hero who poses as a criminal to better take down organised crime) that could translate into an interesting and distinctive “take” on the usual superhero cliches (the idea really is very close to a straight crime thriller, if done right). I just don’t see it being handled right in today’s Hollywood- especially as I think the studio expects either mindless action or a parody thereof….
Yes, we really needed another movie that exploits the asian sterotype of kung fu master. How about adapting Helen Bannerman’s “The Story of Little Black Sambo” to film, Hollywood? Oh, that’s right, you only feel comfortable offending the timid non-threatening minorities, don’t you?
Jay Chou is a huge star in Asia, a really talented singer-song writer — but the dude can’t act!! Just watch him in “Curse of the Golden Flower” for e.g., everyone in Asia knows he’s best when he sticks to singing…
seth seems like an odd choice to me…he is not very fit..he is soft. not what i think of when i think of a hero!!!!
Seth is a terrible choice. This is going to be played for laughs, and it will go down the toilet. His expiration date has long come and gone. He needs to take his ball and bat and go play elsewhere.
Typical, robotic Hollywood. Rogen is getting some press right now, so they thought “only Seth Rogen can play ‘Green Hornet’.” A few years ago it would’ve been Will Ferrell, a few years before him it would’ve been Adam Sandler, and a few years before him it would’ve been Eddie Murphy.
These people have no curiosity or creativity.
I understand Jay Chou is a great musician but am not sure if acts or speaks much English either…
When you hear The Green Hornet, you think Bruce Lee, as someone previously mentioned. It’s mind boggling that the only fitting person involved in this project has left it. It looks like it’s headed the Pink Panther way,as much as I love Steve Martin,Beyonce(ish)type of projects do not scream of authenticity. Such a bummer Stephen Chow is not part of this, now it’s going into the bells n whistles route, as if it guarantees anything.
Jay Chou is a good plus to the film!!
The only reason that Seth Rogen is cast is because in theory he’s a box office draw which, since he was announced as the lead, has proven to not be the case at all. Michel Gondry could be interesting. After this weekend I’d go with maybe Channing Tatum. He’s got a Van Williams thing going on. Seth Rogen and Michel Gondry together though – makes me think “stoner superhero movie.” Disagree with anyone though who says the Green Hornet is outdated. Someone’s got to save the newspaper industry – why not Britt Reid in the Black Beauty taking down crime with Kato in the name of the Daily Sentinel? I definitely hope this gets made and soon. Love Gondry generally. His involvement could be great and really unique.
Alternatively – let’s not forget “The Avengers” with Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman. And those teddy bears.
Quick, who played the original Green Hornet?
1st thing popped in my head– Not Bruce Lee.
So who cares?
Really.
This is 1 of those wild hair up someone’s ass projects that becomes their last.
Best of luck to all involved.
How about adapting Helen Bannerman’s “The Story of Little Black Sambo” to film, Hollywood?
Comment by The Donger — August 8, 2009 @ 10:40 am
You obviously haven’t seen any of Eddie Murphy’s recent movies.
Saw The Rocketeer aboard an aircraft carrier in San Diego. Extremely cool setting for an extremely cool film. RIP Dave Stevens.
Thanks for buying me that drink.
Any line-up for this film will get pissed in.
Fortunately its above the line cast is so whacked out it actually has a shot.
who would you rather see as the Green Hornet? one of the DB’s from Oceans 11 debacles?
“A gravely voiced ethnic moron?!” Why the hell would you say something like that, especially about someone you don’t know?! You are an F-ing bastard. BTW, give this film a chance. I don’t know if it’s going to be great, but give judgement until it actually comes out.
I think Jay will do his best in this film.
so I really hope more people will encourage him.
I believe it will be a hit !
Jay Chou rocks! He fought well in Zhang Yi Mou’s “Curse of the Golden Flowers”, and Gongfu Dunk. He will certainly help in boosting the box office in Asia!