Variety announced this morning that Stephen Chow is out as director of Green Hornet. The Kung Fu Hustle director/star still plans to play Bruce Lee’s old role of Kato, the high kicking sidekick to the titular star. “Creative Differences” were cited as his reason for dropping out as director, a role he took on in September. As Seth Rogen is still credited as co-writer and star, it can be deduced the differences were more with production than with Rogen, as they’ll still share screentime.
No early word on a new director yet, but maybe Judd Apatow will step in and make it a rompous sex comedy*.
*Totally a joke, don’t freak out. It’s Frank Miller, changing it to Red Hornet, of course.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Um, I would totally watch a Judd Apatow Green Hornet movie–wait, are you saying that The Green Hornet wasn’t a rompous sex comedy, already?
$#@% this #$%@, I’m washing my hands of this movie.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
And the interest-in-this-movie train comes to a screeching halt. Chow being in it was not nearly as much the exciting part as was his directing it.
I fear this is totally going to become “Grandson/distant relative of original hero must step up to take role he is not ready for”. In which will be laughs. Or attempts at same.
Is that Kevin Smith script still bouncing around by any chance?
December 19th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Fact: the Green Hornet is just not important or original enough a character to get overly upset about how he’s adapted. He’s strictly E-list, with enough similarities to a dozen other heroes that you can take whatever chances you want in regards to how much “respect” you show the source material. That said, having Chow direct was one chance that could have made the movie more interesting.
Still, getting upset because a comedic actor who’s been fat is playing the frickin’ GREEN HORNET is not to be taken seriously.