Johnnie To Plans to Shoot a Hong Kong Gangster Movie That Could Reunite Him With Tony Leung

by

On Monday, renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To announced his intentions to create a Hong Kong-style gangster film, which will be filmed in Japan.

At the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra event, To mentioned his desire for filming to commence on the project in Japan, specifically in Hokkaido, around 2026. Yet, he also noted that aspects such as casting are yet to be finalized and remain uncertain.

As a great admirer of the Hong Kong legend, Tony Leung, whose remarkable performances in films like Wong Kar Wai’s “In the Mood for Love” and Zhang Yimou’s “Hero” have left an indelible mark on cinema, I find myself eagerly anticipating a potential reunion with director To. Their past collaborations, including “Tomorrow,” “The Royal Scoundrel,” and “Lucky Tomorrow,” have always been a delight to watch. When asked if they would like to work together again, To responded with a resounding yes, expressing hope for another joint project. Here’s hoping that their creative partnership will continue to enchant us on the silver screen!

In the interim, the filmmaker who recently helmed the 2019 movie “Chasing Dream” – a story about a boxer and a singer pursuing the Chinese Dream – has stealthily resumed work on another project that’s been in development for an extended period. This is because the renowned, productive director has been grappling with a creative block caused by the turbulent political changes in Hong Kong since its transfer from British rule to China in 1997.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m finding it tough to focus with all these changes around me. Yet, I understand that I need to brace myself and see this cinematic journey through to the end.

As a passionate filmmaker, I’ve been embarking on this cinematic journey for an impressive span of three years. However, when it comes down to the actual shooting days, it’s only been ten. I’m aiming to wrap up production by July, eagerly looking forward to completing this labor of love.

When asked about his latest production starring Hong Kong pop sensation Anson Lo, To mentioned it’s a movie centered around the theme of optimism.

Known for his distinctive crime films, which often carry existential social undertones such as “Election” and “Vengeance,” shown in Cannes, and “Exiled,” “Mad Detective,” and “Life Without Principle,” debuted in Venice, this filmmaker is famous for utilizing real-life settings and sparse screenplays. He often juggles several productions simultaneously.

Read More

2025-04-07 19:17