Channel News Asia is reporting that Taiwanese singer Jay Chou has been snagged by Columbia Pictures to replace actor Stephen Chow as The Green Hornet’s sidekick, Kato, in the upcoming big-screen adaptation starring Nicolas Cage and Seth Rogen as the titular Green Hornet.
It’s reported that on Monday, Chou’s close friend, actor Tin Kai Man, blogged that Columbia had picked his friend Chou for the role because he was both a famous star and a fan of the late Bruce Lee. When reporters jumped all over him, Man insisted that “I have my source.”
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Chou is currently at work finishing a film he is directing called Pandamen (I can only hope it’s really about Panda Men! 
). After that, according to Man, the singer will make tracks for America to get down to Green Hornet business.
UPDATE: Sony Pictures has just made it official! Chou IS Kato!
Said Chou about getting the role:
“It’s an overwhelming experience to take on a role made famous by Bruce Lee. I will try to bring my own interpretation to the part. It’s a dream role.”
Equally thrilled is Green Hornet director Michel Gondry:
“Jay is incredibly unique and charming and fights like a wild dog…When I filmed him next to Seth, they had such great chemistry.”
Well, it was only a week or so ago that we reported that Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo was also up to play Kato. Guess we can write that one off as a rumor.
The Green Hornet is slated for a July 9, 2010 release.
Source: Channel News Asia
Update Source: The Wrap
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28 Comments
Kung Fu Dunk sucked but Initial D was a pretty good film, can’t remember if he was in Invisible target
Movie will likwly still suck
So, he has martial arts experience?
there were reports they moving away from that as a prequisite for the role of Kato.
What’s he gonna do?, sing at Nic Cage.
Lol…at what are they gonna do Get seth rogans (Green Hornet) character to bore the bad guys to death with his lame jokes lmao. Why dont they get Tony Jaa???? he’s the best young martial artist out right now. plus he favors bruce lee waay more then this dancing douche lol.
Jay Chou is a great musician, songwriter and singer. For Kato? Chou seems rather ill-suited for the role. I don’t even know if Chou’s english is any good. Looks like they aimed for star power (which I can’t say I blame them but still disappointing) rather than acting ability.
I would’ve liked Collin Chou in it (he was in the 2nd & 3rd matrix movies)
Lol, L,Garth…
You know this films going to find an audience and it angers me.
He did fight in Kung Fu Dunk and Curse of the Golden Flower pretty well so,I don’t have a problem with him
Jay rocks! He fought well in Kung Fu Dunk and Curse of the Golden Flower. Heard he is fighting a lot in his new upcoming movie “Chi Lin” too and I can’t wait to see it. Jay has a huge spectrum of fans from children to adults including the elderly in Asia and I am sure it will certainly boost up the film’s box office in the Asia markets.
Ohh mannnnnn… Kato is going to be played by a skinny guy with absolutely no martial arts chops??!! What the hell is wrong with Hollywood?!!
Why can’t they put a guy with real martial arts skill in the role of Kato? What’s wrong with putting Donnie Yen as Kato? Or heck, why not Mark Dacascos? These guys have excellent martial arts skill to live up to the mantle of Kato.
What a disappointment!
OMG, he better get rid of that stereotypical asian pop star hair do…
What the heck is with Hollywood hiring all of these stupid young pop stars??? What, hollywood don’t think there are any good asian ACTORS??
Rogen has made it official. One of my Fave Raves from all time is now…..simple as this. DEAD TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the inept Rogen, the less than average Cage and now Chou. All we now need is Stiller for a cameo. I guess the only thing left to ask is “Why does God hate me?!”
Shaw Yue, Nick Tze, Wu Jing, Stephen Fung?? None of these Younger-ish Hong Kong actors who can actually fight we available?
Screw it I have wasted far too much time on this lump of poopy
What exactly is The Green Hornets origin?
Has it ever been on film?
Jay Chou is 30 btw…he’s a decent actor who’s athletic but I still find that he is wrong for this part. If they needed someone who had an actor with some star power in Asia then…
Daniel Wu would’ve been an excellent choice. He knows martial arts and has a lot of acting experience in Hong Kong. Was raised in USA and speaks fluent English.
Jay did pretty good in his own movie, “The Secret”. Best outcome is that they turn the Green Hornet into an action-adventure-musical, and Jay gets to compose and sing a few English songs. It’s a pretty amusing idea, I’m already laughing.
Seriously, I have wanted to hear music from Jay on this side of the world. He is an amazing composer (80% of the time). Perhaps this will be a stepping stone to that.
Jay rocks! He is the right choice and will definitely help impact the box-office in the Asia markets. He fought well in Curse of the Golden Flowers and Kung-fu Dunk, and I am sure he has no problem in playing Kato. Jay fighting!
What the hell is Kung Fu Dunk? Is that like martial arts basketball?? WTH? lol I haven’t seen it, so enlighten me people.
Jay Chou is my favorite star.I like all his music and movies especially The Secret.I have full confidence in him.
He has not only a love for martial arts, on which he has yearned for the Chinese culture.
I believe that with his efforts, the film will be successful.
@Jiemi
Jay Chou’s music is not just talented, he is equally in the efforts of the film. Everyone is to grow slowly and can not Hollywood star is born. I believe that with his efforts, this film will succeed.
I’m assuming that’s what you wrote. Chinese is not translated in this site; I had to go to Google.
This project was doomed when Rogen was tagged as the lead. I know nothing about Chou, but Rogen tells me this will not be good.
Jay will do well.
He’s talented.
SHUT UPPPPPP stop being mean to jay. he’s gunna do well, for all u american, english and other people who arnt chinese u dnt kno any chinese and u probaly dnt kno who he is, he is a gifted guy, he directed his own movie (the secret) wrote his own songs and piano pieces and was the main character in all of his films so far!!!!! so jst understand tht dis film will rock ass!!!!!!!!
Hi I really like ur music it sound really great ^0^ LOL
hei jay…
just know i’m waiting for your film….
hehehe…
and i love all of u’r song….
love u jay….
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