Remember last September when we told you that Hong Kong comic director Stephen Chow was set to make his American film debut directing Seth Rogen in The Green Hornet? Forget we said anything.
According to a report in Variety, Chow has left the project’s directorial chair over the euphamistical “creative differences.” He will stay on in the role of Kato, the Green Hornet’s loyal sidekick.
Columbia Pictures is hoping to have a director in place by the end of the year.
While I am a huge fan of Chow’s Hong Kong films, I think this is probably very good news for the Green Hornet film. Chow has a great visual style- a kinetic, almost cartoonish, way of telling a story. Although this version of the Green Hornet is being written by and will star comedy actor Seth Rogen, we have been told that it will be more of a straightforward action film. I am not sure that Chow’s style would be absolutely suited for the planned tone. With the end of the year just a few days away, it should be interesting to see whom Columbia brings on board.
