Geekshow

Chow To Direct and Star in ‘Green Hornet’

The long-rumored Seth Rogen and Stephen Chow team-up just went to the next level.

The film adaptation of The Green Hornet, about a masked crimefighter, detective, and martial arts expert that originated as a radio program in the 1930s, has been moving full speed ahead ever since Pineapple Express and Superbad writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were announced as the film’s writers, with Rogen set to star.

A few months ago, Rogen expressed interest in having actor/director Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer) star as Kato, Green Hornet’s trusted sidekick and friend, a role which was played most famously by Bruce Lee in the 60s television series.

Stephen Chow, quite seperately, also expressed interest in the role.

This left everyone wondering: if they both want to do it, and do it together, then why is it taking so long to get everyone signed on?

The answer? Because it apparently takes longer to sign someone as both a co-star AND the director.

Chow is set to helm Columbia Pictures’ The Green Hornet, making it his American directorial debut.

“Stephen was always my and Evan’s first choice for director and to play Kato. We just hope that he never finds out we’re not the Wachowski Brothers,” says Rogen, who has reportedly slimmed down considerably for the role of the masked vigilante.

“I’m excited to be taking on ‘The Green Hornet’ — obviously I’ve been a huge fan of the show since I was a kid,” says Chow. “The idea of stepping into Bruce Lee’s shoes as Kato is both humbling and thrilling, and to get the chance to direct the project as my American movie debut is simply a dream come true.”

The Green Hornet hits theaters everywhere June 25, 2010