Johnnie To assembles top Hong Kong talent

Media Asia is unleashing a trio of Johnnie To projects at EFM, including an omnibus about Hong Kong’s history that brings together eight of the territory’s leading directors. 

The as-yet-untitled project will include segments directed by To, John Woo, Tsui Hark, Ann Hui, Ringo Lam, Patrick Tam, Sammo Hung and Yuen Woo-ping. To will also produce through his Hong Kong-based Milkyway Image. 

“The idea is that each of them will focus on one decade of Hong Kong’s history, although it may not end up being as strict as that,” explained Media Asia general manager and head of sales and international co-productions Fred Tsui. 

Ann Hui has already started shooting her segment, set in 1940s Hong Kong, which delves into social commentary with a tale about kindergarten classes that were held on rooftops. 

To is also planning to direct a new action thriller starring Louis Koo as an ex-convict who ends up in hospital after a heist, where he is caught in the crossfire between gangsters and undercover cops. 

The film will also star Wallace Chung, whose credits include To’s Drug War and Han Han’s The Continent. “This promises to be one of To’s most action-packed thrillers,” said Tsui. 

To is also producing a thriller directed by a trio of new talents that he is grooming – Frank Hui, Vicky Wong and Jevons Au Man-kit. The three filmmakers will each shoot an interconnected story about a mainland gangster seeking his fortune in pre-handover Hong Kong. The cast includes Gordon Lam, Jordan Chan and Richie Jen. 

All three projects will be co-produced by Media Asia and To’s Milkyway Image, which is backed by China’s Hairun Media.

To also recently directed a feature adaptation of musical Design For Living, starring Chow Yun Fat, Silvia Chang and Eason Chan, which is currently in post-production.