Hong Kong saw the glamorous premiere of the hotly anticipated film The Exploits of 1900 on February 10, 2025, at the iconic Tsim Sha Tsui, attended by some of the biggest names in the industry. The star-studded event brought together leads Chow Yun-fat, Wang Baoqiang, and Liu Haoran alongside directors Chen Sicheng and Dai Mo, underlining the film's significance within the contemporary cinematic scene.
Chow, affectionately known as "Fat Gor," shared during the event his excitement about joining this project, expressing his admiration for the film's script. "The story captured my heart," he stated, recalling his earlier discussions with renowned director Hu Jinquan about another project back in 1994, which unfortunately did not materialize. "Years later, here I am, continuing this narrative under Chen's direction. It feels like fulfilling not just my dream but also Hu's," he reflected.
The film has reportedly skyrocketed to success, garnering over 2.8 billion RMB at the domestic box office, and it is seen as yet another winner for the popular Detective Chinatown series. The directors optimistically hope this premiere can help secure favorable ticket sales within the Hong Kong market, which they acknowledged has faced fluctuations.
Highlighting the challenges faced by the local film industry, Chow Yun-fat was candid about the current state of filmmaking. "We used to make over 300 films annually, but we’ve dropped down to around 20," he lamented, pointing out the increased competition from regional films and fluctuated market dynamics. He also mentioned the struggles to secure funding for larger projects, calling on government support for boosting the local film production environment.
During the premiere, Wang Baoqiang shared his memorable experiences filming with Liu Haoran, particularly their physically comedic scenes together. "Filming the scene where we are entangled on the ground was challenging but fun!" Wang quipped, remarking on the hilarity and spontaneity they brought to the project.
Both actors acknowledged their gratefulness to Chow for serving as the face of the promotions, with Wang stating, "He really carries the load, and it’s appreciated." Chow himself declared, "I’ll make sure to visit all 19 districts of Hong Kong to express gratitude to our fans for their support. It's important to us!"
They also exchanged jovial banter surrounding their efforts to learn and increase their Cantonese fluency during the promotional tours, with Chow teasing Wang about his cute Hebei accent.
A notable point of discussion during the event was the emergence of new talents. Chow promoted young actor Yuen Ho-chung, grandson of veteran actress Leung Shun-yin, expressing, "This kid has tremendous potential, and we need to support fresh talents like him!" Yuen, who recently won the "Most Promising Male Artist" award, was ecstatic to receive such recognition from Chow. "I’m really honored! It feels surreal to have someone I look up to like Chow acknowledge my work," he said after the event.
Chow also explicitly voiced his hopes to return to local projects if presented with compelling scripts. "I’m open to roles, as long as the story calls for it. I'm not afraid of foreign dialogue, but perhaps not Indian - that's beyond me!” he chuckled. Nonetheless, he praised the effort and passion shown by the younger generation of actors and encouraged the industry to embrace new projects, emphasizing optimism even when facing barriers.
Concluding the evening, attendees were enthusiastic about the future endeavors of the Detective Chinatown series, with whispers of potential sequels already circulating. Everyone at the premiere seemed eager to see where this thrilling franchise would go next and how younger talent might shape its path.
Overall, the premiere of The Exploits of 1900 brought forth not only splendid performances but also discussions about the evolution of Hong Kong cinema and its future. With companies from across Asia tiptoeing around the insufficiencies of local productions, Chow and his colleagues reiterated the need for investors to step up and reaffirm their commitment to creating high-quality cinematic experiences.