The Seth Rogen starring, co-written by Superbad and Pineapple Express co-scribe Evan Goldberg, Michel Gondry directed movie version of the TV show The Green Hornet has finally found their Kato.  Stephen Chow, best known for Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, was originally set to direct and star as Kato, the Green Hornet’s crime-fighting sidekick, but he later dropped out in favor of other projects.  With a director in place, finding a replacement actor was the biggest snag in the production.  But now, actor Jay Chou has been selected for the part, says a Columbia Press Release.

Described as a “pop-star phenomenon throughout Asia”, Chou is best known for his singing career, although he has acted in five previous features.  Also rumored for the movie are Nicolas Cage for a villain role, and Cameron Diaz reportedly as a “reporter/love interest”.  The movie is scheduled to begin filming this year for a 2010 release.

The Green Hornet is a project that doesn’t pique my interest that greatly.  I have no attachment to the character, and only Rogen’s involvement has me interested.  I’m still curious as to how Gondry will direct this, as his movies are known for their surreal style, and this doesn’t seem like the kind of movie that would benefit from that.  I also have no idea how Chou will do in this role, considering this is the first time I’ve ever even heard of him.  But both Gondry and Rogen approved, so I have confidence in him.  Nicolas Cage as the villain sounds, well, pretty awesome, and that I would love to see.

What do you think of Chou being cast as Kato?

Yesterday at Comic Con Sony unveiled The Green Hornet’s car Black Beauty. Director Michel Gondry, Seth Rogen, and Evan Goldberg were in attendance and gave a series of interviews. While Rogen was there he confirmed that Nicholas Cage would play one of the villains, but he has not officially signed on yet. The Green Hornet is hitting theaters on July 9th, 2010.

While some still remain skeptical, I couldn’t be more enthusiastic for this. Its a Michel Gondry superhero movie, that should be enough to get one excited. I also really like the look of Black Beauty, it has this surreal retro look about it. It looks like a pimped out bat mobile, which is a good thing. Also, since Nicholas Cage is at Comic Con, I am sure they will announce a done deal in a day or two.

What do you think of Black Beauty?

Via: Super Hype

Variety reports Michel Gondry, director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Be Kind Rewind is in talks to direct The Green Hornet. Seth Rogen is starring, producing, and co-writing with Evan Goldberg (Pineapple Express, Superbad). Although Stephen Chow dropped out of the directing role he is still on to co-star as Kato.

Plot: By night, debonair newspaper publisher Britt Reid fights crime as a masked superhero known as The Green Hornet. At his side is martial arts expert Kato.

After rumors of The Green Hornet being scrapped at Sundance, then it coming back with Gondry attached I couldn’t be more excited. Altough Be Kind Rewind was the most disappointing film I saw last year I loved Science of Sleep and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a masterpiece in my eyes. Bring on June 25th, 2010.

What do you think of Gondry directing The Green Hornet?

We reported a couple of days ago that according to a  certain Sundancer Seth Rogen’s superhero film The Green Hornet was DEAD. Well, it turns out that is not true. Firstshowing reports that Seth Rogen contacted Hitflix (who first rumored that the film was off) and had this to say:

[The studio heads] have every intention on making it, and assuming we’re able to hire a new director in the upcoming weeks, which seems like a distinct possibility, it should still hit the release date.

Seth Rogen is starring, co-writing and even producing so I trust what he has to say. The screenplay also written by Evan Goldberg (Pineapple Express, Superbad) follows a newspaper publisher Britt Reid (Rogen) who fights crime as a masked superhero known as The Green Hornet. At his side is martial arts expert Kato (Chow). Stephen Chow recently dropped out of the directing role, but is still in the movie, according to AICN. The release of June 25th,2010 is backon!

After these problems do you think The Green Hornet production will go smoothly?

/Film reports that Drew McWeeny over at Hitfix says the buzz at Sundance is that Seth Rogen’s superhero movie The Green Hornet is basically on life support over at Sony, and that there’s “a good chance the studio’s going to kick the plug out any moment now.” Drew reports:

[A]t Sundance, I heard several people say that the film was off completely. I spoke this afternoon with a source close to the film, and while they didn’t call it completely dead, they did say it is “highly unlikely” that the film will shoot in 2009 at all.

The screenplay written by Evan Goldberg (Pineapple Express, Superbad) follows a newspaper publisher Britt Reid (Rogen) who fights crime as a masked superhero known as The Green Hornet. At his side is martial arts expert Kato (Chow). Stephen Chow recently dropped out of the directing role, but is supposedly still in the movie. The release of June 25th, 2010 is not looking too likely now.

Would you be upset if we never get to see The Green Hornet?