Former friend criticizes Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow for prioritizing money over loyalty

On his YouTube show “Wong Jing Laughs at the Martial Arts World” on August 11, Wong discussed conflicts involving himself, Chow, and other filmmakers.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Chow, often referred to as Hong Kong’s “comedy king,” held significant sway in the Chinese-language film industry, frequently overshadowing directors and producers.

According to ETtoday, while Wong Jing was not part of the “Shaolin Soccer” production, he was knowledgeable about its development. He disclosed that securing investors took a while, and Lin Xiaoming of Universal ultimately accepted Chow’s “unfair terms,” granting Chow full copyright, including the title, without crediting the investors as producers.

“Shaolin Soccer” attracted attention both in Hong Kong and internationally but was banned in mainland China due to a copyright dispute over the term “Shaolin,” which was registered by the Shaolin Temple in Henan.

Wong explained that Chow refused to consider alternative titles or negotiate with the temple, resulting in the ban and substantial box office losses. Wong expressed regret, saying, “Beyond the hundreds of millions in lost revenue, the bigger issue was the unfair treatment of the investors.

Wong stated that this incident caused Lin Xiaoming and his wife to cut ties with Chow, accusing him of being “heartless and selfish,” overly stubborn, and focused solely on his own interests, particularly since he had already been paid his agreed-upon fee.

STHeadline reported that Wong recounted a dispute between Chow and Sammo Hung during the filming of “Kung Fu Hustle.” Hung, known for his attention to detail, directed the initial scenes, but progress was slow due to Columbia Pictures’ budget constraints.

After leaving to see a doctor for multiple mosquito bites on set, Hung was replaced by Chow, who acted under pressure from the producers without consulting Hung. When Hung was ready to return, Chow told him, “You don’t have to come back!” prompting Hung to comment, “He thinks he is a human being and others are dogs!” Wong criticized Chow’s management of the situation as “very poorly handled.”

Wong also experienced conflicts with Chow during their collaborations. In the 1990s, they initially agreed to divide an HKD8 million (about US$1 million) fee for the film “Young Bruce Lee,” with Wong directing and Chow starring, in a 60-40 split in Chow’s favor.

However, Chow later requested a 70-30 split, and eventually an 80-20 split. Wong reluctantly agreed, but the project was ultimately canceled when Chow chose to work on “King of Beggars” for the entire HKD8 million.

In 2000, Wong Jing paid HKD10 million for Chow to shoot “The Tricky Master 2000” within seven days. Despite this arrangement, Chow’s behavior on set was reportedly disrespectful. On the final day, Wong Jing decided he would never work with Chow again.

He noted that Chow had become arrogant, prioritizing money over friendships. Wong remarked, “As a result, Stephen Chow has very few friends and only interacts with people who don’t have conflicting interests with him.”

Despite their differences, Wong Jing respects Chow’s skills as an actor, director, and producer. Wong’s favorite scene is from “A Chinese Odyssey,” where Chow shifts through seven different expressions in just 15 seconds. Wong also mentioned that although “Shaolin Soccer” (2001) is officially recognized as Chow’s directorial debut, his real first directorial work was “Flirting Scholar” (1993), where his impact overshadowed that of the credited director, Lee Lik-chi.

Wong ended by wishing Chow success, saying: “He is an unparalleled actor and a diligent director, just not someone fit to be a close friend.”

Chow, 62, began his career as an extra for Hong Kong broadcast station Rediffusion Television. He later joined TVB in 1982 and made his acting debut in 1988 with “Final Justice,” which earned him the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He ventured into directing films in 1994. His most notable works include “Shaolin Soccer,” “Kungfu Hustle,” and “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons,” which was the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time at its release, according to The Hollywood Reporter.