Nigel LowDo you really need an introduction when you’re dubbed the Asian King of Pop like Jay Chou? With a new superhero flick under his burgeoning belt, he has already tightened his grip of influence, particularly in parts uncharted, the United States of America.
In truth, all these descriptors belie his most endearing trait. His humility.
Perhaps it was this very trait that made the director and the co-star of his new film, doubt his superstardom status in certain regions. When queried, French director Michel Gondry expressed the initial shock, “When we started in Beijing China, Seth Rogen and I had zero questions…and the only question was to ask us how it was to work with Jay Chou.”
[Click here for our review of The Green Hornet]
Rogen chimed in, “They were telling us, Jay is really famous, and I was like… yeah we’ll see. It turns out he really is famous,” leaving the crowd in heaps of laughter.
UrbanWire caught up with the shy Taiwanese superstar at the The Green Hornet press conference held at the St. Regis Hotel on Jan 24.
Chou, who is a pop singer, director, producer, composer and actor, can now add bona-fide Hollywood star to his repertoire of credits, with his first English-speaking role as Kato, the “supportive” sidekick in this new action comedy nicely in the bag.
Released on Jan 27, The Green Hornet sees the familiar buddy pairing of inept and capable, reminiscent of the days of Lethal Weapon. Seth Rogen plays party boy, Britt Reid. After his rich father’s death, a disgruntled Reid decides to save his city from the clutches of the underworld.
Somewhat blundering and awkward, he needs a partner who is doubly capable to make up for his ineptness and carry the duo through thick and thin. This is where the multi-talented Kato comes in and practically saves the day on countless occasions.
Chou was quick to downplay any popularity within Asia, and instead chose to highlight that “the more important thing is that the movie is promoted”. Movie buffs who have already caught the film, will have noticed the very casual on-screen banter between the 2 stars.
This chemistry was also evident at the panel where they both enjoyed ribbing each other. Regarding the degree of hurt that Chou inflicted on Rogen during a fight scene, the latter proclaimed, “Jay kept thinking he was hurting me, but he never actually did,” while Chou amused everyone with an expression of mock surprise.
The entertainment heavyweight, who turned 32 on Jan 18, displayed no signs of the shy, quiet “introvert” that he has come to be known for, readily answering all the questions posed.
So is it acting or music for Jay Chou now given the relative success of this new film?
It took him a hectic 1 month to master English for the role in the film, so of course it comes as no surprise, which he’d rather do. He did reveal his hopes of giving the Western audience a glimpse of the Chinese pop music (His song “Nunchucks” is featured in the end credits of the movie).
Chou, however, didn’t quash suggestions that Rogen and he might just make an album together “while the movie is still hot”, adding that, “Sometimes I hear Seth singing, and the pitching and rhythm seem pretty good.”
Still chuckling, Chou went on to say half jokingly, “[Seth] can be the rapper.”
The multi-talented musician learned the piano at a tender age of 3 under the tutelage of his mother. That was when he developed a passion for the instrument. In his later years, he moved on to a whole host of other instruments like the guitar, cello, jazz drum and the Chinese Dizi (flute).
Call him whatever you like… introvert, icon, and recluse or even suave and mysterious, there’s one thing certain, there will always be a “Kato” by his side.
When asked who was his ever supportive friend and partner-in-crime through all his ups and downs, he said bashfully, “My mother. Even in my work, my mother plays a very important role.”