Andy Lau Returns To TVB Dramas

One of Hong Kong’s top actors is finally returning to the small screen!

Andy Lau has been absent from the small screen for a really long time (something like 20 years), but he has agreed to come back to help out his good friend Eric Tsang and put the Hong Kong television series back on the map. Check out the article below for full details.

Translated by Tianlu for 24-7 KPOP. Use with credit.

Andy Lau will be returning to film with TVB! Yesterday, as a representative of TVB’s production team, Eric Tsang personally confirmed this news. At his Shanghai interview, Tsang stated that this TV series starring Andy Lau has already submitted the schedule, and Andy Lau is currently working on the script. The filming could start as early as next year. Additionally, Tsang revealed that he has also reached out to Chow Yun-Fat and will make a custom TV series for Chow.

With Creativity on the Decline, TVB Started Outsourcing

In the past few years, the TVB dramas representing Cantonese television has lost much of its glamour. The series produced copies old stories lines and lacks creativity. The pace of the series also drags on, with plagiarism scandals regularly breaking out. Lately TVB’s lead female actresses have made it big and left the nest, leaving TVB in an even more difficult situation. According to a TVB insider, TVB dramas have traditionally been produced by top producers Catherina Tsang and Tommy Leung, each with their own production offices. Though some competition does exist, the two still are one family and have reached an agreement over the years that neither will break.

But TVB’s new boss Chan Kwok-keung shifted the balance as soon as he stepped in. Starting next year, he will outsource a portion of the production process. As of right now, it has basically been confirmed that he will outsource to his good friends Eric Tsang and Wong Jing. This way, not only will TVB get some new blood, motivate the original crew, create some competition, and use Eric Tsang and Wong Jing’s names to their advantage.

Currently, Wong Jing has recruited top actress Deanie Ip, while Eric Tsang has started talking to Andy Lau. Yesterday, at the “Perfect Sound” event in Shanghai, Tsang revealed that Andy Lau has accepted his invitation and that the drama, around 30 to 40 episodes, can start filming as quickly as next year. Tsang also revealed that he has a female lead in mind, “The female lead is also a big star. Everyone will know at the right time.”

Eric Tsang Has Invited Chow Yun-Fat

Eric Tsang introduced yesterday that the negotiation with Andy Lau was very enjoyable, “As soon as we starting talking, we clicked.” Originally, Tsang agreeing to help TVB is also because of his friendship with top leaders in the business. “I’ve wanted to help TVB. No matter what, the Cantonese television and movie fields have been going down hill for the past 10 years. I want to do something, help lead the Hong Kong television culture back to the top. And TVB television series is the most direct way that the Mainland audience and international audience learn about Hong Kong culture.” Andy Lau also agreed with this view.

“We’re still thinking about the script, but they don’t need me to do it. Andy’s thinking about it. I want to put the story on him because he’ll be the one acting. I’ll wait until he gets the big picture of the story and then help him work out the details. The script should be done by the end of the year,” Eric Tsang said.

The problem that outsiders are most curious about in inviting big stars is the price, but Eric Tsang said that the topic has not been discussed, “It’s not that we’ll hurt each other’s feelings if we talk about money. It’s that in this matter, money is not the important element, so we’re not going to talk about it first because if we talk about this, then we can’t talk about anything else. We both need to show our commitment and think about how to do this thing. Only by having everyone understand its meaning can this project succeed.” Also, Tsang revelaed that he wants to have Chow Yun-Fat star in a TV series and has already sent out the invitation, “I think if I can make one feel touched, I can make many feel touched. I believe that Yun-Fat will be willing to come home and help. We’ll go slowly. I hope that Andy is a good motivator.”

Source: Sina