The New King of Comedy
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = The New King of Comedy Poster.jpeg
| caption =
| name = The New King of Comedy
| native_name= {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|t = 新喜劇之王
| s = 新喜剧之王
| p = Xīn Xǐjù Zhī Wáng}}
| director = Stephen Chow
| producer = Stephen Chow
Ivy Kong
| writer = Stephen Chow
Ivy Kong
Kelvin Lee
Zhao Bojun
| story = Stephen Chow
| based_on = {{based on|King of Comedy|Stephen Chow and Lee Lik-chi}}
| starring = E Jingwen
Wang Baoqiang
| music = Raymond Wong
Wendy Zheng
| cinematography = Mazloum Saba
| editing = Yeung Kai-wing
| studio = Star Overseas
| distributor = Lian Rui (Shanghai) Film Industry Co., Ltd.
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2019|02|05|China}}
| runtime = 91 minutes
| country = China
| language = Mandarin
| budget = {{US$|8 million|long=no}} (50 million RMB)
| gross = US$106.6 million
}}
The New King of Comedy ({{zh|c=新喜剧之王}}) is a 2019 Chinese comedy-drama film directed, written, and produced by Stephen Chow.{{cite news |author1=Su |title=Cecilia Cheung Will Cameo in Stephen Chow's "The New King of Comedy" |url=https://www.jaynestars.com/news/cecilia-cheung-will-cameo-in-stephen-chows-the-new-king-of-comedy/ |access-date=9 February 2019 |work=jaynestars |date=15 January 2019 |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607013452/https://www.jaynestars.com/news/cecilia-cheung-will-cameo-in-stephen-chows-the-new-king-of-comedy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author1=Addy |title=Stephen Chow to Release "The New King of Comedy" in Time for Hong Kong's LNY Season |url=https://www.jaynestars.com/news/stephen-chow-to-release-the-new-king-of-comedy-in-time-for-hong-kongs-lny-season/ |access-date=9 February 2019 |work=jaynestars |date=2 December 2018 |archive-date=April 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409151027/https://www.jaynestars.com/news/stephen-chow-to-release-the-new-king-of-comedy-in-time-for-hong-kongs-lny-season/ |url-status=live }} It is a remake of Chow's own 1999 film King of Comedy, this time set in Mainland China with different characters.
The film tells the story of a young woman who is dreaming and striving to pursue the actors' dream despite being an extra and stand-in. It was released in China on 5 February 2019 during the Lunar New Year 2019.{{cite news |author1=Heidi Hsia |title=Stephen Chow unveils "The New King of Comedy" poster |url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/stephen-chow-unveils-king-comedy-061800208.html |work=yahoo.com |access-date=9 February 2019 |date=4 December 2018 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223163945/https://sg.style.yahoo.com/stephen-chow-unveils-king-comedy-061800208.html |url-status=live }} With a budget of $8 million (US) along with few months of filming and post-production, it is believed to be the smallest project of Chow's career as a filmmaker.
Cast
- E Jingwen as Ru Meng
- Wang Baoqiang as Ma Ke
- Zhang Quandan as Charlie
- Jing Ruyang as Xiao Mi
- Zhang Qi as Ru Meng's father
- Yuan Xingzhe as Ru Meng's mother
Production
Stephen Chow began writing the film in 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.sohu.com/a/278660194_493451 |script-title=zh:周星驰《新喜剧之王》正式杀青定档! 主演一看就是王宝强 |work=Sohu |date=2018-11-29 |language=zh |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007053001/https://www.sohu.com/a/278660194_493451 |url-status=live }} Filming began in October 2018 and lasted only a few weeks.
For the movie, Chow cast people who could relate to the life of a struggling actor. He intentionally sought out Wang to play the male lead role, due to the latter's experience in working as an extra early in his career.{{Cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2019-01/13/content_74368080.htm|title=Stephen Chow seeks to inspire losers with new film - China.org.cn|last=Rui|first=Zhang|date=13 January 2019|website=www.china.org.cn|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007053005/http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2019-01/13/content_74368080.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201901/18/WS5c419b39a3106c65c34e5511_1.html|title=New Chow film walks the extra mile - Chinadaily.com.cn|last=Fan|first=Xu|date=18 January 2019|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007053013/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201901/18/WS5c419b39a3106c65c34e5511_1.html|url-status=live}} Actress E Jingwen also worked as an extra prior to The New King of Comedy, similar to the character she played in the film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/hong-kong-director-stephen-chow-picks-unknown-actress-for-the-new-king-of|title=Hong Kong director Stephen Chow picks unknown actress for The New King Of Comedy|last=Lee|first=Jan|date=6 February 2019|website=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007053012/https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/hong-kong-director-stephen-chow-picks-unknown-actress-for-the-new-king-of|url-status=live}}
Chow recruited the Chinese girl group Ji Feng Shao Nu ({{Lang-zh|c=疾风少女|s=|t=|p=|l=Storm Girls}}), whose members were eliminated in the Chinese version of Produce 101, to sing the film's theme song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/stephen-chows-chinese-new-year-movie-offers-inspiration-to-those-who-dare-to|title=Stephen Chow's Chinese New Year movie offers inspiration to those who dare to dream|date=14 January 2019|website=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007053017/https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/stephen-chows-chinese-new-year-movie-offers-inspiration-to-those-who-dare-to|url-status=live}}
Release
The New King of Comedy was released in China on 5 February 2019.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|tt9368628}}
- {{Douban|4840388}}
- {{Mtime|135808}}
{{Stephen Chow}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:New King of Comedy}}
Category:2010s Mandarin-language films