[2025.12.27] SOI CHEANG WOULD ADD SUITABLE AMOUNT OF ELEMENTS FOR THE JAPANESE AUDIENCE IN TWILIGHT SEQUEL AND PREQUEL

The roast pork rice in TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN once was among the top searches in Japan. Soi Cheang loves it too. "The barbecue rice I have had the most has to be roast pork rice, for the double combo I have to get roast pork no matter what." As for which shop he likes, he humbly says that he is no foodie. He only feels that barbecue is safe. He also says that with his office in Kwun Tong, he would recommend shops there. Soi Cheang says that he has been under Japanese culture influence since childhood, he likes the manga WOUNDED MAN, the band Anzen-Chitai, the Japanese drama LONG VACATION, and a series of Akira Kurosawa movies. The cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan is just this simple.

The Japanese audience praises the Louis Koo played Tornado as cool.

Chinese restaurant in Japan recommends the roast pork rice and even promotes Raymond Lam's concert in Japan

A record store in Japan sets up a "WALLED CITY TABLE", even "Dik Chau" Richie Jen's record is available.
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Soi Cheang Pou Soi directed TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) starred Louis Koo Tin Lok, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Raymond Lam Fung, Terrance Lau Chun Him, Philip Ng Wan Lung and others, made over HK$ 110 million in Hong Kong, swept up 9 Hong Kong Film Awards including Best Film and Best Director, and brought the fever to Japan. Since its release early this year to now, its box office has exceeded 500 million yen (around HK$ 25 million) -- the most brilliant performance for a Hong Kong film there in recent years. Originally slated to participate in the Tokyo Comic Con early this year, Koo Tin Lok, Tony Wu Tsz Tung and German Cheung Man Kit cancelled the trip due to the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire; Cheang Pou Soi at the end of October said at the Tokyo International Film Festival that it was rare for a Hong Kong film to have the support of the Japanese audience. "I feel an extra sense of duty, and want to do more cultural exchange." He would add elements that the Japanese audience would like in the upcoming sequel THE FINAL CHAPTER (JUNG JEUNG) and the prequel THE DRAGON THRONE (LUNG TAU).

Cheang Pou Soi said that he was very happy to be able to host a master class at the Tokyo Film Festival, but calling it "achievement unlocked" would be exaggerating. He said that he was not dead yet, so he would keep making movies. "I came here because the Japanese audience likes TWILILGHT, I want to communicate with them more." He knew that many Japanese people after watching TWILIGHT made the trip to visit Hong Kong, which surprised and pleased him very much.

Cheang Pou Soi pointed out that the Japanese audience was particularly into the brotherhood in he film, and had an indescribable relationship with the Walled City. "While I was planning to make TWILIGHT, a lot of the information during research came from Japan. I never would have guessed that the new generation of Japanese people still had affection for the Walled City, which I thought was very interesting; Hong Kong people like the Japanese culture, Hong Kong films used to be very popular in Japan; but nowadays, Japanese people like the movie I made. I feel an extra sense of duty and want to do more cultural exchange."

Cheang Pou Soi said that when he made TWILIGHT he never thought that people would watch it, not to mention the popularity in Japan. "At the time I only did my best to make it. I always feel that when talking with young people around the Walled City, they would only know the Walled City park. When the investors said make the movie, I did. I did my best to bring back the original Walled City. (Its popularity) in Hong Kong was unexpected, but I never even imagined in Japan. TWILIGHT blew up in popularity in Japan, which he said would more or less affect his directing of the sequel. The sequel THE FINAL CHAPTER (JUNG JEUNG) and the prequel THE DRAGON THRONE (LUNG TAU) would depict the 1980s and the 1950s Walled City. He would add certain elements suitably so overseas audience would be more into it. "I would add elements the Japanese audience likes within reason, actually Hong Kong is a place where the Eastern and the Western cultures meet. I believe people from any region would be able to find their own culture (in the film)."

THE FINAL CHAPTER has planned to start production in March 2026. With all the anticipation, Cheang Pou Soi admitted the pressure has been enormous. "I have to remind myself not to have any baggage, focus on the movie and not to think too much. Now the production hasn't started yet, I am still in the stage of handling the script. Actually this period is the biggest struggle, having to decide the roles of the actors, the production direction. After the production start I wouldn't think too much." Would he throw tantrums on the set? Cheang Sou Poi said that sometimes he would, but he would try to control it. "On the set I need to be very cool, throwing tantrums would affect the emotions and could easily lead to making not so sensible decisions. Sometimes I would indeed throw tantrums, but they would be trivial like yelling at people for being in the wrong position." Cheang Pou Soi revealed that THE FINAL CHAPTER production has progressed ideally. "I have spent half a year on locations. The government has been very helpful. Ultimately there are some procedures that we are dealing with. I would also save the sets for exhibition later."

Cheang Pou Soi with MAD FATE (MING ONG) and TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN won the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director two years in a row. He said that making movies came from an impulse. "Like TWILIGHT, I had quite the impulse to bring back the original Walled City. I felt that it had value and certain that the team would be able to do it; with LIMBO (JI CHI) I had a lot of imagination space after reading the original work, so I made it." Looking back at when he first started in the business, he only thought that when he wanted to make movies and people would give him the opportunity to. He was very naive, but now his thinking is already different. "Now when people ask me to make movies, I would think would I be able to answer to them? If I would agree then I would have to be able to do it. I can't just make movies that I like but would lose money. I can't just only make commercial films either. This I learned from (Johnnie) To Kei Fung."

Cheang Pou Soi said that directors come in many varieties, but he would never define himself. "I don't have any definition, I want to try everything. For example since everyone like TWILIGHT, should I keep making it? Although I would make two more installments, but I would take what else I would make in between. I could make a low budget film that differs from TWILIGHT, or more commercial one is also a possibility." Reportedly the Cheang Pou Soi directed mainland war history film would open next year. He revealed that he had many reasons to make that film, mainly he agreed because he have worked with the film company bosses countless times.

Although he was a film director, Cheang Pou Soi said that he rarely went to the movies. Even the earlier topical film SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT (FUNG LUM FOR SHAN) he has not seen. "I prefer to watch old movies, I would choose new films to watch. So I understand very well why the film market would be depressed. Even people in the business like us are this way. Now there are too many choices, and it is too convenient. In the past to watch a movie at home you have to buy a DVD, now you can just press a button. Since (the situation) cannot be changed, we have to think about what other advantage we have to make the audience return to the theaters." Recently 4K restored old films have become popular in Hong Kong. Has Cheang Pou Soi thought about 4K restored editions for his old films? He cracked up. "I don't know, which one of mine can be? No one has suggested it!" He said instead some have suggested releasing LIMBO in color, but whether released or not the decision was completely up to the film companies and the audience. He had no opinion.

Cheang Pou Soi's wife and daughter live in Canada, and he constantly had to fly back and forth; he said that his time in Canada would be the most relaxing, as he would be able to spend an entire day at home or a coffee shop. "I would have pressure from dawdling in Hong Kong, but not in Canada. I can loiter for a month there, go to the supermarket with my wife, pick up my daughter after school. I can even spend a day just sitting in the garage." This type of retirement life would be decent, but Cheang Pou Soi would at least have to finish two more TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS to have the free time to fritter away.

TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN blew up in popularity in Japan. Two months ago the fever still would be sensed on the streets of Tokyo; outside the doors of a Chinese restaurant in Ginza a feature recommendation of roast pork rice could be seen and the movie poster was hung to bring in customers; on the 7th floor of the large Japanese record store Tower Records' Shibuya store, a feature table was set up to display video and music products related to the TWILIGHT actors. At Hibiya's Sanseido book store the TWILIGHT set photobook could be seen. The Japanese magazine MOVIE STAR's November cover featured Lam Fung; fashion magazine an.an also released a TWILIGHT special, with interviews with cast and the original comic book creator as well as introducing Hong Kong movies, cuisine and landmarks. The special was originally priced 2200 yen (around HK$ 110). Reportedly at a certain large Hong Kong bookstore it was priced at HK$ 300.

An anonymous Japanese viewer outside a cinema Hibiya said that she has seen TWILIGHT 10 times at the cinema already. Her favorite scene was the ending when the "Four Sons of The Walled City" defeated Wong Gau, which she found very memorable. She said that in the past she rarely watched Hong Kong films, but the exciting action scenes of TWILIGHT wowed her. "My favorite is Tornado. He is very cool and very amazing. I really want to see the sequel, I am looking forward to it very much." She said that lately she has not have the time to travel, but when she would have the opportunity she would really like to go to Hong Kong.