[2023.04.08] ANDY LAU MAKES A SPECIAL APPEARANCE FOR BLACKIE KO'S SONS

Andy Lau works on another Taiwan film after 8 years, playing a "car god"

Ella Chen and E.So promote RED LINE
courtesy of mingpao.com

The film RED LINE yesterday held a press tea in Taiwan, during which Best Actor Andy Lau Tak Wa was announced as a special performer of the film's ultimate mystery character.

RED LINE would be the film debut that new director Jacky Ko has prepared a long time for. His older brother Alan Ko would not only perform but also co-write the screenplay. RED LINE has been scheduled for a 2023 release, and 2023 happened to be the 20th anniversary of "Car God" Blackie Ko's passing. Now that his younger son Jacky Ko and older son Alan Ko have teamed up to direct and write this car racing movie, they have taken up his mantle and added another layer of meaning to RED LINE.

Producer Chiu Li-Kwan said, "'Brother Blackie" Ko was a good friend o everyone. I am very grateful to Lau Tak Wa for lending a hand, agreeing to give the special performance right away." Chiu Li-Kwan said that Brother Blackie's jump over the Yellow River has yet to be repeated. The Ko Brothers chose a "car racing" movie to pay tribute to their father, and she felt very pleased. "In the film Lau Tak Wa would play the 'car god of a generation', a kind of collaboration across time and space with Brother Blackie in real life. The meaning would be extraordinary." Chiu Li-Kwan said that Lau Tak Wa and Brother Blackie had a connection from very early on. They worked together on movies, and even performed the hit DUMB KID together. Thus when he learned that Jacky Ko was planning to make RED LINE, Lau Tak Wa agreed right away.

Wa Jai's character lost his family in an accident, the pain of guilt, regret and loss was deeply ingrained into his originally proud soul. In the film he could be neither good nor evil, an enemy of E.SO's character but also a mentor and a friend. Chiu Li-kwan said, "In the film other characters are after victory with speed, Lau Tak Wa's character however is after defeat with speed. The character is very hard to play. Aside from Lau Tak Wa, truly there is no other choice."

"Aside from supporting the sons of a late friend, I think Lau Tak Wa has agreed to the special performance because he understands that this movie has the "soul of speed" in the Ko family bloodline. Ultimately he and Brother Blackie knew each other very well."