[2026.01.04] LOUIS KOO RETURNS TO PROMOTE BACK TO THE PAST AFTER ILLNESS

Louis Koo returns to form and continues to drop laugh bombs after illness

Jessica Hsuan has been working hard on skin maintenance to delay aging, hoping to keep her pretty appearance pure and natural

Playing mother and son on screen, Jessica Hsuan and Kevin Chu Kam Yin look exactly like siblings off screen.
courtesy of on.cc

Louis Koo while promoting BACK TO THE PAST in Foshan falls ill. After a break he continues the tour to Shenzhen

Kevin Chu Kam Yin, Jessica Hsuan and Louis Koo promote the new film in Shenzhen, as it is Raymond Lam's turn to be "missing".

Charles Heung in order to support Louis Koo's BACK TO THE PAST production agrees to invest over 20 million and jokes that gains or losses do not matter

Jessica Hsuan and Kevin Chu Kam Yin play mother and son, and are full of chemistry on and off camera

Jessica Hsuan and Louis Koo have known each other since they were young. Sometimes when they have "a little too much fun" and receive looks from those around them, they just laugh them off
courtesy of mingpao.com

The movie version of A STEP INTO THE PAST, BACK TO THE PAST (CHUM CHUN GEI) has been scheduled to open on New Year's Eve in 2025. The original team has made a strong comeback after 25 years, setting off a "memory kills" all over the city. The film even continuously set new records in Hong Kong film history! 25 years ago, the Louis Koo Tin Lok played Hong Siu Lung took a time machine to break into the troubled times of the Warring States period; 25 years later, the movie version of the story continues, Hong Siu Lung has become a father, and he has a son Hong Yu (played by Kevin Chu Kam Yin). As the years go by, the plot opens a new chapter, and the actors of then have also grown on their own. However time seems to be particularly gentle on these actors, especially Jessica Hester Hsuan (Suen Huen). She has been so well kept that people online jokingly asked, "Did you have any preservatives?" In addition to sharing the daily maintenance routine, Suen Huen even broke the news in a media interview that she and Koo Tin Lok have been "reckless" without change for 20 years, and even joked that Koo Tin Lok is still just as "bad"!

After waiting for 25 years, the time-traveling legend of BACK TO THE PAST has finally been put on the big screen and made fans of the drama back then shout that their childhood memories have come back! The Suen Huen palyed Wu Ting Fong not only returned, but also has been praised for her appearance being comparable to back then. Regarding online accusation that she seemed to have taken preservatives, Suen Huen revealed the secret, "Actually the technology is so powerful, the team would definitely fine tune the picture because the current lenses are too precise! Getting older is definite, but I will try to use some natural methods to delay it."

Suen Huen admitted that she did not deliberately maintain her health and was even used to sleeping late at night, but she would be "engaged" in the bathroom for an hour and a half every morning and evening, including applying masks, scraping her face, etc. She said that she heard that many people would become addicted to fine-tuning. Although no one knows what will happen in the future, she would rather be "diligent" and take her time with natural methods. She even praised co-star Tang Lai Ming for "changing the least", which was the most amazing. Was she worried about the audience comparing the actresses? Suen Huen took that in stride. "This is the way in this line of work, and technology (screen fine tuning) can indeed help actors prolong their longevities; just like when dubbing the drama QUEEN OF THE TOWER, when I saw the unedited picture even I would be disappointed."

In addition to her appearance, her friendship with Koo Tin Lok has not changed for twenty years. The reporter laughed and asked what she felt has changed about his old partner Koo Tin Lok, and whether he has become more "bad" to her? Suen Huen immediately laughed, "He has always been so 'bad', and in terms of 'verbal jabs' at me he has gotten even more severe, haha." Speaking of many of the interesting outtakes from the series back then has leaked out, like when Koo Tin Lok 'poked' her, Suen Huen revealed, "He actually was 'poking' my 'armpit'! Rewatching these clips really brings back a lot of memories. When I was filming a TV series in the past, every time I yawned he would put his finger directly into my mouth. The staff next to me would be scared. After all, he used to be just an actor and everyone would have fun and relax. Now he is also a producer and a star, he has to take care of a lot of things on the set. Actually I would still see the old him there, but he may just hide a little deeper." Suen Huen also said that Koo Tin Lok knew that she would not be upset, so he spoke to her very directly. Sometimes others would be surprise to see that, but she has long been used to it. She would say something to Koo Tin Lok directly, "I know when I can tell him and when not to disturb him, I would look at his face. Yet there are some things that others dare not tell him, but I would say it directly because he needs to know." She also recalled the hardships of filming the drama. In addition to the poor environment, the actors also took turns to fall ill. She herself was hospitalized for a week, and as soon as she was discharged from the hospital she immediately went to catch up with the shoot.

As for the newly added "son" Chu Kam Yin in the movie, he admitted that he was under a lot of pressure. He not only had to face a group of senior actors, but also to play the historical figure Xiang Yu. Yet he pointed out that the atmosphere of the team was very much like a family. The seniors took great care of him and allowed him to relax quickly. Suen Huen also joked that Chu Kam Yin was chosen because he looked like her and Koo Tin Lok's "son". The film had its share of action scenes, which he humbly said was the outstanding result of "movie magic".

As for whether the movie would have a sequel, Suen Huen and Koo Tin Lok have the same opinion. They believed that it would depend on the box office, but also on the script. Because of many examples before, they had to avoid keep making them until it would become "rotten". "Previously many dramas have been hits, so they just kept making them. DICEY BUSINESS originally would make a second season, but I didn't agree because all the characteristics of each role in the series were already 'out'. Not much would be left to talk about, so I didn't take it. Quit awhile you are a head. I remember that Oscar Best Actress Julia Roberts once turned down the PRETTY WOMAN sequel because she thought that the sequel would never be as good as the original. Why not leave the best picture forever in the minds of the audience? The costume drama SQUARE PEGS became a modern version, LIFE MADE SIMPLE became another story so it was acceptable."

Yet she felt that BACK TO THE PAST was an exception, because the subject of traveling had huge room for development. They could go anywhere and add anything to it. The film took awhile from production to release, one of the actors Dick Liu Kai Chi already had no way to watch the completed film. Suen Huen also felt sorry about this, but she also looked at it very openly. "Everything happens for a reason, and everyone has their fate and time."

The Louis Koo Tin Lok, Raymond Lam Fung, Jessica Hester Hsuan (Suen Huen), Sonija Kwok Sin Nei and Joyce Tang Lai Ming starred BACK TO THE PAST (CHUM CHUN GEI) has achieved consecutive box office results since its release on December 31st, 2025. On the first day the box office in Hong Kong and Macau recorded HK$11,299,366 (the same below), setting a record for the highest opening day in the history of Hong Kong films. After two days in release, the single-day box office in Hong Kong and Macau exceeded 10 million; the cumulative box office quickly exceeded 20 million and became a hot topic in the city. Entering the fourth day of release, the box office of BACK TO THE PAST accumulated more than 30 million and the trend is quite sharp. As of 12 noon on January 3rd, the cumulative box office in Hong Kong and Macau has reached HK$31,019,886; which is an impressive achievement. After the film's release, the discussion continued to heat up, successfully attracting audiences of different generations to enter and support, setting off a wave of collective memories and seizing the focus of the Hong Kong film market recently. The creative team also thanked the audience through short videos and promotional activities, thanking fans for their support and waiting over the years, and calling on everyone to continue to go to the cinemas to support BACK TO THE PAST.

In addition, Koo Tin Lok missed some Foshan stop's roadshow activities due to illness the day before. Goo Jai appeared with a mask at one event, and some fans claimed that he kept coughing. At another event he was already missing. Lam Fung explained to the audience, "Daddy (Koo Tin Lok) is sick, so he couldn't come to promote." Goo Jai was even rumored to be ill and hospitalized, worrying many fans.

Yesterday Goo Jai through his manager reported that he was safe, and he immediately returned to promote in Shenzhen. "Thank you everyone for your concern for Goo Jai. He is fine and would promote BACK TO THE PAST in Shenzhen."

Goo Jai appeared to be in good spirits yesterday and did not forget to show his humorous nature. He smiled and said to the audience, "Yesterday (the day before) some things had to be dealt with in ancient times, so I went back for a while and now I would come back since it's done." He even joked on the spot, "Today (yesterday) it was Lam Fung's turn to go back to ancient times to deal with something!" It caused laughter from the audience, and the atmosphere was quite lively.

BACK TO THE PAST started production in 2019 but was never scheduled for release, thus the film has been jokingly called an "urban legend" online. Charles Heung Wah Keung revealed in a mainland interview that while making BACK TO THE PAST 4 years ago Koo Tin Lok spent all the money and asked him for help. Heung Wah Keung admired Koo Tin Lok and described him as the "Last Night Watchman" of the Hong Kong film industry, in order to make movies he also wagered everything he had. 4 years ago Goo Jai told him, "If I keep going, I am afraid I would have to sleep under the bridge. Mr. Heung, please support us, support Hong Kong film." Heung Wah Keung learned that Goo Jai has already spent over 200 million and invested 20 million more without hesitation. He joked that even if the money would be lost it would not matter, because he could not turn Goo Jai down. Since he had such a rare passion for film, supporting Koo Tin Lok was supporting Hong Kong film. If he could not even put up 20 million, he would not be Heung Wah Keung.

Heung Wah Keung also pointed out that he made Koo Tin Lok a star. The young actor made the comedy LA BRASSIERE (JUET SAI HO BRA) at the time, but the movie became a big hit and he also became popular. He has heard people call Goo Jai a Hong Kong movie tycoon. He took low budget movie roles for no pay. Later he invested in films and a special effect company, putting both money and effort into this work. Heung Wah Keung praised, "I would never imagine that he would be so brave. I heard he has already invested in several dozen movies."

Heung Wah Keung recalled that the Hong Kong film golden age has brought him fame and fortune. Now when fans run into him they would still call him "Lung Ng" (His GOD OF GAMBLERS character). As for the current status of the Hong Kong film industry, he sentimentally said that "time wasn't on my side". Hong Kong used to produce several hundred movies, last year only a dozen or so were made. Business required timing and opportunity, he was afraid that making money from investing in film nowadays would already be very difficult.