Kalok Chow Practices Kung Fu for New Wuxia Drama
Originally Wong Cho Lam (王祖藍) was scheduled to start filming for a wuxia comedy, but he officially declined the new drama due to his new role as TVB’s Creative Director. Stepping in for Cho Lam in Your Highness, The Hooligan <痞子殿下> is Kalok Chow (周嘉洛) in his first leading role.
Since winning 2019 TVB Best Supporting Actor for his standout performance in Come Home Love: Lo and Behold <愛回家之開心速遞>, the 25-year-old has been expected to take on more significant roles in mainstream dramas. Kalok’s chance finally came this year when Cho Lam was unable to film Your Highness, The Hooligan due to schedule conflicts.
Taking a hiatus from Lo and Behold, Kalok has started martial arts training classes to prepare for his new role. Alongside co-stars Jeannie Chan (陳瀅), Brian Chu (朱敏瀚),JW (王灝兒), and Mayanne Mak (麥美恩), Kalok was seen practicing his kung fu and sword fighting skills. As TVB rarely filmed wuxia series in recent years, the artistes did not have a lot of experience with martial arts and had to learn the skills quickly in the training classes.
With many hilarious images in Your Highness, the Hooligan, Kalok laughed that his antics will rival his performance in Lo and Behold. Mayanne has a lot of fighting scenes in the drama, and she will be pursuing Hugo Ng (吳岱融). Singer JW did not find the martial arts training class to be too difficult as she has a dancing background.
Filming for the drama has already started in the Islands District. With many outdoor and fighting scenes, the cast has been sweating under their heavily-layered historical costumes in the 90-degree weather. Though this is her first historical drama, Jeannie is not too concerned about the challenges ahead, as she is used to working under harsh conditions.
When the casting was first announced, the female leads included both Jeannie and Sisley Choi (蔡思貝), but the latter has since dropped out of the drama due to schedule conflicts. Jeannie shared that changes in casting are very common, and details are usually finalized right before filming.
This article is written by Kiki and Jayne for JayneStars.com.
This guy doesn’t have the “Lead” Actor material in terms of look and personality. Altho he surely knows how to speak. He seems a perfect fit for small supporting roles ..
@tommybear
This kid is just a young looking small 25 year old. Not idol or lead actor vibe. Could be a supporting sidekick at best…
@tommybear A lot of lead actors did not have “lead actor material” in the past. I’m sure there were people that didn’t see Nick Cheung or Wayne Lai going very far back when they started out. I see a lot of potential in Kalok and hope that he continues to get opportunities.
He definitely has more charisma and a better work ethic than Mat Yeung or Tony Hung.
@scarlett013
Very true on what you said about ‘lead actor material’. Many actors only become ‘lead actor material’ when they actually are given a chance to be lead and successfully carry said series.
I think young actors should be given more chance to shine. This is the only way for TVB to cultivate new blood. Felix Wong was only 22 when he was cast as Kwok Jing. Raymond Lam has his first leading role at the age of 23. So, Kalok is in the right age.
Full on crap cast working alongside Hugo Ng. More babysitting and carrying work for this legendary actor…
@jimmyszeto Well said!
@jimmyszeto
Lame cast….
Will avoid this one
Most boring cast ever…..
Jeannie cannot act. The station should just stop trying to make her the lead.
Oh wow the cast is very disappointing. I was excited to see Sisley in a comedy but now she’s gone…
I’m gonna give Karlok the benefit of the doubt as I do think TVB should be giving more young people a chance, so this is a step in the right direction. But the rest of the cast is not appealing. Mayanne and Jeanie are terrible.
TVB finally film wuxia drama again. Great news. I’m quite interested in Mayanne Mak. I find her very eloquent and articulate. Wonder how is her acting.
@kidd yes I like Mayanne too. I think she was natural in armed reaction and AI.
@yuyu
Thanks yuyu. Good to know that. I head that ‘Armed Reaction 4’ is awful. So, if I want to check out her acting, I will have to go for AI.
YAWN
Wow did not realize that these newer stars have so many haters. I’m personally excited for this and think that people should give this cast a chance. Kalok is arguable a better actor with more charm than a lot of the previously promoted male artists at TVB.
Jeannie definitely has room for improvement but I don’t find her annoying to watch or anything. If anything, just a little thrown off if she’s paired up with Kalok romantically as I feel like she looks a bit more mature.
Am also a fan of JW so it will be refreshing to see her in a more prominent role here.
@scarlett013
This has always been the case. Audience have to get used to these stars being lead before they are being accepted. I’m sure Bosco, Ron, Myolie etc have their fair share of haters back in their younger days.