According to Asiaone, Chow Yun-fat made his 62nd film appearance while filming a segment for the new movie Don’t Call Me God of Gamblers (translated title: Don’t Call Me God of Gamblers). The film was produced in 2019 and premiered in June this year in China, marking the star’s return to the big screen after 5 years.
Don’t Call Me God of Gamblers was filmed in 2019 but just premiered in June (Image: Weibo)
In a behind-the-scenes clip shared on Weibo, the 68-year-old actor is seen portraying a middle-aged man named Ngo Quang Huy who is struggling with a family issue. In this scene, to enhance the realism, the actor insisted that co-star Huynh Duc Ban not use a stunt double, even going as far as to perform the scene without any protective measures.
Chow Yun-fat’s performance has received much acclaim. “Chow Yun-fat is truly professional; I admire his commitment to his craft,” said one viewer. “His dedication over the years still shines through,” another commented.
Don’t Call Me God of Gamblers follows Ngo Quang Huy (Chow Yun-fat), a skilled gambler who finds himself in a dire situation, being pursued by gangsters while trying to care for the son of his late lover. The young boy, who suffers from a medical condition, is actually Huy’s biological son, and taking care of him has completely changed Huy’s life.
Injured while filming a scene
Another behind-the-scenes video reveals the actor being injured on set. Co-star Huynh Duc Ban was accidentally hit on the forehead, causing a bleeding injury. The quick-thinking crew rushed to help Huynh Duc Ban, who was visibly distressed. To ease the tension, Chow Yun-fat, speaking in his native Cantonese, reassured everyone, “It’s just a minor injury; it’s alright. Let’s continue.”
Due to the injury not being severe, Chow Yun-fat calmly told the crew, “I will go to the hospital to treat the wound and return to continue filming other scenes.”
After returning from the hospital, he mentioned that he had to undergo 5 stitches, which symbolically refers to 5 blessings, typically associated with good fortune in the film industry. The spirit of the actor during filming was commendable.
In another scene, Chow Yun-fat was seen sporting a new hairstyle and costume. While rehearsing, he encouraged the crew to let loose and not hold back. After finishing the filming, he humorously remarked, “Fortunately, my hair is quite resilient,” which brought laughter to the crew.
In 1989, the film God of Gamblers, featuring Chow Yun-fat in the lead role, became a classic in the film industry, marking the beginning of a successful gambling movie genre in Hong Kong (China). The actor quickly rose to stardom, becoming a beloved figure in the cinematic landscape. Two years later, God of Gamblers 2 broke box office records, further solidifying the franchise’s popularity. After 34 years, Chow Yun-fat has once again reunited with the iconic character Ngo Quang Huy.
Screenwriter Trang Van Cuong has created the character Ngo Quang Huy specifically for Chow Yun-fat. Audiences may notice echoes of the classic character God of Gamblers, yet this new character is entirely original.
The film Don’t Call Me God of Gamblers is directed by Phan Dieu Minh, produced by Hoang Ban, and features the screenplay by Trang Van Cuong, with Chow Yun-fat and Viên Vỹ Nghi in leading roles. This marks the second collaboration between screenwriter Trang Van Cuong and Chow Yun-fat after their previous work on Vô Song (The Invincible) in 2018.
