Hong Kong’s Edko Films has revealed a raft of leading stars that will be seen in Cold War 1994, the highly anticipated prequel to Hong Kong’s biggest police action thriller film franchise
Joining the cast are Tony Leung Ka Fai, Chow Yun Fat, Aaron Kwok, Louis Koo, Fish Liew, Taiwan’s Wu Kang-ren, Ireland’s Aidan Gillen (Game Of Thrones) and the UK’s Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey).
Leung took to the stage at Hong Kong Filmart on Wednesday (March 18) alongside previously announced lead actors Terrance Lau, Tse Kwan Ho and Louise Wong. Daniel Wu has also been previously attached. A first look at Lau in the film can be seen above.
The media launch was also attended by executive producer Bill Kong, producer Ivy Ho from Edko Films and director Longman Leung.
Kong said that the team is building a universe for Cold War, extending the scope to bring the IP to a higher level. The story is set in 1994, three years before the Hong Kong handover, which is also the time when the Special Branch – the territory’s political police unit – is set to be disbanded. The tension revolves around the power struggles between the triads, the ultra-rich and the British colonial government.
Kong described the film as more than just a prequel. “While sequels move the story forward, this prequel goes deeper,” he said. “We are returning to the very source of the Cold War universe, revealing how the power reshuffle in 1994 planted the seeds for everything that followed.”
Director Leung added that clues to the 1994 storyline had been carefully planted since the first Cold War. “Through a grander narrative canvas, audiences will finally witness the true origins of the Cold War world and uncover answers to many long-standing mysteries,” he said.
The filmmaker was also behind the first two films – Cold War and Cold War 2 – which were the highest grossing Hong Kong films in 2012 and 2016 respectively and together grossed more than $13m (HK$100m).
Edko Films is a major backer along with China’s Wanda Pictures and Ruyi Films. While a release date has not been announced, it is expected to premiere later this year.
A second prequel, Cold War 1995, is also in the can, after being shot back-to-back with Cold War 1994 in 2024, with Hong Kong as the primary shooting location and several scenes filmed in London.
The Hong Kong-based company has produced many box office hits, including 2023’s A Guilty Conscience and this year’s Chinese New Year hit Night King.
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