‘The Happy Big Family’ 40th Anniversary Launches Malaysian Version Director Clifton Ko: Story Background Completely Rewritten

In the 1980s, director Clifton Ko broke Hong Kong’s box office records with 'Mr. Vampire,' and in the 1990s he went on to direct classic Hong Kong comedies like the 'All’s Well End’s Well' and 'The Happy Big Family' series. On Thursday, he came to Malaysia to kick off filming for the new installment 'The Happy Big Family Returns' with an opening ceremony. He emphasized that this is not a remake, but a brand new story about Chinese Malaysians today, with an entirely new script. “As creators, we have no reason to rest on our laurels or just rehash the old!”

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of 'The Happy Big Family' directed by Clifton Ko. He stated that the film retains the core narrative of working-class family comedy and the dream of sudden wealth, while shifting the story’s setting to Malaysia and rewriting it to reflect current social phenomena—making the content resonate more closely with local audiences’ life experiences and emotions. While 'The Happy Big Family Returns' is primarily targeting the Malaysian market, it also hopes to attract the 8.6 million population of the Greater Bay Area.

The movie stars Golden Horse Best Actress Loretta Lee and Hugo Ng as Aunt Ma Biao and Uncle Ma Biao, continuing the classic character settings. Malaysian goddess Min Chen Lin plays the eldest daughter Ma Li, with Yuan Teng as her boyfriend Zhu Bing. In addition, several Han Xing artists including Xie Honglin, Zheng Haozhi, and Du Qianhui, as well as Malaysian actors Yao Jing, Zhou Xueting, Wen Liming, veteran actor Ah Chan Liao Weixiong, as well as Cheung Wai Yee, Cheung Silly, Wu Qi, and Chen Guanlin will make special guest appearances.

Returning to filming, the Hong Kong screen goddess Loretta Lee laughed and said she was very excited to film in Malaysia. She recently injured her eyebrow while packing in the hotel and needed special makeup techniques to cover the bruise: “Luckily there was no blood and no wound!” In the original 'The Happy Big Family Returns,' she played the daughter, and now, 40 years later, she plays the mother of three daughters. She shared that in real life she only has one daughter who is about to get married, and this shoot allowed her to relive the happiness of her daughter’s childhood reliance on her.

Malaysian goddess Min Chen Lin had not returned to Malaysia to act for a long time. She said she felt honored to have the chance to work with the beloved childhood director of 'Mr. Vampire,’ and even joked that she and fellow Malaysian actor Yuan Teng would do their best to energize the crew. This opportunity to collaborate came when she ran into Clifton Ko at an award event, and as soon as he inquired, she immediately shook his hand to say yes.

Hugo Ng, who plays Uncle Ma Biao—originally played by veteran Hong Kong actor Bill Tung in the first version—said he feels honored and grateful. To avoid being constrained by the previous portrayal, he will not reference Bill Tung’s performance but will develop a whole new Uncle Ma Biao from his own perspective.

Additionally, Clifton Ko said that the movie’s theme song will be handled by Malaysian cast member Wu Qi. When asked if he would ask Wu Qi’s older brother, Wu Qixian, to help, Ko joked, “We’ll have to see if the budget is enough!”