Louis Cheung Looks Past His Best Actor Dream, Tai Po Tragedy Brings Trauma

Hong Kong star Louis Cheung once declared his hope to win the Best Actor award before the age of 40 with the boxing action film "One More Chance". However, the film went through numerous twists and turns from preparation to filming, taking about eight years before finally being released and receiving positive reviews. Audiences are rooting for Cheung to break through with this movie, but when interviewed, he remained his usual calm self, joking that while he held some expectations, he wouldn't put pressure on himself, and revealed he's long grown used to being nominated but not winning.

He said: "I believe every actor has a best actor dream when they're young. That dream is not as strong for me now, but I still look forward to it and will keep working hard. If it does happen, of course, it would be a huge recognition and would give people more confidence when I move towards directing or producing in the future."

"One More Chance" was conceived, starring, and invested in by Louis Cheung, and its planning goes back to 2017. To portray a boxer convincingly, he spent a year undergoing intense fitness training, then another year learning western boxing, with over two years dedicated to preparation in total. The movie's release felt like a huge weight lifted off Cheung's heart. "There were so many unknowns and so much confusion along the way, but arriving at this point has been an amazing journey." As for the box office, he simply smiled and said: "Leave it to the audience to judge whether they like this kind of story."

"One More Chance" will be released nationwide in Malaysia on December 4th. This Hong Kong boxing film, blending family, passion, and redemption, is directed by Sunny Chan, and stars Louis Cheung, Angela Yuen, Rosa Maria Velasco, Eric Tsang, Lam Suet, Chu Pak Hong, and more, bringing a moving story about fatherly love, growth, and second chances.

Asked about the first person to watch the finished film, Cheung immediately mentioned his wife, Kay Tse. "She has seen nearly all of the film's edited versions, and every time she was moved to tears." As for Cheung himself, he also cries when watching "One More Chance." "Being a part of it and also involved in post-production, sometimes I nitpick, but I still get touched."

The father-son relationship depicted in the film easily broke down his emotional barriers. He said that, as a father, many real worries, feelings of guilt, and reminders to be a good dad were all invested into his character. "Parents easily devote themselves to their children's health and growth, and that feeling of not wanting to let your children down is something I always remember in real life."

"One More Chance" brings together several powerful actors. When asked about working with Eric Tsang for the first time, Cheung described him as a senior who makes people feel extremely at ease. "It was very comfortable acting with him, and it was easy to get into character without saying much." He praised Tsang for his convincing performances, adding that he often enhanced emotion with subtle reactions and facial expressions. As for longtime friend Lam Suet, who made a special appearance, his presence instantly brought a familiar atmosphere to the set.

When asked if there will be a sequel to "One More Chance," Cheung said there are no plans for that at the moment. "I was in my thirties then, and now I'm over forty. Thinking back on how I managed that training seems like magic to me. But who knows? For now, I'm focused on promoting the movie."

Regarding the recent severe five-alarm fire at Kwong Fuk Estate in Tai Po, Hong Kong, which left many families shattered, Cheung was deeply moved: "This period has been particularly heavy and sad for us. That affected area holds a lot of memories: my wife once lived there, and I went to school in Tai Po as a child, with many classmates living nearby. For Hong Kong people, this incident feels like a hole has been left in everyone's heart—a huge wound that will take time to heal." He expressed his gratitude for the concern and support from the outside world, and hopes that similar tragedies will never happen again.