Edison Chen has returned to the big screen after nearly a decade away, confirmed on 17 September as the mystery co-lead opposite Anthony Wong Chau-sang in the Chinese New Year comedy Temple of Wishes, now filming in Penang.
The Malaysian-directed film, helmed by director Peiji, had teased fans by naming Wong as the lead while leaving a second male star as a silhouette on the publicity poster. That veil was lifted at the opening ceremony in Penang: the hidden face was Chen, the 45-year-old Hong Kong actor who has spent recent years focused on his fashion label and family life with only rare screen appearances.
For many viewers the draw is the reunion. Wong and Chen previously sparked on screen in the Infernal Affairs series and the street-racing hit Initial D. DimSum Daily reported that their pairing after a long gap quickly set social media talking, with clips posted on Xiaohongshu showing Chen in a new look at the ceremony.
The RM10 million production follows two struggling men who begin operating a temple built around granting wishes. Principal photography began on 7 September and is scheduled to run through 30 September, with shoots planned across Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Hengdian in China and Bellagio in Italy.
Penang state government publication Buletin Mutiara reported that State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai welcomed the production team during the launch ceremony, calling it an opportunity to promote Penang through film.
Wong Hon Wai highlighted the state’s diverse filming locations, from tropical rainforests and beaches to heritage sites and British colonial architecture, all within close proximity for smooth shooting schedules. He also noted Penang’s multilingual capabilities as a distinct edge, with proficiency in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien and Malay supporting both Western and Eastern production teams.
Anthony Wong returns to Penang about a decade after shooting the thriller Insomnia in the state, this time for a comedy production. Pocket News reported that the production is billed as Chen’s forceful return to cinema, with the film’s release planned for 6 February 2027, the first day of Chinese New Year.
The reunion comes at a time when Penang is attracting increasing international film interest. Netflix’s upcoming Hollywood film The Big Fix, starring Mark Wahlberg, recently selected the state as one of its filming locations, and the state government has been actively courting more global productions.
Initial D, adapted from the classic manga and starring Jay Chou, Wong, Shawn Yue and Chen, has for years been dogged by sequel rumours that never quite landed. Temple of Wishes offers a different kind of reunion: two actors who once shared Hong Kong’s biggest crime and street-racing hits now sharing a festive temple comedy.
