"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" actor Chow Yun-Fat has recently expressed his support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong and condemned the police's use of tear gas on them.
"I've met the residents, the students. They are very brave and it's touching to see that they're fighting for what they want. The students are reasonable," Yun-Fat told newspaper Apple Daily on Oct. 1, Wednesday, as cited by Channel News Asia.
For Yun-Fat, the crisis will end if "the government can come up with a solution that the citizens or students are satisfied with."
Defending the protesters, Yun-Fat also said, "When the government uses violent measures on students, it's a turn-off for the people of Hong Kong. I don't wish to see anyone getting hurt. It was a peaceful demonstration and there was no need for any violence or tear gas."
In like manner, Asian superstar Andy Lau said there should no tear gas, violence or abuse.
On the other hand, Lau asked the Hong Kong protesters to "not let their feelings be swayed by a few people sowing discord" and to be worried for their safety considering they have family members who are concerned about them.
Meanwhile, amid the controversy in Hong Kong, Netflix has announced its plan to release a sequel to the 2000 martial arts epic "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," directed by Ang Lee.
Starring Yun-Fat, Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Chang Chen, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" won Best Foreign Language Film, Best Art Direction, Best Original Score and Best Cinematography during the 73rd Academy Awards.
Titled "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend," the sequel is set to debut on Aug. 28, 2015 simultaneously via Netflix and internationally at IMAX cinemas, The Guardian reported.
However, AMC, Cinemark, Carmike and Regal in the United States told Variety they are refusing to screen "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2" in their Imax theaters.
"No one has approached us to license this made-for-video sequel in the U.S. or China, so one must assume the screens IMAX committed are in science centers and aquariums," read the joint statement of the theater chains joined by Canada's Cineplex and Europe's Cineworld.
