Chow to direct, star in 'Green Hornet'

Stephen Chow will direct and star in The Green Hornet, Columbia Pictures has announced.

The martial arts actor and filmmaker, whose previous credits include Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, will star opposite Seth Rogen in the superhero movie.

Rogen, who also co-wrote the film with Evan Goldberg, will play newspaper publisher-turned-crimefighter Britt Reid, while Chow will portray his sidekick Kato, a role previously played by Bruce Lee in the '60s TV adaptation.

Chow said: "I'm excited to be taking on The Green Hornet - obviously, I've been a huge fan of the show since I was a kid. The idea of stepping into Bruce Lee's shoes as Kato is both humbling and thrilling, and to get the chance to direct the project as my American movie debut is simply a dream come true."

Rogen joked: "Stephen was always my and Evan's first choice for director and to play Kato. We just hope that he never finds out we're not the Wachowski Brothers."

The Green Hornet is scheduled for release on June 25, 2010.