Edison Chen to take the male lead in "The Grudge 2" US version
 

Grudge's Chen Speaks English

TOKYO—Edison Chen, a veteran of more than 20 Chinese-language Hong Kong action films, such as Infernal Affairs and Gen-Y Cops, told SCI FI Wire that he makes his English-language film debut in the upcoming horror sequel The Grudge 2—even though he was born in Vancouver, Canada, and his first language is English.

"I actually got into the entertainment business by chance," said Chen, who also gained fame in Asia as a pop singer, during a break in filming on the sequel's set at Toho Studios here last week. "This one time I went to Hong Kong for the summer, and I got cast in a commercial. They were going to New York—I love New York—and so I said, 'Yes, I'll do it.' And when I came off the plane, lots of paparazzi were taking pictures of me. [They started] offering me movies, and then [I] started to learn my Cantonese. I've been working for about five, six years, and this is my 23rd movie. I've waited for this day, and I'm happy it's come so quick for me."

Despite his long film resume, Chen is only 25 (they make movies fast in Hong Kong). In The Grudge 2, the follow-up to 2004's hit supernatural movie The Grudge, Chen plays a new character, a Hong Kong photojournalist who helps Aubrey (Amber Tamblyn) investigate the fate of her older sister, Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar), from the first Grudge.

To assuage ethnic sensitivies in Japan—where the movie is being shot with a Japanese crew and director, Takashi Shimizu—the script changed Chen's character, Eason, who was originally Japanese. Despite that, Chen welcomed the chance to act in his native language. "It's much better for me," he said. "I can fully understand the meaning of the whole script. I don't have to worry about my pronunciation being right. I don't have to stress about the script supervisor coming to tell me, 'OK, you're saying this wrong.' And, like I said, English is my first language, so I kind of get into the mood and my role a lot better. The words flow instead of being forced or premeditated. I go there, and I just go!" The Grudge 2 is currently in production with an eye to an Oct. 13 release.


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Shimizu: 'Grudge 2' to differ from 'Ju-On 2'

Wednesday, April 12 2006, 10:04 BST - by Daniel Saney
Takashi Shimizu has revealed that he is taking a different direction in The Grudge 2.

Having already directed Ju-On and its English-language remake The Grudge, he told Comingsoon.net that The Grudge 2 will take a different approach in order to keep the idea fresh.

"The Grudge was a complete remake of Ju-On, meaning the storyline was very similar, basically the same," he explained. "But Grudge 2 is actually different from Ju-On 2. I don't think I would have accepted this job if it was going to be the same storyline. Since it is a different story, my motivation was a lot higher, and I actually enjoyed doing this."

Shimizu also stated that he is flattered by the decision of the makers of Scary Movie 4 to parody the films, noting that "in Scary Movie 4, they're doing a spoof of War of the Worlds and King Kong, and these are the movies with big budget, big movies. Next to that, there's Grudge."

Starring Amber Tamblyn and featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar, The Grudge 2 is expected to be released in October(13).
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....He....just got lucky...filming movie with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Beals etc... he can't act imho

So far until the movie comes out =0

Anyways, thanks for the info!

Thanks for that, it's cool to see Edison Chen debuting in the US! Amber Tamblyn, she's cool. Hehe. Hoping it's better than "The Grunge" because it was b-a-d.

Interesting. Wonder how it'll turn out.

yeah, i agree with u, Nu-NRG, he can't act. but on the bright side, i don't have to hear his awful cantonese if i decide to watch the movie.

Err.

Hmm.

Well, yeah, not too big a fan of the guy, but good for him.

I wonder how he got the role. Personally, i think his songs are horrible and his acting is even worst. I guess you can get anything with a rich family. His father is super rich.

It was BOOOOOOLD AND DELCIOOOUSSS!!!!


:D And it tickled me fancy, i laughed through the whole movie making fun at stuff, especially Sarah's Japanese


wow...actor / pop singer O_o :D I wonder if he'll sing in grudge 2!!! That's be fun,

^ well basically the director happens to watch Edison's performance in
Initial D the movie during the premier in Japan and he liked his acting
...and then the rest

Misako Uno from AAA's in this, too. <3

I never really liked his singing or his acting; although, I sometimes like his role as a gangster in some Chinese mafia (mischievous-looking face).
and sadly, he went to my high school before (and he didn't graduate).

The Grudge is a scary movie right??
AWWW!! I don't wanna watch it!!
:tired

Looking toward to Grudge 2!!
Edison Chen's singing is horrible~LOL. I always think he makes a better model than an actor/singer. Hope he is improving in this one. (I had watched almost all the movies he is acting in *by chance* -_-)

Really :D :D :D :D :D Awesome!

Edison dances like a gorilla

but asides from that, I've always thought he was all looks and no talent, but we'll see how his performance is this time.

Who's Misako Uno? :confused

I'm happy to hear that Edison is in the next Grudge film :yes I think it'll give an authentic sort of feeling to the movie.

She's from Avex's AAA.

Cool! I gotta admit that Edison have no other talent beside really good lookin' . I've seen sume of his performance. It's nuffin' at all. He can't sing. Maybe another asian wanna be Paris Hilton, huh? Hahaha... Hideous! Well... Honestly, i dun't think she's that brainless as everyone says on their lips. Anyway, i always think Edison is kinda a dumb because he always seem like he's tryin' so hardout to be cool and everything, but i can only see him as a total d***head! :o Excuse me. Sumetime i think he's tryin' to be sexy too. Well... He already is, but if he try to be, he kills it!