Raking gold in mainland China has kept TV King, Kevin Cheng (鄭嘉穎) so busy that he has no time to film TVB series. Although offered the leading assassin role in Cold Mountain Hidden Dragon <寒山潛龍>, Kevin has no desire to accept the filming project. Since starring in last year’s popular mainland drama, Bu Bu Jing Xin <步步驚心>, Kevin’s fees increased from 200,000 RMB to 400,000 RMB per episode within a year. Kevin is rumored to be earning 500,000 RMB per episode filming TV drama, Ip Man <葉問>, compared to the fee of only $15,000 HKD per episode filming a TVB series. In addition, it was rumored that Kevin is going to earn a whopping 12 million RMB to star in a mainland wireless mobile commercial. No wonder he has no desire to film any TVB series next year. When his acting career in Taiwan went stagnant in the early 2000′s, Kevin was saved and revived by his mentor, TVB executive, Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍). She was the one who bought him back to TVB, and had given him numbers of prominent roles in many dramas. However, with Kevin’s stardom in mainland, it will be very difficult for Catherine to convince him to star in a TVB drama again. It was reported Catherine and the executive producer, Tommy Leung (梁家樹) had requested Kevin to play assassin Ximen in wuxia series, Cold Mountain Hidden Dragon. The filming is slated to begin next March. The role was supposed to be a great opportunity for Kevin to shine, and Catherine had plans to promote him to win another TV King Award next year. To show her sincerity, Catherine reportedly invited Kevin to a private meeting to discuss the details of the new drama earlier this month. Acting insincerely, Kevin reportedly rejected the role immediately after he found out that wearing a bald cap is required. He told Catherine, “Please don’t make me do it; you know I hate wearing the bald cap. It’s going to make me lose my hair. Why don’t you find someone else instead?” Catherine then told him to shave his hair instead. Kevin allegedly became even more upset and said, “How can I make a living as a baldy?” It was reported Catherine was furious with Kevin’s lack of cooperation and told the other producers not to ask him to film anymore TVB series in the near future. After Kevin’s refusal to star in the drama, Catherine needed to find someone suitable to replace him. She allegedly had a private meeting with her former favorite star, Steven Ma (馬浚偉), to personally invite him back to film dramas for TVB. Although Steven had a strained relationship with TVB before leaving, Catherine still believes he will be the one who is willing to help her out. It was reported that Steven will be earning a whopping $80,000 HKD per episode if he is willing to star in the drama. Creds: Sudden Weekly
OMG, if the news is real, which I hope not, it will be be so sad to see Kevin leave but welcose Steven back.
1) Isn't Kevin contracted with TVB? If so, then what's the point of the contract if he won't film series? 2) It was reported Catherine was furious with Kevin’s lack of cooperation and told the other producers not to ask him to film anymore TVB series in the near future. Whether or not you like Kevin's acting, at the end its TVB's lost.
1. he can pay for breaching a contract, which he is more than capable of doing if he is doing that well in China 2. Catherine is just being a little bitch, its not a business if one side plays the baby role, in this case, both sides are playing the baby role anyhow, never really liked Kevin anyways, good thing him, and Steven Ma left to give room for more capable and potential good actors.
Really hoping that Steven Ma accept the offer, i like him for playing ancient film. Kevin wasn't really good playing ancient film roles. He is not paying back a favor when he wasn't doing so well in Taiwan and by doing this film he might stand a chance to win TV King Award to add it in his profile, is not like asking to do one year contract or more and is just one series.
i thought kenneth ma is doing it......would've been best if raymond lam does it.....i like his ancient dramas the best.....
yea, kevin is much more better playing modern series. catherine did help kevin when he was doing bad so kevin should return the favor if he can. can't really blame kevin though, everyone wants to make better money. they both trying to do what's better for themselves. i think steven ma is great actor especially in ancient series. it's a shame tvb can't pay him better
How can anyone blame Kevin, really? 500k RMB per episode is equivalent to 622140 HKD / per episode. TVB pays him 15k per episode? Are you freaking kidding me?
