Hong Kong actor Julian Cheung said understanding and experience have helped him better interpret his role in the new film The Prosecutor, an action-backed legal drama directed by Hong Kong action actor Donnie Yen. The film is based on a true story and revolves around a prosecutor who risks his life and career to help a wrongly accused defendant.
Known for playing heroes with integrity, Cheung takes on a rare villainous role this time, starring as Ou Bowen, a defense attorney who is also the leader of a drug-addicted criminal group.
"Finally when I play the role of Ou Bowen, I feel that I can understand the role well. I have experienced quite a lot and I realize there are people like him existing in this world. The movie script was also changed many times," Cheung said in a recent interview with the China Central Television.
To play the role as a defense lawyer well, Julian Cheung embraced gray hair and beard, completely breaking away from his usual image.
Working with Donnie Yen, who strives for perfect acting, was a refreshing experience for Cheung.
"Working with Donnie Yen was a refreshing experience. He is a meticulous person who fully immerses himself in the role he plays. During filming, everyone dives deeply into their roles to see who can interpret them best, and I believe this kind of spirit is what truly matters," said Cheung.
The film will be released in the mainland on Friday.
Understanding, experience ensure his well performance in new film: Hong Kong actor Julian Cheung
China's 2026 box office revenue had surpassed 14 billion yuan (about 2.06 billion U.S. dollars) as of Tuesday, fueled by a diverse array of hit movies and consumption promotion campaigns.
The film industry got off to a strong start during the Spring Festival holiday. "Pegasus 3," the latest installment in director Han Han's racing comedy franchise, amassed over 4 billion yuan and remains the year's top grossing film so far.
Released during the Qingming Festival, the comedy drama "It's OK" focused on a mother-daughter bond and resonated strongly with young women, topping April's box office chart with more than 160 million yuan in ticket sales.
During the just concluded May Day holiday, "Dear You," a low budget film in the Chaoshan (Teochew) dialect featuring an almost entirely first-time cast, became one of China's biggest cinematic surprises of 2026. As the highest rated domestic release so far this year, the tear-jerking drama had raked in over 180 million yuan as of Wednesday afternoon.
The five-day May Day holiday, a key period for movie-going, drew more than 20.8 million people to cinemas, a 10 percent jump from a year ago, while the number of screenings rose 2 percent to nearly 2.4 million.
Bolstered by the "2026 China Film Consumption Year" and "China Travel with Chinese Films" initiatives, cinema spending has become a major driver of cultural and tourism consumption. The entire film industry chain has generated over 220 billion yuan in output value since January.
China's 2026 box office surpasses 14 bln yuan
