Edison Chen ends near-decade big-screen hiatus with Anthony Wong’s ‘Temple of Wishes’, now shooting in Penang

Edison Chen (right) with Anthony Wong at the lensing ceremony for Chinese New Year comedy ‘Temple of Wishes’ in Penang, marking Chen’s return to the big screen after nearly a decade away. — Picture via Facebook/ypentertainment1

By Malay Mail

First Published: Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 9:07 AM MYT

Last Modified: Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 9:13 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — Edison Chen is heading back to the big screen after nearly a decade away — and his comeback is taking shape in Penang.

The 45-year-old Hong Kong actor was unveiled on September 17 as the previously mystery co-lead opposite Anthony Wong Chau-sang in the upcoming Chinese New Year comedy Temple of Wishes, currently shooting in Malaysia.

Chen joined Wong and fellow actor Samuel Pang at the film’s lensing ceremony in Penang, where his appearance drew cheers from those gathered, according to The Star.

“It’s really been a long time, so I’m very excited to start filming. I’ll do my best and continue to work hard. Thank you, everyone,” Chen said at the event.

The Malaysian-directed production, helmed by Peiji, had previously announced Wong as its lead while keeping its second male star hidden as a silhouette on promotional material, according to Penang Today.

That mystery was finally put to rest at the ceremony, confirming Chen’s return after years in which he largely stepped back from film and television to focus on his fashion business and family.

The project also reunites Chen and Wong, who previously appeared together in the Infernal Affairs franchise and 2005 street-racing hit Initial D. Their latest pairing has already generated buzz online, with Penang Today citing reports of clips from the ceremony circulating on Xiaohongshu.

Budgeted at RM10 million, Temple of Wishes follows two struggling men who begin operating a temple centred on granting wishes.

Principal photography began on September 7 and is expected to continue until September 30, with filming planned across Penang and Kuala Lumpur, as well as Hengdian in China and Bellagio, Italy, according to Penang Today. The film is reportedly set for release on February 6, 2027, the first day of Chinese New Year.

For Wong, the shoot also marks a return to Penang roughly a decade after filming the thriller Insomnia there.

“Penang is not only beautiful. The food is also irresistible. I’ve eaten so much that I’ve gained weight. I’ll have to lose weight next,” the 65-year-old joked, according to The Star.

Pang, meanwhile, said it was his first visit to the state and that he had already taken to its food.

“I’m very grateful to the director for giving me the opportunity to work with Anthony and Edison again,” he said.

Penang State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai also welcomed the production, describing it as an opportunity to showcase the state through film, Penang Today reported, citing state government publication Buletin Mutiara.

He highlighted Penang’s mix of beaches, rainforest, heritage locations and colonial-era architecture, as well as its multilingual production environment.

The project lands as Penang continues to court major international shoots. Netflix’s upcoming Mark Wahlberg film The Big Fix has also selected the state as one of its filming locations.

But for Hong Kong cinema fans, Temple of Wishes carries another draw: the sight of Chen and Wong sharing the screen again years after their crime-thriller and street-racing collaborations — this time swapping gangsters and mountain passes for a festive comedy about granting wishes.