Singer and actor Andy Lau agreed to take only one-third of his typical fee for his role in “A Gilded Game,” aiming to allocate more of the film’s budget toward production costs.
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Hong Kong singer and actor Andy Lau. Photo from Lau’s Instagram |
In an interview with MtimeLau explained that he made this decision after learning about the financial difficulties faced by the film’s investors.
Known as one of the highest-paid actors in the Chinese-language film industry, Lau reportedly earned 60.7 million yuan (US$8.4 million) for his lead role in the 2023 film “The Movie Emperor.”
At 64, Lau—referred to as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” of Cantopop—remains highly active in both film and music. He has at least four upcoming films lined up, including “The Lychee of Chang’an” and “The Wandering Earth 3,” and he toured extensively across Asia last year with live performances.
According to The Economic Observer, financial constraints have compelled many A-list celebrities to lower their fees to help support struggling film productions. In March, Hong Kong actor Louis Koo revealed that he voluntarily reduced his fee but still faced challenges attracting investors, highlighting the significant headwinds facing Hong Kong cinema.
Producer Tin Kai Man echoed this concern, describing the Hong Kong film industry as nearly “frozen.” He also disclosed that actor Sean Lau—recently awarded Best Actor at the 2025 Asian Film Awards for “The Father”—voluntarily lowered his fee to support filming.
This financial strain has led many film industry workers to leave their careers, according to him.
“Some have become food delivery drivers, others work for ride-hailing services, and some have transitioned into insurance,” Tin said.
