For over a decade, the big screen adaptation of THE GREEN HORNET has been in limbo. With Kevin Smith originally picked to helm, he would leave and it would fall in the hands of comic actor Seth Rogen (KNOCKED UP), who has been in training in preparation for the role of Britt Reid, a.k.a. The Green Hornet. Rogen had only one man in mind to play Kato and he has gotten his wish with more incentive. That man is none other than Hong Kong actor/director Stephen Chow.

Since being asked to tackle the project, Rogen, who is co-writing and co-executive producing with Evan Goldberg, has always found Chow to play sidekick Kato, popularized in the original radio and 1940’s serials by Keye Luke and in the short-lived 1966 series played by the legendary Bruce Lee. Columbia Pictures presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach made the official announcement that Chow is not only going to co-star as Kato in the upcoming feature, but he will be making his Hollywood directorial debut on the film as well.

Confirming the news, Chow said, “I’m excited to be taking on The Green Hornet–obviously, I’ve been a huge fan of the show since I was a kid. The idea of stepping into Bruce Lee’s shoes as Kato is both humbling and thrilling, and to get the chance to direct the project as my American movie debut is simply a dream come true.”

With Chow pulling double duty as Kato and as director, combined with Rogen and Goldberg’s script, in which Rogen is describing as an “intense action film”, fans might end up being in for a treat. THE GREEN HORNET is scheduled for a June 25, 2010 release date.