Keung To and Jer Lau, two members of the popular Hong Kong boy band Mirror, will make their screen debut in a feature film produced by Emperor Motion Pictures, the company announced on Monday.
The currently untitled production is to be helmed by writer-director Kearan Pang (“29+1”) and will also star award-winning actress Teresa Mo (“Tomorrow Is Another Day”). Pang was previously a guest star on ViuTV’s reality show “King Maker”, in which Mirror was discovered.
Production details such as story synopsis, budget, start date and international sales company have yet to be revealed. However, it was indicated that Mo and Keung will play the roles of mother and son.
Mirror and four-boy group Error were formed after the first season of “King Maker” in 2018. But they only became superstars this year. In recent months, they have become an antidote to the political strife and COVID-related gloom that has plagued Hong Kong over the past two years.
And they’ve rekindled regional interest in Cantopop, a once-dominant Asian music genre that’s been sidelined by Korean K-pop, some Japanese bands and Mandarin-language artists catering to the Greater China market.
Mirror has inspired outlandish displays of fandom. Adoring fans have spent millions renting billboards, celebrating their idols’ birthdays and even redecorating a cruise ship.
This mania soon turned into lucrative endorsement deals with top fashion brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Burberry, and with big business HSBC and McDonald’s.
The band members are now appearing on reality TV shows and getting acting gigs.
Mirror’s Anson Lo and Edan Lui starred in the BL (boy love) drama “Ossan’s Love,” a Hong Kong adaptation of the Japanese drama of the same name, backed by ViuTV. The success was such that the Hong Kong version will air in Japan from August 21 on TELASA, a streaming platform owned by TV Asahi, which produced the original “Ossan’s Love.”
Taiwan’s supernatural series “Sometimes When We Touch”, starring Keung and Lo, is now available on Taiwan’s GTV and myVideo, and streamed on iQiyi. It will be available on ViuTV from September 13.
Mirror’s popularity has contributed to ViuTV’s surge in revenue, according to recent interim results from parent company PCCW. The telecommunications company said its free-to-air TV and related business saw a 97% increase in revenue to HK$256 million ($32.9 million) in the first six months of 2021. Powered by 150 new customers, ad revenue also increased 66% year over year. year to HK$188 million ($24.2 million). PCCW also operates multi-territory Asian streaming service Viu.
“I’m a little nervous, but I’m glad Keung To is here with me too. It’s a good start and we can grow together,” said Lau, 28, who is recognized as the group’s best vocalist.