Hong Kong star Louis Koo and his founded production company “One Cool Film” recently faced a lawsuit filed by an offshore company in the Hong Kong High Court to recover a total debt of over 149 million Hong Kong dollars. In response to this, “One Cool Film” issued a statement on September 4, accusing the plaintiff of concealing facts and stating that the “case presented is incomplete,” while firmly asserting their right to pursue legal actions.
According to the court filing, the offshore company “Sino Hero Ventures Limited,” registered in the British Virgin Islands, signed a loan agreement with Louis Koo and “One Cool Film” on September 6, 2019. The initial monthly interest rate was 1% (annual interest rate of 12%), with a repayment deadline set for September 2020. In case of late repayment, the interest rate would increase to 1.5% per month (annual interest rate of 18%). After two agreed extensions, the final repayment deadline was extended to December 31, 2022.
The court documents indicated that as of early 2024, “One Cool Film” had only repaid 13.2 million, and after several lawyer letters from the plaintiff for repayment, Louis Koo’s side repaid 700,000 on August 27, 2026, totaling 13.9 million in repayments. Due to the high accumulated interest, as of August 28, the debt owed by Louis Koo amounted to a total of 149 million, leading the plaintiff to file a lawsuit seeking the remaining balance and interest.
On September 4, “One Cool Film” issued a stern statement, condemning the plaintiff for not presenting the complete facts. The statement revealed that the plaintiff intentionally omitted the fact that they had been removed from company registration and had been “disbanded” for almost three years. During this period, “One Cool Film” had been unable to reach any authorized personnel from the plaintiff.
The statement further emphasized that the plaintiff’s disclosure in the case violated the “Without Prejudice” principle and confidentiality clauses bound by the contract, with the company reserving the right to pursue legal actions.
Following the exposure of this news, the public once again scrutinized the financial pressures faced by Louis Koo and “One Cool Film” in the film and television industry in recent years.
Reports from the Hong Kong media stated that Louis Koo, hailed as the “guardian of Hong Kong cinema,” has invested heavily in multiple high-cost Hong Kong films in recent years, but the box office returns have often been disappointing. He invested tens of millions in creating the sci-fi epic “Warriors of Tomorrow,” which broke box office records in Hong Kong but failed to break even due to high production costs, leaving the film with a debt of 200 million after deducting earnings.
Another film, the highly anticipated “Seeking Qin Chronicles,” released during the New Year holiday in 2025, generated buzz before its premiere. Despite efforts by stars like Sonija Kwok and Raymond Lam to promote the film, including a re-edited extended version, years of accumulated interest, coupled with high licensing and production costs, still resulted in a loss of 100 million.
Hong Kong film mogul Wong Ka-wai previously revealed in an interview that Louis Koo had almost “put up his entire fortune” to support Hong Kong cinema, jokingly saying, “I may end up sleeping under a bridge if I keep making films. Please, support us, support Hong Kong cinema.” This demonstrates the financial burden he faces.
Industry commentators noted that Louis Koo and his company “One Cool Film” have played a vital role in rescuing the struggling Hong Kong film industry and local artists in recent years. As many investors withdrew due to market downturn, “One Cool Film” became one of the primary sources of funding for Hong Kong films.
As the chairman of the Hong Kong Performing Artists Guild, Louis Koo has been devoted to caring for Hong Kong actors on and off the screen. In recent years, he has actively invested in local artistic films or niche genre films that have difficulties entering the mainland Chinese market, such as “The Uncle,” “Tsui Si,” “Mom’s Magical Kid,” and more. He expressed willingness to invest in projects even if he knows they might incur losses as long as they provide opportunities for Hong Kong filmmakers.
It is widely known that in recent years, “One Cool Film” has signed and nurtured numerous emerging Hong Kong actors like Vinna Yeung, Zoie Li, and Hugo Ng, deliberately arranging a mix of veteran and new talents in film investments, breaking the long-standing impasse of only relying on a few middle-aged or senior stars in Hong Kong cinema.
According to previous reports, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a widespread halt in the entertainment industry, Louis Koo collaborated with several companies to produce films supporting pandemic relief efforts and raising funds for grassroots performers. Moreover, “One Cool Film,” under Louis Koo’s leadership, frequently enlisted veteran actors from the golden era of Hong Kong cinema to participate, ensuring they had work opportunities and respect.
Given Louis Koo’s unwavering support for Hong Kong cinema with little regard for returns, this lawsuit has garnered significant attention within the industry.