“Epoch Times, January 3, 2026” – The movie “The Search for Qin” starring and produced by Louis Koo has recently been achieving great box office success in Hong Kong and mainland China. Louis Koo and the main creative team have been tirelessly promoting the film in various locations. However, on January 2nd, it was reported that he fell ill and was hospitalized, causing concern among the crew and fans.
According to a report by “HK01,” after the premiere of “The Search for Qin” by the main creative team in Hong Kong on December 30, 2025, Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, and Charmaine Sheh went to Guangzhou to participate in the New Year countdown and promotional activities.
On January 2, 2026, a fan from mainland China leaked information: “Breaking news, Louis Koo hospitalized, absent from today’s event.” This news immediately sparked attention. Some netizens also confirmed by saying that they did not see Louis Koo at the screening they attended, with Raymond Lam mentioning, “‘Daddy’ (referring to Louis Koo) is ill and unable to attend.”
Another netizen revealed that Louis Koo wore a mask during earlier promotional events in Foshan, Guangdong but was not seen in subsequent appearances, with only Raymond Lam, Charmaine Sheh, and Gabby So representing the team.
Charmaine Sheh, who has been tirelessly traveling with the film crew for promotions, posted on social media, saying, “Thank you everyone, it’s really tiring but happy. You’ve worked hard, everyone take care of your health.” The intensive schedule has evidently taken a toll on the actors.
During a promotional event in Hong Kong before the New Year, Charmaine Sheh disclosed that Louis Koo had already instructed the team on post-screening thank-you arrangements. She revealed, “Louis told me not to take time off in January, but I want to go skiing, he said forget about it, let’s talk about it in March, the most important thing is to work first!”
The TV adaptation of “The Search for Qin,” known as the pioneer of time-traveling dramas, premiered in 2001 and became a hit in Hong Kong at that time. The movie version of “The Search for Qin” continues the story from the TV series’ finale in 2001. The film tells the story of a past injustice that triggers a crisis which changes the fate of history. Ken (portrayed by Michael Miu) vows to travel back in time to the Qin Dynasty and become king to compensate for the life he lost due to the past injustice. Even though the Shou Long family (played by Louis Koo) is living a secluded life in the Qin Dynasty, their every move is observed by his disciple, the Qin King (played by Raymond Lam).
Just as the Qin King believes he is about to unify the six states and dominate the world, he is unexpectedly confronted by the modern-day Ken, leading him to seek out his master Shou Long. The reunion between master and disciple after a 20-year separation also intertwines their fate with Ken’s arrival. As a new turmoil erupts in the Qin Dynasty, the longstanding grievances must come to an end. The theme song, with the line “Who requests whom, both the Spring and Autumn only listen to the commands of Heaven and Earth,” expresses the uncontrollable fate that strikes at the heart.
The movie “The Search for Qin,” starring the original cast, premiered simultaneously in Hong Kong and mainland China on New Year’s Eve. It set a record-breaking first-day box office of around 11.29 million Hong Kong dollars in the Hong Kong and Macau region, not only surpassing the 9.17 million Hong Kong dollars record of last year’s “Port of Call” but also becoming the first Hong Kong film to become the first-day box office champion in Hong Kong film history. It also became the first local production to break the 10 million mark in a single day. Within just three days, the cumulative box office in mainland China reached 112 million Chinese yuan, with a rating of 9.3 on Maoyan ticketing platform; while the box office in Hong Kong and Macau exceeded 20 million Hong Kong dollars, showing a continuous upward trend.
Hong Kong cinema has faced challenges in recent years, with no local productions exceeding 20 million Hong Kong dollars in 2025. Therefore, the strong start of “The Search for Qin” is seen as a much-needed boost for the Hong Kong film market. Data shows that among the audience in Hong Kong, those above 35 years old make up as much as 60%, indicating that the success of this film is largely driven by nostalgic consumption. In the mainland market, due to the film’s genre not being family-friendly and the emphasis on the nostalgia of the original cast, it appears to have difficulty attracting younger mainstream audiences, leading to a significant temperature difference in the market.
It’s worth noting that since collaborating with the mainland, Hong Kong films need to comply with the mainland’s film censorship system, leading to limitations in creative freedom and a trend towards homogenization, losing its distinctive characteristics. With a production cost as high as 350 million Hong Kong dollars, “The Search for Qin” urgently needs support from both the local Hong Kong box office and the mainland market to alleviate the pressure of breaking even. Louis Koo, as a savior of Hong Kong cinema and an investor, faces immense pressure to balance personal performance and box office reputation while striving to break through the mainland market’s aesthetic standards and seek a new model for Hong Kong films. The pressure stems from the nostalgia for Hong Kong’s golden age of cinema and the intertwining of present realities.