On June 6th, heartbreaking news emerged from the stunt community in mainland China as Hong Kong star Shawn Yue’s stunt double and driver, Zhou Wei (Tail), passed away in a car accident at the young age of 37.
Zhou Wei’s name may not be familiar to the general audience, but in the world of motorcycle stunts, he was a prominent figure. He was Shawn Yue’s stunt double in the film “Fire of Conscience,” particularly in the breathtaking motorcycle chase scene.
At 37, Zhou Wei had a legendary career in motorcycle stunt riding. He was a regular participant in major motorcycle stunt performances and had been a featured guest performer at top motorcycle racing events in China from 2013 to 2017. However, it was the 2021 film “Fire of Conscience” that truly brought him into the spotlight. Directed by the late Hong Kong director Johnnie To, the film starred Shawn Yue in a lead role.
In the movie, Shawn Yue’s character, Ant Au, had a highly challenging motorcycle chase scene, which was ultimately performed by professional driver Zhou Wei due to the extreme danger involved. Many movie fans praised Shawn Yue for his explosive performance as the villain. Previously, Zhou Wei had shared a photo with the director Johnnie To and actor Donnie Yen, expressing his honor to be part of the film and even promoted it through video.
It is worth mentioning that Shawn Yue himself rarely uses stunt doubles as he is known for doing his own stunts. However, motorcycle stunts require precise control and any slight mistake can lead to fatal consequences. Therefore, even someone like Shawn Yue had to entrust this particular scene to Zhou Wei, affectionately called “Tail Brother” by netizens.
Zhou Wei’s sudden passing has shocked many, considering his profession as a professional driver where safety during training and performances was always a top priority. According to his friends, Zhou Wei was involved in a car accident while riding on June 2nd and unfortunately could not survive the injuries.
Looking at Zhou Wei’s social media account, his last post was on June 1st, showing him elegantly riding his motorcycle. Little did anyone know that this would be his final image to the world. His close friend Xiao Ma shared a photo with Zhou Wei, mourning his loss and writing, “Good brother, may you rest in peace. I will never forget the days we trained and performed together.”
According to earlier reports from Hong Kong media, Johnnie To, known for his expertise in filming Hong Kong crime films, fell ill during the filming of “Fire of Conscience” and later discovered he had late-stage nasopharyngeal cancer. Consequently, the post-production work of the film was handed over to others. With the cancer spreading rapidly, he passed away on August 23, 2020, leaving many friends mourning and feeling inconsolable.