Although “Rogue One: A Star War Story” has earned almost $1 billion at the box office globally, its weak performance in China has an explanation.
The answer comes from one of the two Chinese actors who played important roles in the film. Yet, despite their presence, Chinese moviegoers did not turn up in droves when the movie was exhibited in China.
Unfamiliar Story
It’s because the early “Star Wars” movie were shown in the late 1970s and early 1980s when China was still close to western movies, so Chinese moviegoers were totally unfamiliar with the franchise. Jiang Wen, who played Baze Malbus, admitted, “I’ve never seen a Star Wars movie, not a single one …. I don’t understand what it is about.”
“Rogue One” director Gareth Edwards offered Jiang Wen the role through a letter. Although Jiang Wen found the director sincere, he did not know the characters in the franchise, so the actor had to ask a friend who grew in the U.S. His friend told Jiang Wen that Chinese-American actors would “kill” him if they found out he rejected the offer, China Daily reported.
Son’s Advice
When Jiang Wen showed the script to his British school-educated eight-year-old son, the boy advised him to accept the role even if it appears to be a small one. What convinced him was the boy telling his 54-year-old father that Baze Malbus is a hero with humor.
When “Rogue One” was shown in China, there were some talks that his and Donnie Yen’s role as Chirrut Imwe, the blind monk, are cameos. However, Jiang Wen said, “I can tell the difference between cameo and a supporting role.” He also downplays suggestion that their characters are homosexuals, stressing Baze Malbus and Chirrut Imwe are rebel warriors who cover one another in life-and-death situations similar to ancient heroes in Japan and China.