A highly anticipated cinematic event, the Lunar New Year film The Night King, directed by Ng Wai-lun and starring comedy icon Dayo Wong Tze-wah alongside celebrated actress Sammi Cheng Sau-man, will premiere on the first day of the Year of the Dragon. To personally thank early supporters, Wong and several cast members are scheduled to meet with the public in Mong Kok on the eve of the Chinese New Year. Further details regarding the precise location and timing of this special fan event are expected soon via the movie’s official channels.
The film’s distributing studio officially unveiled both the full theatrical poster and the final trailer earlier today, offering a deeper look into the glittering yet fragile world of the fictional “Sunset Glitz” nightclub.
Glimmering Set, Grim Reality
Set against the lavish backdrop of the prominent East Kowloon entertainment venue, The Night King follows the club’s staff as they fight to protect their establishment from collapse. Despite the surface appearance of opulence, the club faces an existential crisis, mirroring real-world economic pressures faced by many industries.
The ensemble cast includes Wanda Vision, Fish Liew, Chloe So, Tiffani Lau, Nicole Li, and Kanya Lin. The narrative focuses on how these diverse characters unite in a heartfelt, last-ditch effort to keep the lights on.
Wong Tze-wah, who plays the charismatic manager “Brother Happiness,” delivers a rallying cry to his beleaguered team in the trailer: “The world is tough, but we have never been afraid… No one knows how long ‘Sunset Glitz’ can keep going, but if we really have to shut down, we will drink until the very end!” He concludes with the defiant, “Absolutely no surrender!” a powerful testament to the characters’ enduring spirit.
A Comedy of Changing Times
Director Ng Wai-lun steps into a new arena with The Night King, following the resounding success of his previous work, the courtroom drama A Guilty Conscience, which won critical acclaim and box office records for its commentary on social injustice.
In The Night King, Ng shifts the battleground from the courtroom to the neon-lit nightlife, marking the first on-screen collaboration between Wong and Cheng. While delivering the expected festive quotient of laughter and entertainment, the movie also serves as an exploration of how a small community, represented by the nightclub staff, navigates rapid generational change and severe economic headwinds. The themes resonate strongly with the current global slowdown and the difficulties faced by various sectors.
Ng articulated his aspiration for the movie: “It’s about expressing the spirit of never giving up, using the Tsim Sha Tsui nightlife setting. It highlights the virtue and loyalty amongst these ‘river and lake’ characters, and we even dared to talk about love in a place most people think it doesn’t exist. Creatively, that was an immensely interesting challenge.”
The director hopes the film offers more than just Lunar New Year fare; he intends it to be a celebration of resilience—a narrative about choosing to smile and persevere despite setbacks. Through Brother Happiness’s wisdom, Ng aims to convey a simple yet profound message to audiences: “When facing ups and downs, as long as you keep ‘walking forward,’ you will eventually have the last laugh.” The Night King will open officially on the first day of the Lunar New Year, with special preview screenings available from February 14th to 16th.
