Charles Heung Funds “Back to the Past” with RMB350 Million

The highly anticipated film version of Back to the Past <尋秦記> officially hit cinemas on December 31, 2025. Since its release, the box office performance has been very encouraging—surpassing HKD 20 million in Hong Kong and RMB 100 million in mainland China so far, with momentum continuing to build.

Veteran film mogul Charles Heung (向華強) recently revealed on his personal channel that, in support of Hong Kong cinema and actor–producer Louis Koo (古天樂), he personally invested more than HKD 20 million in the film, stating his reasons for doing so and stressing emphatically, “If I didn’t step in, I wouldn’t be Charles Heung,”

Reported Total Investment of RMB 350 Million

Heung recounted a conversation he once had with Louis. “He had been filming Back to the Past for quite some time and had already spent all the money. He came to me and said, ‘If this keeps going, I’ll end up sleeping under a flyover. Mr Heung, please support us—support Hong Kong cinema,’”

It has been reported that the total investment in Back to the Past amounted to approximately RMB 350 million, making it a large-scale production by any standard.

On Owing His Success to HK Cinema

Seeing Louis Koo’s dedication and tireless efforts for Hong Kong cinema, Heung felt there was no reason not to help. He therefore invested over HKD 20 million in the project. “He’s someone I helped nurture, and now he’s so passionate and determined to do something good for Hong Kong cinema. He told me the film had already cost over HKD 200 million, so I took up 10 percent—more than HKD 20 million. I could see he truly had his heart in the right place and genuinely wanted to help Hong Kong cinema.

“For me, even if I lose some money, it doesn’t matter. I really wanted to support Hong Kong cinema and support him. If I couldn’t even take out HKD 20 million at that moment, then I wouldn’t be Charles Heung,”

Heung added that Hong Kong cinema is the very reason he is where he is today, and he understands the importance of giving back. “This industry made me successful. I truly love it, and I’ve supported many people through the years—including myself. The reason so many people know me today, the fame and the wealth I have, all came from Hong Kong cinema.”

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