Taiwanese actor Darren Wang, 24, the star of the hit movie Our Times, is said to be looking to terminate his contract with Taiwanese director Angie Chai because he’s concerned her negative reputation would hinder his entry into the Chinese market.
The actor has reportedly reached out to his well-to-do father for funds to pay the termination fee for the three years remaining on his contract. He’s also shown signs of wanting to defect to Spring Thunder Entertainment, run by Frankie Chen (or Chen Yu-shan), who directed him in Our Times.
Angie, known for directing a string of popular idol dramas and movies including Meteor Garden and You Are the Apple of My Eye, was handed exit restrictions by China last September. She was suspected of trying to bribe Chinese authorities to help Taiwanese actor Kai Ko after he was busted for smoking weed in Beijing.
Kai was the lead actor in You Are the Apple of My Eye and Giddens Ko, who wrote the book that movie was based on, had his works banned in China the following month in response to his outspoken support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Darren reportedly feels a stronger connection to Frankie because he attributes his fame to her, and he’s also upset that his current management company had failed to protect him in letting the infamous photos of him and Frankie French kissing get leaked to the press.
According to media insiders, Darren had excused himself from Angie’s post-Golden Horse Awards celebration party by saying he was tired. But that same night he rushed over to the party hosted by China’s Huayi Brothers film production company for the movie Mr Six, even posting wefies on Facebook taken with acclaimed director Lee Ang and Huayi Brothers company executives. The move was seen as a show of his displeasure with Angie’s management company.
Darren’s manager confirmed the actor’s father had contacted the company to find out about contract termination and that Angie was hurt by that, because she didn’t think she had mistreated Darren and was disappointed he was looking to leave when his star is on the rise.
Frankie’s Spring Thunder Entertainment confirmed the company had received collaboration invitations from China, but it then directed them to Angie’s company, and it also wanted to dispel rumours that it was instigating Darren to jump ship.