Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow allegedly includes actress Cecilia Cheung in his will

Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung. Photo from Cheung's Instagram

According to Singaporean news outlet Today, a post circulated on Weibo claimed that Chow, 62, who has neither married nor had children, has prepared a will that outlines how his assets should be distributed upon his death. The will allegedly includes not only his immediate family members but also his "muses," actresses Cecilia Cheung and Xu Jiao, as beneficiaries.

The post suggested that Chow’s will might comprise not only monetary assets but also company shares. It is estimated that Chow has a net worth of at least S$251 million (US$186 million).

The connection between Cheung, 44, and Chow can be traced back to 1999, when she starred in Chow’s film "King of Comedy." The role brought her public recognition and earned her a Best New Performer nomination at the 19th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Cheung has since continued to work with Chow, appearing in several of his projects like the 2001 film "Shaolin Soccer" and the 2019 film "The New King of Comedy."

Meanwhile, Xu Jiao, 27, portrayed Chow’s son in his 2008 sci-fi comedy "CJ7." Her performance won her the Best New Performer award at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards. It is said that she is Chow’s goddaughter, and he has been quietly assisting her with her finances.

Chow began his career as an extra for Hong Kong broadcast station Rediffusion Television. He later joined TVB in 1982 and made his acting debut in 1988 with "Final Justice," which earned him the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He ventured into directing films in 1994. His most notable works include "Shaolin Soccer," "Kungfu Hustle," and "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons," which was the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time at its release, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Currently, Chow is set to produce a new variety show for Chinese online video site iQiyi titled "The King of Comedy Season."