Sofyank and Louis Koo's promo collaboration for "Behind the Shadows" goes viral

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Sofyank and Louis Koo's promo collaboration for "Behind the Shadows" goes viral

Writer: Heidi Hsia

Louis Koo goes viral speaking Malay in surprise collab with Sofyank

12 Jun - Hong Kong screen legend Louis Koo and Malaysia's very own VFX prodigy Sofyank recently surprised many and have taken local social media by storm, following the release of a short promotional video for Louis' upcoming film, "Behind the Shadows".

The quirky yet impressive 50-second spot racked up over 1 million views in just 12 hours, quickly becoming a trending topic among Malaysian netizens across all major social media platforms. Despite Louis Koo's packed schedule, the video shoot was completed in just under 20 minutes, thanks to both parties' efficiency and mutual respect.

For Sofyank, real name Mohamad Sofian, the experience was nothing short of surreal.

"Louis Koo is one of the first Hong Kong actors I've ever worked with. I grew up watching his movies - he was always the hero on TV. To now share the screen with him... it really feels like a dream come true," Sofyank shared.

"He looked really serious and cool at first, but thankfully he was incredibly professional and down-to-earth. In fact, it was Louis who suggested some spontaneous comedic moments - including the popcorn bit and some hilarious line, 'Behind the Window'" Sofyank added with a laugh.

The video starts with Sofyank bumping into Raymond Wong, who then helped him up

Sofyank helps Louis Koo by pulling him out of the poster

The video features Sofyank walking through a cinema hallway holding a box of popcorn, before accidentally bumping into Raymond Wong and a crowd of people and dropping it. After being pulled back up by the actor, he then heard a cry for help from the poster, and managed to pull Louis out from it. The actor then pulled out the popcorn from the poster and hands it to him - all while dropping some delightfully unexpected Bahasa Malaysia lines in his Cantonese-accented voice: "Jom sapot!" (Let's support!).

"We asked Louis if he'd be willing to try speaking in Malay, even though it's not a language he's familiar with - and he was totally up for it. His willingness to try really meant a lot to all of us," said Sofyank.

Louis pulled out a fresh new box of popcorn from the poster

"Behind The Shadow" was shot entirely in Malaysia, with a cast and crew of nearly 100 local talents. Louis Koo previously shared his admiration for Malaysia's film industry, noting its professionalism, quick pace and strong creative energy.

"I was honestly impressed by how committed and responsive the Malaysian crew were. It was great to see how they handled spontaneous scenes so well," Koo said in an earlier interview.

Sofyank with Hong Kong stars Louis Koo and Raymond Wong

Sofyank echoed that sentiment and expressed pride in Malaysia being the chosen backdrop for an international production, adding, "This film proves that it's not just Western studios, but also those in Asia, that now recognise Malaysia's potential. Personally, I hope to bring Malaysian creativity to the global stage. And I'm thrilled to see more international filmmakers acknowledging our local talent."

"Behind The Shadow" stars Louis Koo as a detective entangled in a mysterious crime filled with suspense and unexpected turns. The film is set in recognisable Malaysian locations - from bustling night markets and food courts to schools, pedestrian bridges and urban backstreets - giving audiences a sense of familiarity wrapped in cinematic tension.

Check out the video below, and let us "Jom sapot!" "Behind the Shadows" that opens in cinemas nationwide today.