Why did Chen Kaige ask Leslie Cheung to play Farewell My Concubine?

Leslie Cheung's role in Farewell My Concubine was originally not for Leslie Cheung, but for John Lone. Now it is estimated that few people know the name John Lone. But he was a hot star in the last century. He has a very classic film The Last Emperor, in which John Lone plays Puyi.

But in the end, I couldn't find John Lone, because at that time, John Lone's brokerage company offered five harsh conditions. It even includes "John Lone has to use mineral water airlifted from foreign countries or Hongkong to wash his face and brush his teeth every day, and two dogs in John Lone have to go out with him, so the general hotel can't stay." This requirement was really beyond the ability of the Chen Kaige team at that time. So I had to give up.

Extended data:

When Chen Kaige was filming Farewell My Concubine, he had to guide him and add his own ideas. But then Leslie Cheung became more and more involved, and Chen Kaige simply stopped interfering and let him play freely. On the contrary, it has achieved many unexpected results.

Throughout the filming process, Chen Kaige said that he and Leslie Cheung belong, but I felt the harmonious heartbeat of the sacred unicorn, and they had to go where they should go. It's very bright and unambiguous. What impressed Chen Kaige in particular was that Leslie Cheung never missed those critical moments.