For those who have caught up with the long‑awaited Hong Kong sci‑fi action film Back to the Past, you’ll know that the movie features two different endings, with the latter appearing during the mid‑credits scene.
Louis Koo, who stars in the film, has disclosed that a third ending was filmed but has yet to be released. If you haven’t watched the movie yet, spoilers ahead.
Back to the Past is a sequel to the 41‑episode Hong Kong drama A Step into the Past, which aired in 2001. In the film’s original ending, Hong Siu Long, played by Louis Koo, finally has his life spared by the Emperor, portrayed by Raymond Lam, before retreating to live with his family in an undisclosed location. The Emperor then continues his pursuit of an elixir of immortality, which ultimately never comes to fruition.
The second ending sees Hong time‑travelling back to modern‑day Hong Kong in 2025 with his family, the Emperor, and others from the ancient era.
In the modern world, the Emperor and Hong’s family get to sample modern dishes while observing their new surroundings. Hong, however, decides to return to the past, having built a life and family there, and declares that he will never return again.
“The third ending in the extended version will be released if…”
Louis did not fully reveal the content of the filmed third ending. However, here’s something that might excite fans.
The third ending may hint at both a sequel and a spin‑off.
The Hong Kong actor also suggested that the release of the extended version with the third ending depends on meeting a key performance indicator (KPI). According to VIU1 HK, the extended version will only be released if the film exceeds a specific box office target, currently set at HK100 million (~RM52 million).
As of today (11 January), Back to the Past has grossed more than RM10.2 million in Malaysia, according to TGV Cinemas, which said the film is the fastest Hong Kong title since 2020 to reach that milestone, doing so in just 11 days.
Louis also revealed that many scenes were removed from the original theatrical cut, particularly those focusing on Hong’s interactions with his family members.
Are you eager to discover what’s included in the extended version with the third ending?
