Wang Weiliang, renowned for his role as Lobang in the Ah Boys to Men franchise, is stepping into a new realm of filmmaking with his debut as an executive producer. The 37-year-old actor has invested $1.5 million into his upcoming action-comedy film, Baby Hero, as part of his vision to expand Singapore’s film industry into the broader Southeast Asian market.
Speaking to AsiaOne, Wang shared his commitment to maintaining high production values, even in the face of budget challenges. “We didn’t let money limit what we can do,” he said. “Even when we went over-budget, I insisted that we should not compromise on the production quality. What needed to be done, should still be done.”
The total budget for Baby Hero is $2.8 million, and it tells the story of Sun (Long Lee), a young aspiring singer in Singapore who, feeling uncertain about his career, fabricates a tale about thieves after a family heirloom to escape his overbearing girlfriend Leena (Hayley Woo). He returns to his family’s tourism business in Happy Village, Thailand, where Leena tracks him down. There, she meets a colorful group of tourists—Juker (Wang Weiliang), Meng Meng (Ya Hui), Bently (Joshua Tan), and Wu Deyong (Chen Tianwen)—each with their own secrets. When disaster strikes the village, the group puts aside their differences and unites to protect the community using both their brains and brawn.
Wang explained that the production for Baby Hero, the first installment in a planned trilogy, began in November 2023, with filming taking place in Sukhothai, Thailand, from April to June 2024. The production involved a dedicated team of 120 crew members working on set each day. Notably, the action scenes were coordinated by the same team behind the iconic Thai film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003), renowned for its dynamic stunts and martial arts choreography.
The film will have a multi-country release, with plans to screen in Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, distribution discussions are ongoing for the film to reach Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, followed by releases in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
As a first-time producer, Wang reflected on the lessons he learned from working with acclaimed local director Jack Neo, whose Ah Boys to Men franchise catapulted him to fame. Wang admired Neo’s patient approach to filmmaking, particularly his ability to maintain composure even in challenging situations. “I learned a lot about patience from Jack. When Henry Thia needed many retakes, Jack never lost his temper. His calmness gave the actors confidence,” Wang said.
Wang explained that rather than rushing to solve problems on set, he learned the importance of taking a step back and allowing time for the best solutions to emerge. “For instance, in an action scene, we can’t rush. We need to ensure everything, from the safety of the actors to the choreography, is well-planned. It’s a time-consuming process,” he added.
Despite the stress of tight schedules and the pressure to meet deadlines, Wang emphasized the importance of staying calm and trusting the process. “During stressful moments, when things aren’t falling into place, it’s vital to stay relaxed and believe that everything will turn out fine in the end.”
Wang also praised Neo’s passion and focus for filmmaking, qualities he believes will resonate through the Baby Hero project and leave a lasting impact on audiences. “I think this passion and focus will be felt in the movie, and I hope the audience will connect with it,” he said.
With Baby Hero aiming to capture the spirit of Southeast Asia’s diverse action-comedy genres, Wang Weiliang is eager to see his vision come to life, marking the start of what he hopes will be an influential and lasting career behind the camera.
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