Columbia Pictures has announced today that Taiwanese actor Jay Chou has been cast as Kato in The Green Hornet.

Chou steps in for Stephen Chow, who was originally cast as Kato and was also in the running to direct the film as well. Chou joins the cast that already includes Seth Rogen as the title character along with Nicolas Cage and Cameron Diaz.

The Green Hornet was written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg and will be directed by Michel Gondry. The film is already slated for a July 9, 2010 release date.