Cannes film festival and all the who’s who that make up the film industry have landed and are there promoting themselves and their work. As such Jackie Chan is there in attendance promoting his latest offering ‘Chinese Zodiac’ and while there he announced that he has no further plans no interest in creating another action movie and instead wants to focus on presenting himself as a dramatic actor:
While doing press for his film Chinese Zodiac, The Telegraph reports that it will mark his final film in the action genre. He added that, “the world is too violent right now. It’s a dilemma – I like action but I don’t like violence.” Chan will begin to shift to more serious roles, saying he desires to be “an Asian Robert De Niro.”
This isn’t all that surprising as the actor is getting up there in age and has little to prove as far as presenting himself as an action star. Sure there’s little hope to see him sparring again with Jet Li or appearing along Sly Stallone and the gang as an Expendable but he really did give a nice performance in that Karate Kid remake. To be honest I think it was some of the best ‘acting’ that I’ve seen from the guy like ever.
The action genre and it’s loyal following should forever mark this day on their calendars as Jackie Chan is a legend in the genre. His performances, stunts, fighting prowess, attention to detail, facial expressions, and style have introduced and maintained a genre that sought out and needed a figure head for many years. He may not have been the force that he once was in his youth but the impression he’s left will inspire and be a reference point for generations.
Source: The Film Stage
A Dramatic Jackie Chan could be interesting. He has plenty of action movies to go around as it is.
Jackie Chan has subsequently clarified that Chinese Zodiac will be his last big scale action movie of which he will be “fighting” himself. So, I guess it is not the end of his action movie yet! ;-)
Cheers!