Jackie Chan on working with John Cena in Project X, and showcasing China to the world through film
Ahead of shooting his next blockbuster with Cena, Hong Kong action star Chan says his role on screen has a deeper purpose and he wants to work at bringing Chinese culture to the rest of the world
“When I film now, it’s not about what’s just fun or amusing,” Jackie Chan says. “I think about if the film can bring Chinese culture, or my own culture and reflections, to the outside world … it’s as simple as that.”
With a body of work that spans over 40 years, Chan has achieved fame, fortune, and many broken bones – but the international action star views his career as having a deeper purpose. In recent times, he has become more vocal about national pride and the role he can play as a cultural ambassador.
“It’s something that I feel I have a duty to do,” he says. “For example, projects like Kung Fu Panda; even if the budget is super low, I’ll still do it. Why? I want these films to be a big success, to sell well at the box office. Through those films I bring our Chinese culture to the globe.”
Chan spoke to the Post in Shanghai, where he attended the Shanghai Film Festival last month to promote the start of production of his latest action film, Project X, with American co-star John Cena, the professionalwrestler and rising actor who has appeared in films such as Blockers and The Wall . At 64 years old, Chan looks much younger in person – certainly younger than the character he played in revenge thriller The Foreigner (2017).
“I was very lucky to be there at the boom of the Hong Kong film scene, the Japanese one, the German one, the Hollywood one, and now at China’s boom, I’m there, too,” reflects Chan, who received an honorary Oscar at the Academy Awards in 2016.
