Jackie Chan, the Hong Kongactionicon and star of the latestKarate Kidmovie,Karate Kid: Legends, has revealed when he plans to retire. And fans will be pleased. At 71 years old and with hundreds of credits to his name (and the injuries that go with them), you would think that the iconic martial artist was looking to hang it all up soon, but as it turns out, you would be wrong. Chan says that his days of performing his own physics-bending stunts are not over. And likely never will be.
While promotingKarate Kid: Legends, Chan sat down with Haute Living to talk about his career and reprising his role as Mr. Han (he debuted in the role in 2010 in the franchise reboot,The Karate Kid). “[It’s] the kind you haven’t seen in 15 years! I can’t say too much!” Chan comments aboutLegendswith his usual joyful attitude, and wearing his usual friendly smile. While trailers didn’t reveal much, the film’s director said that viewers should expect some ofChan’s signature martial arts style and moves. Does this mean he will fight and will perform his own stunts? You can bet on it:
“Of course, I always do my own stunts. It’s who I am. That’’s not changing until the day I retire, which is never! And to be honest, when you’ve done it for 64 years straight, there’s no physical preparation anymore. Everything is in your heart and soul; it is muscle memory.”
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The actor’s legacy is unquestionable. His action style and stunts are absurdly awesome, and his acrobatics often put the rules of physics to shame. He has been doing it for decades now, and while Chan doesn’t dismiss technology, he also saysthat the use of CGIis a “double-edged sword” when it comes to stunts not feeling as real as they should:
“In the old days, the only [choice we had] was to be there and jump; that’s it. Today, with computers, actors can do anything, but there’s always a sense of reality that you feel is missing.
“It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, actors become more and more capable of doing impossible stunts with the help of technology, and yet, on the other hand, the concept of danger and limit gets blurred and the audience is numb [to it]. But I’m not encouraging anybody to risk their lives to do the stunts like I did; it truly is too dangerous.”
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InKarate Kid: Legends,Chan plays Mr. Han, one of two mentors who help young prodigy Li Fong take on the challenge of a martial arts tournament. The other mentor is, of course, Daniel LaRusso who, after his character’s growth in theCobra KaiTV series, has become a Mr. Miyagi-like figure in the franchise. Chan showed his admiration for young co-star Ben Wang, who had to learn kung fu and karate techniques, and he said that it’s the first time this combination has been featured in cinema:
“It’s the first time, and I’m glad we had this opportunity to work together and teach this lucky kid both karate and kung fu. It’s definitely different styles, but I think with the same goal. We work together easily, and since our families know each other from long before, it makes everything even easier. Ben must have done something right to earn this. To me, he’s a good boy, a really good boy. He learns stuff fast and is always so humble and dedicated to this role.”
Early reviews confirmthatKarate Kid: Legendsis a nostalgia extravaganza that follows formulas and appeals to fans who have followed the franchise due to the trustworthy execution of its clichés. There’s still no score on Rotten Tomatoes, so the reception of critics remains to be determined due to the embargo.Karate Kid: Legendsis set for release in theaters on August 02, 2025, by Sony Pictures Releasing.
Source:Haute Living
Karate Kid: Legends
