Live chat: Jackie Chan discusses ‘Chinese Zodiac,’ more today
Don’t believe some of the reports you see online: Jackie Chan is not dead and he’s not retiring. Chan will be talking about his latest action film, “Chinese Zodiac,” in a live chat at 5 p.m. Pacific time today with Times staff writer Scott Sandell. The action star will field your questions too; just send them via social media using the hashtag #AskLATimes.
Opening Friday in North America, “Chinese Zodiac” stars Chan as the leader of a group of treasure hunters who are on a quest to find several bronze statues representing the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. They were originally taken from Beijing’s Summer Palace by French and British forces during the Second Opium War.
In China, the real-life missing bronzes are a hot-button issue.
Also known as “CZ12,” the movie features Chan’s stunts -- including a chase down a mountain in which the actor becomes a human roller blade and a memorable fight on a couch -- alongside slapstick humor and discussions about cultural relics.
Despite mixed reviews, the film has brought in more than $160 million internationally. Most of the box-office receipts have been in China, and, since opening there in late 2012, the movie has become one of the country’s highest-grossing domestically made films.
While making the film, Chan set two Guinness world records. The first is for most credits in one movie -- 15 -- including directing, writing, producing and stunt choreography.
The second was for most stunts by a living actor, an honor that recognized his 50-year career in films, including “Drunken Master” (1978), “Police Story” (1985), “Rush Hour” (1998), “Shanghai Noon” (2000) and the remake of “The Karate Kid” (2010).
He made his debut in the Hong Kong film “Big and Little Wong Tin Bar” in 1962, at age 8, before appearing in martial arts movies, including opposite Bruce Lee. Chan has made more than 100 films to date.
At 59, the outspoken Chan may be slowing down on the action front -- at one point, he stated that “Chinese Zodiac” would be his last big-action film -- but he has another “Police Story” installment and the action-comedy “Skiptrace” in the works.
As for the repeated death hoaxes that have plagued Chan on the Internet, his Facebook page and blog have had some fun with the issue. “If I died, I would probably tell the world!” he wrote.
Join us at 5 p.m. Pacific time, when Chan will talk about the film, his career and the growing collaboration and competition between Hollywood and the Chinese film industry.
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