If you’re living in the United States or essentially any territory outside of China, it may appear as if Jackie Chan has fallen off the map since 2010’s The Karate Kid. This, however, is not the case; although the martial arts icon hasn’t starred in a movie that has connected with or been heavily publicized in the United States, United Kingdom, etc. (outside of his voice-over work in the Kung Fu Panda series) for quite a while, he has been delivering a number of major international hits from Dragon Blade to Skiptrace. But perhaps his next project will appeal to all audiences, as The Tracking Board reports that Chan has signed on to star in Joe Carnahan’s Five Against a Bullet.
The project has been in development for a couple of years now, as Carnahan (The Grey) became attached to the project in mid-2014. Carnahan is still set to direct and reportedly handling rewrites on a version of the script from writer Alex Litvak (Predators). Still studioless after losing Columbia Pictures, Chan is sure to make the project much more enticing to potential buyers.
The action film centers around a “man’s run for mayor in Mexico after the death of his father at the hands of a drug cartel and the team of elite bodyguards who are tasked with protecting him.” From the sound of it, it seems safe to assume that Chan will play one of the bodyguards, potentially even for more than one film, as, if early reports are to be trusted, Five Against a Bullet could turn into a franchise that follows “the team of bodyguards throughout their various assignments.”
Chan has many projects on the horizon, including The LEGO Ninjago Movie, in which he will lend his voice to the character of Master Wu. At the age of 62, Chan doesn’t look to be winding down any time soon.
Originally published December 1, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
