Jackie Chan Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Director Stanley Tong (“Rumble in the Bronx”) is to team up with Jackie Chan for the tenth time on “The Legend.” State media in China report that Chan, who recently reached the top spot in the mainland Chinese box office with aged stuntman comedy “Ride On,” will play an archaeologist on a quest through time and space. With production by Bona Film Group, “The Legend” is pitched as being in the same vein as Tong and Chan’s 2005 effort “The Myth,” which was a fantasy love story. Tong and Chan have worked together on other titles including “Police Story 3,” “Supercop” and “Vanguard.” India’s Jio Studios is backing “Khashaba,” a Marathi-language film on the life of India’s first Olympic medalist Khasaba Dadasaheb. After delivering the sleeper hit Sairat and Fandry, the new film will be directed by Nagraj Manjule. The title is considered as part of Jio Studio’s ambition to deliver more than 100 stories this year. With production to begin shortly, the film will be mounted on a large scale. “Along with entertaining the audience, this film will also introduce the audience to a brave and exceptional athlete who made India proud all over the world,” said Manjule. “Khashaba” will be presented by JioStudios and produced by Aatpat Production, Jyoti Deshpande and Manjule.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The highly-anticipated Japanese animated feature film “The First Slam Dunk” dominated the mainland China cinema box office in its opening weekend. It broke multiple records as it did so. The film scored $38.5 million (RMB266 million) over the Friday to Sunday weekend, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. However, it opened on Thursday, a day earlier than is the norm in China, and has accumulated $55.2 million over the opening four-day frame. The film is based on IP that is well-known to a generation of comic book fans and TV audiences in China (early middle-aged men were reported to have been particularly interested) and has already proved a hit in other parts of Asia. (Comscore estimates that the film has grossed $211 million worldwide.)

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Jackie Chan-starring nostalgic stuntman comedy film “Ride On” trotted to a second weekend atop the mainland Chinese box office. “The Super Mario” Bros. Movie” remained in fourth place. “Ride On” earned $6.0 million (RMB41.5 million) between Friday and Sunday, a 48% week-on week drop, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That took it to a $22.6 million total since release on April 7. Below it, Japanese animation “Suzume” and Chinese shaggy dog story “Hachiko” swapped places. “Hachiko,” on its third weekend outing, earned $4.9 million, for a cumulative of $35.1 million. “Suzume” earned $4.5 million in its fourth weekend on release in China, giving it a $109 million cumulative.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Jackie Chan-starring stunt-man comedy drama “Ride On” pratfalled its way to first place at the mainland Chinese box office with a lowball $11.7 million opening. Still, that was enough to beat another new release, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which ranked fourth over the latest weekend. Chan is an enduring, but fading, star in China and in the past his new release titles were often scheduled for the three biggest holiday seasons. “Ride On,” which sees Chan in an ode to the stunt players he has worked with, was released two days after the Ching Ming (Wednesday 5 April) holiday, when many folks honor their ancestors. Its opening three days were enough to depose “Suzume” from the top spot, where “Suzume” had ranked for the previous two weekends. “Suzume” earned $8.0 million over the latest weekend in China, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. That gives it a $103 million cumulative after 17 days in mainland theaters, a China record for a Japanese animation film.

Jessica Kiang Watch any of the films that made Jackie Chan a legend and you notice that so much of his graceful, goofball charisma comes from simply having one more move up his sleeve. Whether changing position while sliding down a plate-glass skyscraper or falling off a clock face onto a series of awnings or dispatching multiple assailants with his witty brand of bendy, aerobic kung-fu, only to end on a silly eye-poke or a gymnastic semi-levitation, the star-making flourish is so often the extra thing he does when anyone else would be finished. But what do you do when, nearing 70 and with almost 150 movie performances behind you, there aren’t that many one-more-moves left? Maybe you make something like Larry Yang’s “Ride On,” a sappy but enjoyable slice of family fun that has a nice horse doing wacky tricks for the younger viewers and for parents and older fans, is a gently meta, valedictory canter through the paddock of Chan’s previous achievements. 

Seth Rogen, who currently stars in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” has voiced many animated characters – everything from BOB in “Monsters vs. Aliens” to Pumbaa in the reimagined version of “The Lion King.” He even had a brief voice role in “Shrek the Third,” which was released the same year as his breakout film “Knocked Up” back in 2007.

Naman Ramachandran eOne’s “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” debuted atop the U.K. and Ireland box office with £3.5 million ($4.4 million), per numbers released by Comscore. In its second weekend, Lionsgate’s “John Wick: Chapter 4” slid to second place with £2.5 million for a total of £10.1 million. Warner Bros.’ “Mummies” debuted in third place with £648,460. The studio’s “Shazam! Fury Of The Gods” and “Creed III” occupied fourth and fifth spots with £469,120 and £426,742 in their third and fifth weekends for respective totals of £4.8 million and £13.5 million.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Jackie Chan announced at the Red Sea International Film Festival last December that “Rush Hour 4” is officially in development. “We’re talking about Rush Hour 4 right now,” the acting icon said, adding that he would be meeting with the film’s director later that night to work on the script. No official “Rush Hour 4” details exist outside of Chan’s tease, but considering his co-star Chris Tucker more than eager to return to the franchise. Tucker recently spoke to  Audacy’s V-103 while making the press rounds for his role in Ben Affleck’s “Air,” and he included “Rush Hour 4” on his roster of projects coming up next. “You’re going to see a lot of good stuff coming, but it’s going to be on a whole other level,” Tucker said. “That’s what I like…I’m excited about that. It’s not going to be what you’ve normally seen…’Rush Hour 4,’ that’s something I definitely will probably drop in there because I love working with Jackie, but I’ve got some new stuff that I think you’re really gonna like. I’m excited about it.”

Sammo Hung will be presented with a lifetime achievement honor at the Asian Film Awards. The ceremony was back as an in-person event after a two-year absence and has shifted back to Hong Kong after previously being held in Hong Kong, Macau and Busan. Hung will accept the award on Sunday at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Hung’s career as an actor, action choreographer, director and producer spans some 60 years. His acting credits include action comedies “Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog” and “Odd Couple,” paranormal horror comedies “Encounters of the Spooky Kind” and “The Dead and the Deadly,” comedy film series “Lucky Stars” and gangster action film “Shanghai, Shanghai.” In 1982, Hung won the best actor prize at the second Hong Kong Film Awards for his directorial effort “Carry on Pickpocket,” as well as best action choreography for “The Prodigal Son,” which he also directed and starred in.

Seth Rogen has opened up about the “devastating” impact of negative reviews.Speaking on the The Diary of a CEO podcast, the actor discussed his own feelings of self-doubt throughout his career, and the effects of criticism on himself and others within the industry.“It hurts everyone, very much,” he said. “I think if most critics knew how much it hurts the people that made the things that they are writing about, they would second guess the way they write these things.

on Monday, following Seth Rogen's announcement of the star-studded voice cast at the Kids' Choice Awards over the weekend. Rogen is a producer on the film, set to hit theaters Aug. 3, and also voices mutant warthog Bebop, alongside a young cast of talent as the turtles: Micah Abbey (Donatello), Shamon Brown Jr.

Cowabunga!

EJ Panaligan editor The heroes in a half-shell are back. The first trailer for Paramount Pictures’ and Seth Rogen’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” reboot has been released. It’s the latest iteration of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello after several TV shows and film runs, and this is the second fully animated version to hit the big screen. Revealed on Saturday, the voice cast includes Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu and Brady Noon as the roles of Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael, respectively. The A-list cast has Jackie Chan as Master Splinter, Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil, Rogen as Bebop, John Cena as Rocksteady, Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog, Rose Byrne as Leatherhead, Ice Cube as Superfly, Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut, Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman, Post Malone as Ray Fillet, Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko and Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom.

Seth Rogen dropped some news Saturday at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards worthy of a rowdy cowabunga!

MGM’s bet on Michael B. Jordan has paid off, as “Creed III” has knocked out box office expectations with a $58.6 million opening weekend from 4,007 theaters.

J. Kim Murphy Seth Rogen took to the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards stage Saturday evening to reveal the full voice cast for the animated reboot “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” including the teenage actors voicing the squad of heroes and Jackie Chan as the master sewer dweller Splinter. Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu and Brady Noon will voice the roles of Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael, respectively. The quartet was introduced by Rogen, a producer and voice actor for the film, onstage at the ceremony to accompany the announcement. The voice cast also features a slew of notable performers taking on characters that will be familiar to “TMNT” fans, including Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog, Rose Byrne as Leatherhead, John Cena as Rocksteady, Ice Cube as Superfly, Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut, Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil, Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman, Post Malone as Ray Fillet, Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom and Rogen as Bebop. Jeff Rowe (“The Mitchells vs. the Machines”) is directing.

Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Point Grey Productions have set an all-star voice cast for their upcoming CG-animated theatrical feature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Seth Rogen revealed on Saturday.

Seth Rogen dropped some news Saturday at the 2023 Kids' Choice Awards worthy of a rowdy !The actor announced the main voice cast for the upcoming, and it includes Rogen voicing the warhog Bebop, who is a member of Shredder's New York City gang. Rogen, who is also a producer for the film set to hit theaters Aug.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Michelle Yeoh was already an actor star overseas by 1997 thanks to popular Hong Kong movies like “Police Story 3: Super Cop” and “Supercop 2,” but it wasn’t until the James Bond tentpole “Tomorrow Never Dies” opened that year that Yeoh had her Hollywood breakthrough. The actor played Wai Lin, a Chinese spy who is highly skilled in marital arts and bucks every “damsel in distress” and “Bond girl” stereotype. “The first movie I did after I came to America was ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ with Pierce Brosnan,” Yeoh recently told People magazine. “James Bond at that point had only been known as macho, and the girls were just the ones with cutesy names.”

Brent Lang Executive Editor Nolan Gallagher, the founder of Gravitas Ventures, will step down as CEO and leaving the film company on March 31, 2023.  Gravitas was sold to Anthem Sports & Entertainment, the owner of Fight Network and HD Net Movies, in November 2021. Gravitas has released more than 3,000 films on video on demand (VOD) during Gallagher’s time at the company. Some of those films also had theatrical releases. Gravitas’ recent films include “Mack & Rita” with Diane Keaton; “Our Friend,” starring Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson, and Jason Segel; and “Vanguard,” starring Jackie Chan. Anthem said it has retained an advisor to identify a successor to Gallagher and expects to make a decision within the coming months.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Hong Kong-based sales agency Golden Network Asia has amassed a large collection of advanced sales on upcoming Jackie Chan-starring film “Ride On.” The film, pitched as an action dramedy and one in which Chan pays homage to old-school stunt men, has recently been given an April 7 release date in mainland China. The date also mark’s the star’s 69th birthday. The film has already been licensed to: Well Go USA for North America; Plaion Pictures for Germany; Eagle Pictures for Italy; SPI International for Eastern Europe, Benelux and Israel; AN Media for CIS; ATV for Turkey; Phars Film for Middle East; Twin Co. for Japan; Contents Panda for South Korea; Shanghai Pictures for Malaysia; Shaw Renters for Singapore; Eagle International for Taiwan and worldwide Airline; Prima Cinema for Indonesia; Pioneer Films for the Philippines and Indo Overseas Film for India.

“The Cell” director Tarsem Singh is making his global comeback with his first Indian film, “Dear Jassi,” based on a true story with plot details being kept under wraps. Singh made his name with visually dazzling fantasy films like “The Cell,” “Immortals” and “Mirror, Mirror” but has been mostly out of action since helming the single 10-episode season of NBC’s “Emerald City” in 2017. “Dear Jassi” will be his first feature since “Self/Less” in 2015.“It’s my passion project,” Singh said of “Dear Jassi.” “I believe this is the right time for the world to see it.

Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here. It’s Oscar noms week, and we’d be rude not to bring you the latest headlines and analysis from the Academy and beyond. Read on.

Everything Everywhere All At Once announced itself this morning as a serious Oscar threat with 11 nominations, topping off with best picture. That includes performing noms for Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan. The film also drew noms for costume, original score, original screenplay, best original song, film editing, and directing for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.

Jackie Chan made a rare on-stage appearance at the Red Sea Film Festival Thursday, where he told fans that he is currently in talks to make a fourth Rush Hour movie.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled a star-studded In-Conversations program as the second edition gets underway in the port city of Jeddah today.

EXCLUSIVE: Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to the Australian drama Ocean Boy, starring Luke Hemsworth (Westworld). The Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company plans to release the pic formerly titled Bosch + Rockit in theaters and on demand on February 3, 2023.

“Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me.”“I saw it in the newspaper,” Macchio continues. “They went with a different writer, a different director and a different actor for the protagonist.”Actress Hilary Swank, making her first appearance in a starring role, portrayed Julie Pierce, replacing Macchio as LaRusso.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Nikita Kuzmin first danced his way onto our screens back in 2021 as he dazzled the judges and fans alike with his fancy footwork and impeccable showmanship alongside Tilly Ramsay, the daughter of chef Gordon Ramsay. For 2022, Nikita has continued to win the hearts of the nation, this time alongside Paralympian Ellie Simmonds, with their performances receiving widespread praise from viewers and the show’s seasoned experts.

Roaring up to Number 1 on the Official Film Chart is Jurassic World Dominion, which rises two to claim the top spot for the first time.