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Jackie Chan and Jet Li Together in The Forbidden Kingdom

by Alex Billington
April 11, 2007
Source: Variety

I remember reading about this team up last year, then still being shocked at first when I discovered that the marketing gimmick Rogue used to get people to see Fearless about it being Jet Li's last movie was just a confusing play on words. One of those projects that Jet Li confirmed he'd be working on was a movie with Jackie Chan. Finally some confirmed details on the project arrive, and first things first, the title - The Forbidden Kingdom.

Jackie Chan and Jet Li Now for the rest of the details. Rob Minkoff is directing, the same guy who also did that unforgettable animated movie The Lion King, and those terrible movies Stuart Little and The Haunted Mansion, which leads me to believe this film with have a younger audience focus. The film will start shooting in China in early May with a script by John Fusco (Young Guns, Hidalgo). It was just picked up for release by Lionsgate here in the US.

The Forbidden Kingdom is much more of an action adventure with martial arts fight scenes, and is based on the Chinese legend of the monkey king. In the story, an American teenager discovers the king's legendary stick weapon in a pawn shop and is transported back in time to ancient China, where he joins a crew of warriors fighting to free the imprisoned king. Jet Li will play both the monkey king and the silent monk and Jackie Chan will play the monk T'sa Ho.

Sound good? To me, nope, almost even forgettable. It's amazing how easy something that sounds great at first (Li and Chan!) can take a turn for the worst once you hear who's directing (Stuart Little director) and who's writing (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron writer). What a pity.

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Reader Feedback - 5 Comments

I don't know, I think I heard monkey king somewhere in there? That sounds hilarious

max on Apr 11, 2007

Thank to produce and director for making my dream true bringing jackie chan and jet li together in the movie

likin on Aug 5, 2007

Yes, unfortunate, but you also have to take into account Jackie's getting older and lately has been moving toward "Family friendly," films lately.

Rob on Sep 18, 2007

Sounds like a bad take off on the Chuck Dixon, CrossGen comic "The Way of the Rat". Chuck Russell ( The Mask, Scorpion King etc...) wrote a great sceenplay but the movie was delayed by Dreamworks because everyone there is afraid to make a decision without Spielberg involved and he sat on the screenplay. Darabont gave advise on the script to Russell and it sounded great, but then again Spielberg is no longer involved in making movies for fans he's now making movies for himself. Too bad for Russell and planned executive producer Michael Uslan who put massive effort into the original treatment which really appears to have been a likely superior product.

Mark on Feb 2, 2008

I think its going to be a great movie. Never been so excited about a movie untill this one.

John on Apr 12, 2008

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