By Mark Pollard | Published January 8, 2009

In November, Variety reported that Jackie Chan would begin shooting a new movie this year with the English working title of JUNIOR SOLDIERS (aka BIG SOLDIER SMALL GENERAL). This is rumored to be a project that Chan has been planning for years and he is producing, starring and writing the screenplay while freshman helmer Ding Sheng (UNDERDOG KNIGHT) is directing. More recent news in Chinese media suggests that actor Wang Lee-hom (LUST, CAUTION) is being considered for a co-starring role.

Wang’s previous action credits include CHINA STRIKE FORCE (2000) and THE AVENGING FIST (2005). Between roles in those films and Ang Lee’s LUST, CAUTION Wang has been working in Japan. He notably starred in Gackt’s sci-fi drama MOON CHILD (2003).

Chan recently completed a shoot in the U.S. alongside Billy Ray Cyrus for THE SPY NEXT DOOR, a family-oriented action comedy about a babysitter who winds up fending off secret agents after a secret code ends up in the hands of one of the children. Chan’s official site states that the actor would begin shooting his next movie this month. That movie presumably would be JUNIOR SOLDIERS.

In relation, in an interview recorded last year for Dragon Dynasty’s new two-disc DVD release of Jackie Chan’s SUPERCOP, director Stanley Tong mentions that he has been writing Jackie Chan’s “next movie,” which he describes as epic. He also states that Chan will play a general. As no other source has mentioned Tong in connection with JUNIOR SOLIDERS it can only be speculated at this point that Tong is referring to yet another period or military-related project for Jackie that he may be intending to direct himself. Hopefully, it’s not a sequel to the pair’s lightweight fantasy epic THE MYTH.

Edit: It’s unconfirmed at this point but based on a suggestion in the comments I’m willing to float the possibility that this Stanley Tong epic will be a biopic of a famous Qin-era general named Xiang Yu, aka Xi Chu Bawang. Ray Lui previously took on this role in a Hong Kong-Chinese co-production with the English title of THE GREAT CONQUEROR’S CONCUBINE in 1994. It co-starred famed mainland actress Gong Li.

Chan’s latest completed film, THE SKINJUKU INCIDENT, is a modern drama co-starring Daniel Wu that will premiere in Hong Kong in March. The film has raised some controversy because Beijing has not approved it for release in Mainland China, likely due to concerns over the gangster and Japanese reference in the film. Both are sensitive subjects in China. Films are often banned or restricted in China but it’s rare for that to happen to a Jackie Chan movie. Chan has long prided himself on keeping controversial topics such as sex and politics out of his movies.

Image: Jackie Chan pictured in an exclusive interview on Dragon Dynasty’s release of SUPERCOP, available on DVD Jan. 13th, 2009.

Related Topics:
Jackie Chan  •  Stanley Tong  •  upcoming