Jackie Chan Returns to Action with Busan Hit ‘The Shadow’s Edge’

Jackie Chan, known worldwide as an iconic action actor, was initially hesitant to portray another police officer. However, when director Larry Yang approached him with the script for The Shadow’s Edge, Chan found the story compelling enough to revisit this familiar territory. Following their previous collaboration on 2023’s Ride On, Chan accepted this new role, marking another chapter in his storied career.

A Gripping Crime Thriller Shines at the Busan International Film Festival

The crime thriller is currently featured in the Open Cinema section of the Busan International Film Festival and has dominated the China box office for four consecutive weekends. In the film, Chan plays Wong Tak-chung, a legendary police officer who is pulled out of retirement to tackle a high-profile heist at the luxury Wynn Macau. When a group of thieves manages to steal billions and evade both the police and the advanced Sky Eye surveillance system, Wong suspects the elusive criminal mastermind Fu Longsheng, portrayed by Tony Leung Ka-fai, who disappeared years earlier.

Balancing Old-School Skills with Modern Technology

Jackie Chan sees a parallel between the film’s theme—combining traditional investigative methods with cutting-edge surveillance—and his own career. Celebrating his 64th year in the film industry, Chan has witnessed cinema evolve dramatically. Despite technological advances, he underscores the irreplaceable human element behind action scenes. Reflecting on his journey, he stated,

“I started on film sets a long time ago — this year marks my 64th year in the industry. It’s been such a long journey, and I’ve witnessed the entire development of cinema,”

Jackie Chan told Variety.

“The pace of new technology still amazes me, and many techniques feel so fresh to me. But in action films, no matter how technology develops, the human element can never be replaced.”

Director Larry Yang’s Dedication Resonates Deeply with Chan

Chan’s collaboration with Larry Yang, whose debut film Mountain Cry closed the Busan International Film Festival in 2015, stems from a mutual respect for dedication and perfectionism. Describing Yang’s work ethic, Chan shared,

“Director Larry Yang is very hardworking and serious. He’s young, but I really admire his persistence and drive to keep creating,”

and added,

“So when he brought me this new script and wanted to collaborate again, I happily agreed.”

Chan further praised Yang’s comprehensive involvement in filmmaking:

“He works extremely hard. On set, he’s very serious, and he doesn’t just focus on directing — he pays attention to everything happening around him. He even takes care of things that aren’t really his responsibility. He’s a perfectionist, and I admire that. After we finished our first film, within two months he had already written a new script outline and brought it to me. I like people who work hard, which is why I agreed to collaborate with him again.”

Maintaining Authenticity in Action Cinema Despite Physical Challenges

Although Chan faces physical challenges from decades of stunt work and advancing age, he insists the authenticity of action performance remains essential in filmmaking. He emphasized,

“For action films, the actor is still the foundation. I’ve always believed action actors can never be replaced. No matter how advanced technology and equipment become, they can only support and enhance the film — they can’t completely replace professional stunt performers.”

Adapting to his changing abilities, Chan is expanding his creative range. He noted,

“In recent years, I’ve wanted to transform. As I get older and with so many injuries from the past, some action is no longer easy for me,”

adding,

“So I’ve tried to shift, to show audiences different sides of me — family-friendly comedies, pure dramas without any action that can move people to tears. I hope these changes give audiences a sense of freshness and surprise, and remind them that I’m not just an action actor — I’m an actor first, who also knows action.”

Lifetime Achievement and Ongoing Commitment to Excellence

Recently honored at the Locarno Film Festival for his extensive contribution to cinema, Chan reflected on his early days as a child actor. He recalled,

“I feel very fortunate to have received this award. I started working in the industry as a child actor — I never imagined I would achieve what I have today, or receive so much love from audiences. Back then, I just needed a job to survive. But I loved learning. I was curious about every department on set, and I wanted my films to be as perfect as possible.”

This perfectionism has been a driving force throughout his career. He continued,

“I always told myself: every single shot must be done well — you can’t slack just because it’s dangerous or exhausting. Otherwise, every time you watch that shot later, you’ll regret it. Maybe this attitude all these years is why audiences have appreciated my films. This award feels like recognition of that persistence.”

Evolution of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team Across Generations

Chan’s legendary stunt team, integral to the success of his action scenes, has grown extensively since its inception. Reflecting on the team’s origins, he explained,

“After the success of ‘Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow’ and ‘Drunken Master,’ I started making action films non-stop. That meant I needed many skilled stuntmen with film experience to help pull off all the action and dangerous scenes. So I formed my own stunt team,”

adding,

“Everyone was incredibly talented, and together we could quickly shoot a huge volume of action material. Over the years, the team grew — from just over a dozen people in the beginning to now more than 300. It’s already moved from the first generation to the eighth.”

Reflecting on a Career Highlight: ‘Miracles’

Among his extensive filmography, which includes Hong Kong classics such as Police Story and international hits like Rush Hour and The Karate Kid, Chan holds his film Miracles in special regard. He recounted,

“I once made a film that I wrote, directed, and starred in called ‘Miracles.’ I was very proud of it. At the time, some friends said I could only make action films, and that made me angry. So I developed ‘Miracles’ to show everyone that I could do more than action. I poured huge effort and investment into it. I tried to make every detail perfect. There was very little fighting in it — more focus on musical numbers and storytelling. Looking back now, I’m still very happy I had the determination to complete such a film that was very un-‘Jackie Chan.’ It gave me a strong sense of accomplishment.”

Ongoing Projects and Future Aspirations

Despite his long career, Jackie Chan continues to passionately develop new projects. He revealed,

“There are several films I’ve been developing for years that remain unfinished. I want them to be perfect, so I keep revising the scripts. But while I’m shooting other films, those projects get delayed. Sometimes I’ll keep rewriting a script I love for years without locking it down. I don’t know if I’ll ever finish them, but I hope so.”

Looking ahead, Chan has multiple confirmed projects lined up, including a comedy-action film in China, another pure action film, and several international ventures. He shared,

“There are a few confirmed projects — for example, a comedy action film in China, another pure action film, and two or three overseas projects currently in talks. Honestly, every project I agree to is one I genuinely like, and I hope to complete them well and share them with audiences.”

Guiding the Next Generation of Action Performers

Offering advice to emerging action actors, Chan emphasized the importance of individuality and dedication. He expressed,

“There are so many excellent actors. I don’t think anyone should try to inherit another person’s path or style — everyone is different, their journeys are different, and the heights they can reach can’t be predicted. I believe that as long as this new generation of action actors works hard and commits to making every film the best it can be, they’ll have great futures. They’ll lead new schools of action in their own ways.”

Other Notable Cast and Production Details of ‘The Shadow’s Edge’

The Shadow’s Edge also features Zhang Zifeng as He Qiuguo, the daughter of Wong’s deceased former partner, along with Jun from the K-pop group Seventeen. The film is produced by iQIYI Pictures, Shanghai Tao Piao Piao Movie & TV Culture Co., and Beijing Hairun Pictures Co. International sales are managed by Golden Network Asia Limited, underscoring the project’s global reach and significance within the industry.