After three Hollywood movies – The Forbidden Kingdom, The Mummy 3 and the upcoming The Expendables – Jet Li is heading back to China for the movie Ocean Paradise. It’s being described as a non-martial arts flick, although the makers aren’t saying anything more than that about what the film is about (and indeed there are conflicting reports that he will indeed fight in the movie – just to ensure we know bugger all about the movie).
Ocean Paradise is due to be directed by first time helmer Xue Xiao-lu, who’s previously mainly worked as a screenwriter. We’re wondering whether this marks the start of what Li has been threatening for years, that he’s retiring from full-on fight flicks as he’s getting too old to make them (he’s 46).
However he keeps saying he’s giving them up, and then shortly afterwards announces another one. In fact if he keeps making movies in Hollywood, he can get away with it, as they’re generally not as physically taxing as the truly OTT Chinese films he’s made.
Let’s hope he’s got a few more fight flick years in him yet.