I haven't got a clue why the New Haven Movie Examiner is breaking news about an upcoming Jackie Chan project, especially one that will be filmed in Chinese and in China. But hey, don't ask questions-- it's actually good news this time. Chan will be starring in a remake of The Shaolin Temple, a film that originally starred Jet Li as the martial arts master, alongside 1,000 authentic fighting monks.
The best news is that the monks will be back, apparently, in the film directed by Benny Chan. The temple where filming will take place recently underwent $292 million of renovations, but apparently it retained enough of its original flavor to be a worthwhile shooting location. Filming will begin this winter, and the movie is set for a late 2010 release, though they're not saying whether that's a Chinese or American release date.
Give how often Chan has focused on mainstream nonsense like Rush Hour 3 or the upcoming Kung Fu Kid, it's nice to see him returning to a more basic kind of martial arts film, the thing that made him famous. But am I being a jerk for wondering if he's gotten a little too old for this? He and Li both are solidly into middle age and keeping up their fighting steam, but you've got to wonder if it's even smart for him to keep taking these parts.
