Legendary action star Jackie Chan has no plans to slow down anytime soon. In a new interview with Haute Living published on May 6, the 71-year-old martial arts icon opened up about his future in film and his enduring commitment to performing his own stunts.
Speaking ahead of the release of his upcoming film Karate Kid: Legends, Chan made it clear that retirement isn’t on the horizon. “Of course, I always do my own stunts. It’s who I am,” he said. “That’s not changing until the day I retire—which is never!”
After more than six decades in the industry, Chan said physical preparation is second nature to him. “When you’ve done it for 64 years straight, there’s no physical preparation anymore,” he explained. “Everything is in your heart and soul; it is muscle memory.”
Reflecting on how action filmmaking has evolved since his 1962 debut, Chan noted the stark contrast between old-school stunt work and today’s tech-enhanced action sequences. “In the old days, the only way was to be there and jump; that’s it,” he said. “Today, with computers, actors can do anything, but there’s always a sense of reality that you feel is missing.”
While he appreciates the advances in visual effects, Chan described them as a “double-edged sword.” On one hand, they allow actors to perform incredible feats. On the other, he warned, “The concept of danger and limits gets blurred and the audience becomes numb.”
Despite his reputation as a fearless stuntman, Chan emphasized that he’s not encouraging others to follow in his footsteps. “It truly is too dangerous,” he admitted. “I’m not encouraging anybody to risk their lives to do stunts like I did.”
Chan’s career began at just eight years old with a role in Big and Little Wong Tin Bar, and over the decades, he has become one of the most recognized faces in global cinema. As he continues to push the limits at 71, it’s clear Jackie Chan isn’t finished yet.
