A Legend’s trailer featuresJackie Chanin dual roles using de-aging technology. Directed by Stanley Tong and produced by the same studio behindIp Man,the fantasy action movie is a sequel to the 2005 fantasy thrillerThe Myth.Chan reprises his role in the sequel, which was released in mainland China in July 2024. The film iscoming to Netflix, with a digital release also scheduled for August 21, 2025.
Well Go USA Entertainmentdrops the official trailer forA Legend, offering a glimpse of Chan’s character, a renowned archaeologist who establishes a mystical connection with a Han dynasty general upon the discovery of an ancient artifact. The trailer sees Chan traveling through time,playing boththe archaeologist in the present timeandthe Han dynasty general (de-aged) in the past. Check out the trailer below:
What This Means For A Legend
Technology Meets Authenticity In The Making Of A Legend
A Legendmarks another example of the use of AI technology in filmmaking, but it has received some criticism and blacklash from moviegoers. It isn’t the first movie to run into this issue this year either. Directed by Robert Zemeckis,Here’s use of technologyto de-age Tom Hanks and Robin Wright has attracted some controversy since its release. Similarly,the Chinese audience’s reaction toA Legend’s use of AI was also divisive.
The above trailer only offers a small glimpse at the tech used to de-age Chan, so it isn’t yet clear how international audiences will respond to it. At the very least,Chan’s presence alone will elicit interest, as will the movie’s predecessor.The Mythwas a box office sensation, which saw Chan and South Korean actor Kim Hee-seon in an epic love story that traveled through time. InChan’s long-awaited sequel, the legendary action star is joined by Lay Zhang, Na Zha, Aarif Lee, Li Chen, Peng Xiaoran, Shawn Dou, among others.
Our Take On A Legend
Jackie Chan Is Back In Action
WhileThe Mythis famous for its epic depiction of a tragic love story,A Legendsees Chan in action. The one thing that’s missing fromJackie Chan’s career-defining cult classicis the lack of a large-scale battle, which is often a theme in Chinese period dramas. However,A Legendhas an epic battlefield scene depicting thousands of soldiers on horseback that was shot authentically with over 6,000 horses and 1,090 herders. The sequel’s battlefield scenes also feature more stunning landscapes.
A Legend’s use of AI is one of its least exciting aspects when compared to everything else.Chan is known for doing his own stuntsin action films, and the new trailer features plenty of action for him. The fact that he’s playing both an ancient general and an archaeologist is already very exciting, given that the two roles are very different from each other. This makes the use of de-aging technology a bit more justified, and could help the movie’s reception once it is available for international viewers.
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, and filmmaker known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts. He gained international fame through films likePolice StoryandRush Hour, blending action and humor, and is celebrated for his contributions to martial arts cinema.
