John Cena joins Jackie Chan for ‘Project X’
SHANGHAI: WWE champion and rising film star John Cena has joined Jackie Chan for the action-thriller- comedy Project X.
They have met on the sidelines of the Shanghai International Film Festival to discuss their upcoming work together in Scott Waugh’s big-budget action adventure set in the Middle East.
It will be filmed all in China using local crews, but with Cena as co- star and Hollywood’s Scott Waugh ( Act of Valor, Need for Speed) directing from a script by Arash Amel ( Grace of Monaco, Erased, The Titan).
“The highlight of this movie is really simple: we have one of the greatest legends of action working with a talented newcomer in the action genre,” says Waugh. “It’s possibly one of the greatest pairings… in terms of how the movie is stylised, it will hopefully be another level — our action will be extremely exciting.”
Set in the Middle East, the plot follows a retired Chinese military man and now private security contractor (Jackie) who is sent to rescue workers from a Chinese-run oil refinery under attack. Cena appears as a former US Marine who ends up helping Jackie. Together they fight to defeat the attackers whose real motive — a massive oil heist — is soon revealed.
“In the film, both characters start off as quite normal guys, both retired military and not superheroes,” explains Jackie. “At first, I think we’re opponents
In the film, both characters start off as quite normal guys, both retired military and not superheroes. At first, I think we’re opponents — I think he’s the bad guy and he thinks I’m the bad guy. But then we realise that we’re on the same side and go after the real enemy.
— I think he’s the bad guy and he thinks I’m the bad guy. But then we realise that we’re on the same side and go after the real enemy.”
“You see!” laughed Cena as Jackie wrangled his arm, “He just never stops…Jackie’s presence is undeniable. His energy doesn’t stop. His process never stops. It’s going to be so special. Not only will we make a good movie, I’m going to learn so much.”
The recent blockbuster success of modern- day Chinese action films — such as Wu Jing’s Wolf Warrior 2 ( US$ 855 million) or Jackie’s own The Foreigner ( US$ 145 million) — has revealed a hunger for the genre among mainstream Chinese moviegoers. The trend bodes well for Project X, Jackie and Cena agreed.
“China as a country is bigger and stronger now, so we really need heroes,” argued Jackie. “Look at how many on- screen heroes the US has, but China doesn’t have its own superheroes, it’s own Superman, Spiderman… Monkey King is not really modern. And today’s young people want new, contemporaryera heroes!”
Jackie Chan, superstar