Jackie Chan, 68, hopes for the industry to value true action stars over just good-looking actors. Photo: Jackie Chan/Instagram
Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan could not hold back his tears when talking about the struggles of finding new action actors in an industry that no longer needs it, Sin Chew reported.
In a recent interview to promote his upcoming film, Ride On, Chan said he felt upset that the market is prioritising looks over the skills of true action stars.
"I once thought of finding a second Jackie Chan but it's really hard because the market doesn't need it. In today's film industry, it doesn't matter how good your kung fu is ... it's about how good you look.
"There's no need to be good at fighting. As long as you're good looking and popular enough, you can just stand there let the stuntmen do the job," he said.
The Rush Hour star added that the reason why there's less action stars now is because no companies were willing to invite a big director to spend millions on someone whose looks don't fit the bill – even if they were skilled in martial arts.
Chan also voiced his hopes for the industry to one day return to the era that valued martial artists like Bruce Lee and Jet Li for their skills, so that those who are truly skilled in kung fu can be recognised.
At 68 years old, Chan has not stopped making action films. He is known for his fluid fighting styles and impressive stunts in Police Story, Dragon Blade and Kung Fu Yoga.
Over the years, the actor has received global recognition for his acting and stunt work.
His accolades include an honorary Academy Award, which recognised his "distinctive international career", and a lifetime achievement award from the Taurus World Stunt Awards.
