"So I was lucky" - Jackie Chan talks about how AI has become too pervasive in filmmaking

Originally from Hong Kong, actor Jackie Chan is widely known for his American slapstick comedy and action movies. The veteran actor, who began his career as a stuntman, eventually shifted to acting in the 60s. As per reports, Chan has been in more than two hundred films.

While speaking with Page Six at the New York premiere of his brand new movie Karate Kid: Legends, Jackie Chan claimed that he was "lucky" that there was no AI (artificial intelligence) during his time.

The 71-year-old Chan, who was last seen as Mr. Han in The Karate Kid with Jaden Smith, which was released in 2010, has reprised his famous role in Jonathan Entwistle's action drama film Karate Kid: Legends, which hit the theaters on May 30, 2025. During his conversation with Page Six, Chan made it quite clear that he is not a big fan of AI, as it has become too pervasive for filmmaking. Jackie Chan, who is known for performing his own stunts and action sequences, said:

"If today I was working in this age, I don’t think I would do [stunts] myself. Why? Because of AI special effects, [green screens]."

While shedding light on how big studios function these days, Jackie Chan shared:

"You want to do [the stunt work], but the studio, the stunt coordinator, the director, they won’t let you. Because if anything [went wrong with a stunt and the star were injured] it could shut down the whole shoot; it could cost a lot of money."

The Drunken Master star further explained, saying:

"In the old days. I had to do it myself and so I became ‘Jackie Chan.’ So I was lucky."

With a successful acting career spanning over six decades, Chan has been in a bunch of blockbusters and has worked with prominent American actors like Chris Tucker and Owen Wilson. The Police Story actor, who has been married to Joan Lin since 1982, shares two children, a son, Jaycee Chan, and a daughter, Etta Ng Chok Lam, with her.

Jackie Chan suffered numerous injuries during his long acting career

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The Spy Next Door star Jackie Chan, as mentioned earlier, has always been known for performing his own stunts. As a result, he has suffered numerous injuries over the years in his decades-long acting career. While speaking with Page Six, Chan also suggested that things for today's actors have taken a different turn, as they no longer have to take risks or hurt themselves while performing stunts. There are digital aids for that.

Chan, during his acting career, has suffered several injuries, some serious ones, such as broken fingers, dislocated pelvis, broken ribs, and hip, as well as broken toes and ankles.

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