Jackie Chan, the legendary actor known for his action-packed films, recently shared his thoughts on retirement during an interview with Haute Living. At 71 years old, the martial arts icon revealed that he has no plans to stop acting or performing his stunts. He emphasised that his commitment to doing stunts remains unchanged, stating, “I always do my own stunts. It’s who I am. That’s not changing until the day I retire, which is never!”
Despite concerns about his health, Jackie explained that after 64 years of performing stunts, his body has adapted, and everything now comes naturally through muscle memory. He also reflected on the evolution of action sequences, noting how far technology has come since he started in the film industry in 1962. While modern technology allows actors to perform more complex stunts, Jackie believes it has removed some of the real danger and thrill that older films had.
While acknowledging the advancements in special effects, Chan also described them as a “double-edged sword.” On one hand, technology helps actors achieve stunts that would have been impossible in the past. However, he feels that it diminishes the true sense of danger, making the audience numb to the risks involved.
Chan admitted that performing his own stunts is dangerous, but he clarified that he doesn’t encourage others to take similar risks. He stressed that it’s far too dangerous for most people to attempt. His career began in 1962 with a small role in the Cantonese film Big and Little Wong Tin Bar, and since then, he has become one of the most iconic figures in action cinema.
