Jackie Chan brings a 44-year-old action classic roaring back with a new sequel

If you were wondering when Jackie Chan would dust off one of his true action staples and go another round, here you go: at 72, Jackie is shooting a new sequel to the franchise he kicked off 40 years ago. Yes, this is his legendary Armour of God series getting a fresh dose of stunts and probably too many near-death experiences for comfort. The man's still determined to outdo himself, even if his bones have the wear and tear to prove it.

The OG Treasure Hunter Returns

To rewind a bit: Arm your nostalgia circuits because the original Armour of God arrived in cinemas in 1986—well before Chris Pratt ever grinned his way through a dinosaur enclosure. Jackie, playing the slightly on-the-nose 'Asian Hawk', set out on a globetrotting treasure hunt reminiscent of Indiana Jones, only with more kicks to the face and fewer whip cracks.

He teamed up with Alan Tam (as 'Alan', helpfully) to save Rosamund Kwan’s character from some rather theatrical cultists, all desperate for a magical set of armour. It was one of those high-octane mash-ups—ridiculous stunts, kung fu fights, and plenty of Chan’s brand of physical comedy.

The series gave us two sequels: Armour of God 2: Operation Condor (1991) kept the momentum, while 2012’s CZ12 (aka Chinese Zodiac) unfortunately missed the mark by chan standards. If you noticed a fade in the magic the last time out, you weren’t alone.

Fourth Time Lucky?

Now, with Armour of God IV: Ultimatum on the runway, there’s a real sense—at least from the new behind-the-scenes clips—that Jackie’s back in proper blockbuster mode. Recently posted footage shows him and director Robert Kun huddling over concept art and plotting out set pieces. If the mood in the studio is anything to go by, some rather pyrotechnic chaos is coming our way.

Kazakhstan: Not the Usual Suspect

Curiously, they’re moving production out to Kazakhstan—first time for Chan there—which you don’t hear often as a Hollywood-ish filming location. The cameras are set to roll in spring 2026, with a global release eyed for 2027. The story puts Jackie’s Asian Hawk right back in the firing line, with a $20-million bounty up for grabs on the trail of the Tumar, a mythical artefact that fans will no doubt assume is protected by at least three elaborate security systems and several angry rivals.

Behind the Scenes: Who’s Who

• Jackie Chan – Back as ‘Jackie’ / Asian Hawk, still apparently unfazed by pain
• Director Robert Kun – Best known for his stunt coordination in films like Day Watch, Wanted, and I Am Dragon
• The creative team – Not individually named, but clearly geared up for another round of explosive set pieces and location scouting

Quote of the Week

'Early concept shots, location scouting and story sessions straight from Kazakhstan - with Jackie Chan, director Robert Kun and the creative dream team.'

Just How Busy Is Jackie?

Not content with just one sequel, Jackie’s coming off the success of The Shadow's Edge—which dragged him back to a harder-edged action-thriller as a retired surveillance expert in the thick of a new heist plot. And if that’s not enough, Rush Hour 4 is apparently crawling out of development limbo, with New Police Story 2 also rumoured to be kicking into gear soon.