Jackie Chan’s not done with The Shadow’s Edge — the sequel’s happening and he’s in

If you thought Jackie Chan was easing into semi-retirement, think again. After years where he seemed to be phoning it in with more kid-friendly bits — think Panda Plan, the crowd-pleasing but mild Karate Kid: Legends, or lending his voice to Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem — 2025 saw him absolutely go for the throat in The Shadow’s Edge. The gritty action thriller came out in August last year, and to no one’s shock but everyone’s satisfaction, absolutely killed it at the box office and with critics too. Now, it's got a sequel in the works — and this time, Jackie isn't coming alone.

The Shadow’s Edge 2 will start filming in October 2026, aiming for a release the following year.

The Action Comeback

Written and directed by Larry Yang, The Shadow’s Edge put Chan back in the sort of hard-hitting, bruiser thriller that made his name. He plays a retired surveillance expert drawn back into action to track down a gang of thieves, only to find the job escalating rapidly into a proper death match. Tony Leung Ka-fai starred as the film’s main villain, giving a performance that won him Best Actor at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards. The supporting cast brought their own punch as well: Ci Sha (from Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms), Zhang Zifeng (High Forces), and Moon Junhui (The Legend Is Born: Ip Man) all in the mix.

The reception? Critics gave it an 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences nearly unanimous at 97%, with reviews calling it 'action-packed' and honestly, not exaggerating. In China, it ran away with the local box office. Gritty violence, Chan doing proper stunts again, believable stakes — it’s no wonder fans almost instantly started asking for more.

The Sequel: What’s Confirmed

There had been rumblings early this year that The Shadow’s Edge 2 (or just The Shadow’s Edge II if you like Roman numerals) was being prepped. Now, a production listing confirms repeat performances from both Jackie Chan and Tony Leung Ka Fai, plus Ci Sha, Zhang Zifeng, and Moon Junhui all returning. Tony Leung’s comeback is a particular highlight given the awards season love.

• Filming for The Shadow’s Edge 2 officially kicks off in October 2026
• The cast: Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Ci Sha, Zhang Zifeng, Moon Junhui
• No solid confirmation yet on the Chow Yun-fat rumour — he’s supposedly in talks, but nothing signed as far as anyone’s saying
• It’s aiming for a cinema release in 2027

The official synopsis doesn’t exactly hide what’s in store. With Fu Longsheng (Leung) locked away, Chan’s character (Huang Dezhong) and Zhang’s He Qiuguo dig deeper, realising there’s a bigger criminal mastermind still pulling the strings. Things spiral fast, violence escalates, and what looked like a job well done turns out to be just the beginning. And — classic twist — they have to outwit a massive, shadowy network with no obvious escape route.