Jackie Chan & Ben Wang On Family, Fighting, And Why He’ll Never Stop Making Movies

Ben, I have to ask you first, as someone who has trained in martial arts, how did you feel when you found out you would be doing a film with Jackie Chan?

Ben Wang: It was terrifying, haha. I don't think any amount of prerequisite martial arts training can make you feel confident in your ability to do a martial arts film with Jackie Chan. We had a really good team that trained me up to a point where I had more confidence than before.

And we saw it on screen because it felt like you had been doing for ages, you were on the same level as Jackie

Ben: Oh, good haha but that speaks to how good the team is.

Jackie Chan: Do you know why I said you’re luckiest boy in the world? Before the film comes out, do you know how many messages I get [about you] “Hi Jackie, that’s your niece” “Jackie, that’s your son”. I got so many videos, so I sent them to Sony – then they sent them to you. You’re just really so lucky.

The film speaks a lot about cultural and family traditions and why they’re important. What is a cultural or family tradition that you both hold close to your heart?

Ben: I have an irregular family situation. I have a crazy, eclectic family. I was born in China, and then I grew up in Minnesota – one thing that would happen every year is us doing Chinese Thanksgiving, so we would eat a turkey, we’d have duck. My grandma would make a duck and then my grandfather would make a biryani, and that’s how did Thanksgiving and it’s still how we do it to this day. 

I’m not going to lie, that sounds amazing, and I might do that for myself this Christmas. Jackie, what traditions to you hold close to your heart?

Jackie: My traditions are different because when I was young, my parents sent me to boarding school, they were in Australia for 10 years while I was in boarding school – so that’s our tradition, we sleep together, we’re helping each other. 

Later on, when parents would come it wasn’t easy, it didn’t feel right because it took me a couple of years to find out that my parents left me to [create a better life]. So I had to relearn how to love my father and mother because I would be like I was six and a half, and you dumped me at school, and you ran away! But later on, when I was 16, they came back and bought me a small apartment. They spent their 10-year salary, and then I realised, wow, everything they do is for me. So parents, no matter what they do, it’s the only people you believe will never hurt you, and they always love you. They left me, but they had a reason. So I always tell my students, Always be good to your parents.

I read online that you said you have no plans to retire, Jackie

Jackie: I tried to plan to retire, but the audience, the media, and the world won’t let me. 

Because we need you!

Jackie: After that, I promised all my friends around the world, I said “If I can still act, I can move, every year I will bring a movie for my fans around the world”.

You’ve had such a long career, and if you’re not retiring, is there anything still left to tick off your bucket list?

Jackie: I want to play a villain. I’ve never played a villain.

I can see it

Jackie: I want to be like Robert De Niro; he can do so many things. A good person, a bad guy, an office boy. I want to play a villain. 

Okay, we’re putting it out there: villain Jackie is coming 

Jackie: People refuse to hire me because I don't think the fans and families would like Jackie to be a villain, but I want to.