Jackie Chan has for the last couple of decades worked on one of the most successful animated franchises of all time, the Kung Fu Panda movie series. Working alongside several A-listers including Angelina Jolie, the actor helped create one of the most fan-favorite animated flicks by voicing the popular character of Monkey.
Despite starring in the film series for so long, Chan almost took 10 whole years to meet his Kung Fu Panda co-star, Jack Black. Black, who for long had wanted to meet the actor, was totally awestruck, not because he was in the presence of Chan but the way people treated the actor.
Jack Black Wanted To Meet Jackie Chan For The Longest Time
Jack Black and Jackie Chan started working together in 2008. Both lent their voices to what has now become one of the most fan-loved animated characters of all time. Despite going on to work in 3 movies as voice actors, the two did not meet until about ten years later.
Back in 2016, in an interview with Sports Illustrated Kids, Black revealed how they had never met despite working together for years,
“This is the third Kung Fu Panda movie and I have still not met Jackie Chan. Impossible right? But not impossible, because when we go into record we go in alone and they put our voices together for the movie.”
And if they ever do meet, Black revealed what he’d talk about with the acting legend,
“If we ever do meet, I will have many questions for Jackie! First, I’d ask him why did he steal my name? And then I’d ask him, What is his secret to his long, long career? What does he eat for breakfast? That’s what I’d ask him.”
While they did meet, whether Black asked the questions or not, we do not know. But we do know, the Jumanji star was totally awe-struck by how Jackie Chan was treated back in China.
Jack Black Was Awestruck By Meeting Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan is one of the biggest stars of all time in the whole wide world. No matter where he goes, he is bound to get recognized by his many fans spread across the world. So when Jack Black was in China, promoting a film, he was completely blown away by how his Kung Fu Panda co-star was treated by his fans in China.
Speaking to Conan O’Brien, back in 2016, Black revealed,
“So, recently, like a couple of weeks ago, I was in China, in Shanghai, and I’m doing a junket, doing some interviews, talking about the movie. And then a dude comes up and says, ‘Mr. Chan would like to speak with you.’ I said, ‘What?! Jackie Chan?’ ‘Yes, follow me, Sir.’ And we get to a special hotel suite, penthouse.”
He then went on to explain how Chan was treated in his home country of China,
“And Jackie Chan’s famous everywhere, but in Shanghai, he is like a god. He has to stay hidden away because he’s like a Beatle. Literally, people scream and freak out.”
Having been dying to meet him for so long, Black enjoyed the meet and stated that they even discussed starring together in a project that was not Kung Fu Panda. While the possibility of them starring together in some other project is a faraway dream, they’ll be next seen in Kung Fu Panda 4.
Kung Fu Panda 4 will be released on March 8, 2024.
