Jackie Chan hopes son will be a better man after drug arrest
During this Chinese New Year, all Jackie Chan wants is for his son to be a better person.
The 60-year-old Hong Kong action star was in town yesterday with cast members like Hollywood stars Adrien Brody and John Cusack, as well as K-pop idol Choi Siwon to promote his latest blockbuster film Dragon Blade.
The veteran actor, whose actor-singer son Jaycee will be released from prison on Friday, told M in an interview in Mandarin: "I feel reassured... I believe he is a brand new person now.
"Every young person makes mistakes, who doesn't? I also made mistakes when I was younger.
"If a young person makes a mistake and is willing to change, it's fine. If he does not want to repent, then there is no hope for him."
Last August, Jaycee, 32, was arrested and held in police custody after he was found to possess more than 110g of marijuana in his home in Beijing.
He was tested positive for drug use, and found guilty of accommodating drug users at his home.
Last month, he was given a six-month jail term by a Beijing court and fined 2,000 yuan (S$435).
Chan is known for his tough talk whenever his son is the topic of conversation, and his tense relationship with Jaycee has been widely-publicised in the media over the decades.
But he showed a softer side and looked genuinely concerned when asked about his hopes for his only son in 2015.
Chan, who was working on his new album with Jaycee before the drug bust, wants to resume work on it after Jaycee's release. The pair recorded seven songs in 2013, and will continue with the remaining five tracks.
Chan also said he might include the Dragon Blade soundtrack on it.
"At least give him a job first. I will let him have some time to get over this and adjust back to normal life," Chan said.
"I believe he will grow to be more mature and be a better person."
When Chan spoke to local reporters with the rest of the cast during the Dragon Blade press conference earlier yesterday, he made harsher comments about Jaycee, saying: "I've nothing to say to him. I am sure he will focus on his life positively from now onwards, since he already had time to reflect on his life in jail.
"He is already (being) punished for his wrongdoing. I don't want to punish him anymore. He is an adult, he can think for himself."
Chan said 2014 has not been a good year for him, but things completely "turned around" this year, starting with Jaycee's upcoming release.
He said in jest: "The 'xiao wang ba dan' (Mandarin for little b******) will be out from prison."
Even though Chinese New Year is around the corner, Chan will not be spending it with his family as he will be busy promoting Dragon Blade across China.
He said: "Promoting my movie is more important than my family. My family will always be there, but I have only this one chance to promote my movie."
'NO RUSH'
He added: "After my movie promotions, I will eventually see my wife and my son. I am in no rush to spend Chinese New Year with them."
The US$65 million (S$88 million) Dragon Blade, which tells the historical story of the war on the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty, opens here on Feb 19.
In it, Chan portrays Huo An, the Commander of the Silk Road Protection Squad who, along with trusty subordinate Yin Po (Choi), befriends Roman General Lucius (Cusack). Huo and Lucius try to win a war against evil Roman General Tiberius (Brody), which results in epic bloodshed.
On the fight scene between him and Brody, Chan said: "I was injured by him! There was a scene where he had to hit my hand with the knife, and he kept hitting it with a lot of strength. My entire hand was totally bruised. He didn't realise it, though.
"When I hit Adrien, I looked fierce and stern but I didn't use too much strength. But when he hit me, he used so much strength!"
The same happened in another fight scene between the 1.74m-tall Chan and the 1.87m-tall Cusack.
"John is so much taller and bigger than I am. When he struck my metal headgear with his sword, I almost blacked out," Chan said.
"He kept striking again and again when the camera was rolling, and I had to tell him it's enough!"
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