Actor and martial artist Jackie Chan had his big Hollywood break with the 1998 action-comedy film Rush Hour. The buddy action cop movie was a box office hit and was soon renewed for a sequel, which featured several cameos, including the Marvel star Don Cheadle. He portrayed the character of one of James Carter’s informants, Kenny, who runs an underground gambling ring behind a restaurant.
And the brief fighting sequence along with the actor speaking fluent Cantonese was nothing less than a surprise for the fans. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he opened up about taking on the role of Kenny and his experience working with the Hong Kong actor.
Don Cheadle’s Conditions to Star Alongside Jackie Chan
Starring the comedic duo of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, the action comedy film series Rush Hour has been one of the fan favorites since the release of the first movie in 1998. They reprised their roles in two more films and are also expected to come back with a fourth installment in the film series.
Apart from its leading stars, the series also featured a remarkable character, Kenny, portrayed by Don Cheadle. The Iron Man star has shared that he has been a big fan of Kung Fu movies and the Hong Kong martial artist.
And he was ready to be a part of one when Brett Ratner approached him for a cameo in the Rush Hour sequel. However, he also had some conditions. “I told [Ratner], ‘I’ll be in the movie if I can speak Chinese and fight Jackie Chan,” the actor shared his two conditions to feature in the movie.
While the filmmaker warned him that he would get his “as* kicked by Jackie Chan,” the actor claimed that he would fight to the “draw.” However, things did not go as he expected, and Cheadle was taken aback by Chan’s quick and aggressive fight training.
Don Cheadle Was Surprised With Jackie Chan’s Fighting Style
Don Cheadle sincerely prepared for his cameo in the 2001 film Rush Hour 2 and tried his best in everything from learning his dialogues to his stunt work. He got a translator along with a Chinese language instructor to get a hold of his Cantonese dialogue with Chan.
The Ocean’s Twelve actor shared that they went to “Jackie’s place” to train for the fight sequence between him and Chan. He recalled the practice session during his interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying, “Jackie speaks very little English, and he’s like, ‘Okay, let’s go. We fight fast.”
The 58-year-old actor shared that he was surprised by Chan’s quick and aggressive fighting style. “I was like, ‘Yo, this is a movie, bro.’ I’m glad I didn’t get my jaw broken,” he recalled. However, their fight sequence in the movie went as Cheadle wanted it to, as it ended in a draw between Lee and Kenny once they realized that they were trained by the masters in the same family.
Rush Hour 2 is available on Max.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
