Any day there’s news about action star Jackie Chan is a good day for Chan fans, and in the wake of a new partnership being announced on Tuesday according to THR. Filmmakers Sam Raimi (Spider-Man trilogy) and Oscar-winning Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Tourist) are reportedly joining with Chan’s own company, Sparkle Roll Media to produce two films a year under their new banner, Allegory Films.
The deal marks a 60% stake for Sparkle Roll Media’s parent company, Cultural Investment Holdings, which is investing in $150 million, with Raimi and von Donnersmarck’s R&D LLC staking 40% with a $100,000 investment of their own. The former will also release Allegory Films’ movies domestically in China while international distribution will go to a Hollywood company.
Such news speaks to the sustenance of Chan fans who are far from tired of the Chan fanfare, though left to be said is whether or not the 62-year old action cinema stalwart will be in front of the cameras for any of these. Still in tow are Renny Harlin’s forthcoming globetrekking comedy, Skiptrace, as well as STX Entertainment’s tentatively-titled London actioner, The Foreigner with co-star Pierce Brosnan, Ding Sheng’s Railroad Tigers, Stanley Tong’s Kung Fu Yoga, Peter Segal’s Civilian for Thunder Road, and the ever-hopeful Chan/Wilson reunion for Shanghai Dawn.