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He’s China’s No. 2 action star, right behind Jackie Chan, but now Jet Li (search) is taking on a drama in this weekend’s “Unleashed.” (search)
“I made more than 30 movies — usually I play the tough guy. I already proved I can do that kind of film. I want to challenge myself to do something I never had a chance to play,” Li told FOX News.
The film, which also stars Bob Hoskins (search) and Morgan Freeman (search), follows a slave who never learned to read or write or interact with other humans, but can do one thing better than anyone … kill.
Freeman and Hoskins play polar-opposite surrogate fathers competing for the heart, mind and deadly dangerous body of Li: Freeman the good guy who teaches him about music and Hoskins the bad guy who teaches him to kill.
But seeing a kinder, gentler side of Li has stirred controversy in China, as he shows emotions and sheds tears … something looked down upon for an action hero in his country.
“I don’t know, our audience, what they think, but I try to tell myself the biggest enemy is myself. Actors always want to challenge themselves — they try to prove they can do not just action movies. I can do an action movie with heart … it has drama in it … and maybe in the future I can do a different kind of action film.”
Freeman, fresh off his Oscar-winning role as a trainer in “Million Dollar Baby,” defended his co-star.
“I don’t think he has to prove anything to anybody, anywhere. I mean you get flak — what does that do? I think the body of his fans, they’re not concerned,” Freeman told FOX News.
FOX News’ Mike Waco and Anita Vogel contributed to this report.
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