New Jackie Chan film hits theaters, garnering global attention

Jackie Chan's new film, which sees the action megastar unexpectedly find himself in a mysterious tribe with a panda, opens in Chinese theaters on Tuesday.

In this delightful family-friendly comedy, "Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe," the panda Hu Hu is revered as a sacred beast, and Chan assumes the role of the divine beast's envoy, shouldering the responsibility of safeguarding Hu Hu.

Directed by Xu Hongyu, the movie boasts an impressive cast of comedians. Alongside the adorable panda Hu Hu, it brings together dozens of well-known Chinese comedic actors, with Ma Li, Qiao Shan, and Yu Yang taking the lead roles.

A preview screening for the film was held in Beijing last weekend, where actress Ma Li revealed that she had the honor of serving as Chan's "dialect coach" since much of the dialogue was in China's northeastern dialect, which is widely regarded as humorous and entertaining.

The film was shot in the Wengding Primitive Tribe scenic area of Yunnan Province, known as "China's last primitive tribe." A local county official surnamed Li attended the event, noting, "What audiences see on the big screen is not special effects but a real and accessible secret landscape. We are grateful to the film crew for presenting the local natural, ecological and cultural beauty to the audience through their lenses.

The film's appeal extended beyond borders. Several foreign diplomatic envoys in China, including Zambian Ambassador to China Ivan Zyuulu, minister-counsellor of the Embassy of Nigeria in China Jimmy Ebi Patrick, and Khan Muhammad Wazir, technical affairs counsellor from the Embassy of Pakistan in China, attended the screening with their families.

According to reports, "Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe" will be gradually rolled out in overseas theaters after the Spring Festival, promising to spread joy and Chinese culture to a wider international audience.