Jackie Chan Returns to Armour of God...
‘The Asian Hawk Rises’: Jackie Chan Returns to Armour of God Franchise 40 Years After Original
ASTANA — Four decades after he first risked life and limb as the world's most daredevil archaeologist, Jackie Chan is officially putting the leather jacket back on.
In a major announcement that has delighted martial arts purists and action-adventure fans alike, the 72-year-old screen icon has greenlit Armour of God IV: Ultimatum. The film marks Chan's definitive return to the globe-trotting "Asian Hawk" character, his native answer to Indiana Jones, exactly 40 years after the seminal original went into production.
The project will mark a historic logistical shift for the veteran star, with principal photography scheduled to begin this July across the untamed wilderness of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
Four Decades of Death-Defying Thrills
The Armour of God franchise remains holy ground for Chan's global fanbase. Launched in 1986, the original film cemented Chan's transition from traditional kung fu master to an international blockbuster force. It is also infamously known as the production that nearly killed him; a failed leap from a wall to a tree branch resulted in a cracked skull and a piece of bone being driven into his brain, a horrific injury documented in the movie's traditional end-credit blooper reel.
The saga continued with the critically acclaimed Armour of God II: Operation Condor in 1991, followed over two decades later by 2012's box-office juggernaut CZ12 (also known as Chinese Zodiac).
“This is my first project with Kazakh partners, but it will not be the last,” Chan said in an official statement confirming the shoot. “I have never filmed there before, and it opens up many new visual and creative ideas that we will be able to bring to audiences.”
The Hunt for the Tumar
Plot details released by production company Salem Entertainment suggest the fourth entry will dial heavily into the series' classic pulpy, archaeological roots.
Chan's recurring protagonist, Jackie (aka "The Asian Hawk"), is dragged out of semi-retirement when a chaotic global scramble erupts over an ancient, mystical Central Asian artifact known as the Tumar. With a bounty of over $20 million (£15.8 million) on the relic, the veteran explorer finds himself square in the crosshairs of ruthless modern mercenaries.
The Armour of God Quadrilogy Timeline
A New Vision for the Legend
Breaking from franchise tradition, Ultimatum will be the first entry in the series not directed by Chan himself. Instead, directorial duties have been handed to Kazakhstan’s Robert Kun, an action specialist widely recognized for his stunt choreography and second-unit work on high-profile action titles such as Wanted (2008).
The production is being heavily backed by the newly formed Alem Fund, an international investment vehicle registered at the Astana International Financial Centre designed to elevate Central Asia's media profile on the global stage.
The Verdict
Chan's return to his signature 1980s property comes amidst a remarkably prolific autumn for his career, hot on the heels of his upcoming franchise team-up in Karate Kid: Legends alongside Ralph Macchio.
While the septuagenarian star understandably relies more heavily on wirework and practical stunt editing than he did during his bone-breaking heyday in the late 1980s, the revival of the Asian Hawk proves that Chan's appetite for cinematic adventure remains entirely undiminished. Armour of God IV: Ultimatum is currently eyeing a worldwide theatrical release in the spring of 2027.
