Jackie Chan, 70, Tells Fans 'Don't Worry' About Photos of Him Looking Older: 'It's Just a Character'

"The character requires me to have white hair, white beard and look old," Chan wrote on Instagram as he celebrated his 70th birthday on April 7

Jackie Chan is getting ready for his next role.

The actor, who turned 70 on April 7, addressed buzz about his aged appearance in recent photos, sharing that his new project requires him to "look old."

"Not so long ago, a lot of friends saw some recent photos of me on the internet, and they were all concerned about my health. I want to take this opportunity to let everyone know, don’t worry!" wrote Chan alongside a collection of photos posted to his Instagram on his birthday.

"The character requires me to have white hair, white beard and look old," Chan continued, without giving specifics about the movie or role. "Over the years, I’ve always been willing to try new things for a movie, no matter if it’s a challenging stunt or a breakthrough appearance for a character."

Chan added, "I’ve been in the entertainment business for 62 years and I cherish every moment because I’m lucky I’m still filming today."

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Related: Will Smith Thanks Jackie Chan for His 'Eternal Impact' on Smith Family in Heartfelt 70th Birthday Message

Chan's reflective post in honor of his birthday also expressed his gratitude for being “able to grow old,” given the intense stunts he has been performing for decades.

“Even before today, many friends have been reminding me: ‘Jackie, it’s going to be your 70th birthday!’ Every time I hear this number, my heart would stop for a second — l’m 70 years old already?” the Rush Hour actor began his lengthy caption.

“After recovering from the shock, the second thing that would come to my mind is a saying that my big brother, Sammo Hung once said: ‘being able to grow old is a fortunate thing.’ Especially for us stunt people, we don’t know how lucky we are to be able to grow old," he added.

Chan went on to say of the throwback images shared in his post, "Looking at these photos brings back so many fond memories. All I can say is: I love making movies and I love you all."

"A big thank you to everyone for all your birthday wishes. Hope everyone stays happy and healthy!" he concluded.

Related: After 56 Years in the Industry and Over 200 Films, Jackie Chan 'Finally' Gets His Oscar

While Chan didn't say what project he is working on, fans are speculating that it could be his role reprisal as Mr. Han in the upcoming Karate Kid movie, as Sony Pictures recently announced it had kicked off production, on April 4.

In November 2023, both Chan and original Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio announced they were returning to the franchise, and were looking for a new teen protagonist — played by Macchio, now 62, in the original 1984 movie, and Jaden Smith in the 2010 reboot that co-starred Chan.

While plot details are being kept under wraps, the film will be directed by Jonathan Entwistle from a screenplay by Rob Lieber, and will be produced by Karen Rosenfelt, according to a press release. It is scheduled to hit theaters Dec. 13, 2024.

Macchio returned in the TV series Cobra Kai, where his character as Daniel LaRusso's rivalry with longtime opponent Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) is reignited 35 years later. In 2021, Macchio earned an Emmy nod for outstanding comedy series as one of the show's executive producers.

Meanwhile, Chan starred opposite Smith, now 25, in 2010's The Karate Kid, where he played Mr. Han, a kung fu master and mentor to Smith's character, Dre Parker.

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