Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan will stop starring in five years

Hong Kong movie icon Jackie Chan said Monday he expects to stop starring in action films in five years, but he'll remain busy by producing and directing.

Chan, 51, said he still considers martial arts roles relatively easy, noting that Hollywood veterans such as Clint Eastwood have continued to appear in action thrillers despite their age.

"I will make action movies, I think, for a few more years, another five years," Chan said at a news conference in Malaysia to promote his latest film, "The Myth," in which he plays an ancient general reincarnated as a modern-day archaeologist.

Chan said he plans to produce more action movies even when he's no longer the leading man. But he also wants to make small-budget films and National Geographic-style documentaries and help train young directors and stunt actors, according to the AP.

"I don't think I'll retire," he said. "Maybe from the screen, but (not) behind the screen."

"The Myth," which also features South Korean actress Kim Hee-sun and Bollywood screen siren Mallika Sherawat, will be released in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia on Sept. 23 and later in other Asian countries. It was shot on location in China and India.

Chan said he is now taking a break from Hollywood after his most recent movie, "Around the World in 80 Days," was a box-office disappointment last year. His other U.S. films since 2002, The Medallion," "The Tuxedo" and "Shanghai Knights",also met with lukewarm response.

Chan said he will return with a kung fu project to be shot late next year or early 2007, probably with the makers of the "Rush Hour" action-comedy series, which has marked Chan's biggest international success so far.

"The Myth" will premiere Thursday at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada, but there are no immediate plans for a U.S. theatrical release.