Why doesn't jet Li make movies anymore?

Submitted by worldstrongestace t3_1275627 in movies

2008 was his last lead role. After that he's spent the last decade doing essentially cameo roles and even that has seemed to stop entirely.

Jet Li's last lead role was in the 2008 film "Forbidden Kingdom." Since then, he has mostly taken on cameo roles, and even those have become less frequent. Many speculate that his health issues and injuries sustained during his long career as a martial artist and actor may have contributed to his reduced output. But in regal reading that he said the health issues weren't true

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[deleted] t1_jecn8z0 wrote

"In 2013, Li revealed that he suffers from hyperthyroidism and had been dealing with the issue for the past three years. In 2016, he stated that he had recovered from his illness and that accepting fewer film offers was due to his charity work and not because of his health conditions." - wikipedia

He prefers doing charity work these days after having a illness.

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ColdPressedSteak t1_jeco9kw wrote

I saw a few pictures of him not that long after Expendables 2 or so and he looked dramatically different. Unhealthy but not sure how to describe it. Like he had aged 10-15 years in just 3 actual years

Great that he recovered

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worldstrongestace OP t1_jecp8qm wrote

Wonder if he shaved his head for some reason then.

That picture years later he looks like his normal self with a full head of black hair

https://m.zimbio.com/photos/Jet+Li/b6f0X69tQa7/Los+Angeles+World+Premiere+Disney+Mulan

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Scarjotoyboy t1_jecmcix wrote

Probably made his money 💰 and bounced similar to Chris tucker

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TheWholeWorldWindow t1_jecohip wrote

I think I've read that he just decided to focus on other things outside of filmmaking, he's certainly had enough success that he probably doesn't need to unless he really wants to. Whereas someone like Donnie Yen (same age) whose been working for a long time, but didn't get as many major roles until more recently probably still wants to show what he can do. And of course other older action stars each make different choices about what kinds of stuff they want to do later in life.

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dow366 t1_jedjitz wrote

He was offered the role of Chirrut in Rouge One: A Star Wars story(2016).

Jet Li asked for salary $10 million. Donnie Yen agreed to do it for $4 million.

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WikkidWitchly t1_jee3oru wrote

Health. Hyperthyroidism is bad for heart/anxiety. He also has a family and when you've been in martial arts/movies as long as he's been, side roles make enough bank to keep the lights on. Tbh, he doesn't need a reason other than because. He's been in side roles with Mulan and Expendables, so he keeps busy. He's just not headlining anymore. Meh. Martial arts takes a huge toll on one's body. I mean, look at Jackie Chan. Even when you do it right and prep, things go wrong. He's broken quite a few bones. It adds up when you get older and he's almost 60.

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Key-Win7744 t1_jecnids wrote

He's probably old and in tremendous pain.

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mikeweasy t1_jectlbj wrote

I think he just got tired of making movies and decided to focus on his family and stuff. Maybe he will announce that he retired or maybe he will never make another movie again, we may never know.

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zenejinzorin t1_jed45pn wrote

Yall know Ronald Reagan wanted him as a body guard? That's pretty dope. And he turned down being in the matrix bc he didn't want his martial arts movements to be computer recorded and commodified. Seems like an awesome dude.

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