Hong Kong filmmaker-actor Jackie Chan recently made an appearance on the Chinese reality show, Memories Beyond Horizon, shedding light on why he has been less involved in American films. In the program, the 68-year-old star revealed his initial struggles and insecurities when working in the United States due to a limited command of the English language.

Chan, who grew up speaking Cantonese in Hong Kong, confessed to spending an entire month memorizing just one line for an American film. He recounted mumbling the line even in his sleep, illustrating the extent of his dedication. His lack of fluency in English proved to be a significant obstacle, making the filming process challenging.

Reflecting on his early experiences in the US, Chan shared an anecdote where he had to deliver a simple line: “Get rid of the gun.” However, due to difficulties with intonation and pronunciation, he had to repeat the line multiple times until the director deemed it “natural.”

Despite eventually meeting the director’s expectations and earning praise, Chan expressed dissatisfaction. He lamented that the focus was solely on his English pronunciation rather than his martial arts prowess, saying, “No one acknowledged how well I fought. They only cared that my English pronunciation was good.”

Following such experiences, Chan decided to reevaluate his approach to the US market. He recalled returning to his car after filming a scene to practice English with his teacher. Realizing the unsustainable nature of this routine, he ultimately chose to step back from pursuing opportunities in the American film industry.

Jackie Chan initially gained Hollywood recognition with the action-comedy film Rush Hour, co-starring with Chris Tucker. He continued to feature in Hollywood productions like Shanghai Noon, Around The World In 80 Days, and Kung Fu Panda. However, in 2018, Chan decided to take a hiatus from the US showbiz scene and has since been dedicated to working on Hong Kong films.

Despite his break, Chan recently confirmed at the Red Sea International Film event that he is in discussions about developing a fourth installment of the Rush Hour series.