Michael Cera Got to Meet Jackie Chan on Their Press Tours, but ‘I Think He Thought I Was a Competition Winner’: ‘Who Is This Person? What’s Going On?’

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Over the past few weeks, Michael Cera has been traveling around the world for promotional events linked to “The Phoenician Scheme,” his debut role in a film directed by Wes Anderson. Similarly, Jackie Chan has been busy promoting “Karate Kid: Legends” this month. Remarkably, these two actors crossed paths at BBC Radio 2 during their respective press tours, but according to Michael Cera, Jackie Chan was unaware of who he was.

A photographer inquired if I knew Jackie Chan, which I didn’t, prompting her to invite me to meet him,” Cera explained. “Upon our encounter, he seemed puzzled and asked who I was and what was happening. We took a photo together, but it seemed like he thought I had won a contest. He said, ‘Let’s take a quick picture, come on.’ It wasn’t rude, but I felt as if I was intruding on his private time with his team before he went on the radio.

Upon finding myself in the presence of Chan just twenty short minutes ago, a momentary doubt crossed my mind, “What on earth am I doing here?” However, everyone present proved to be warm and welcoming, and I had the pleasure of meeting Jackie.

Both “The Phoenician Scheme” and “Karate Kid: Legends” are set to hit screens on May 30, but it’s important to note that “The Phoenician Scheme” is initially available in a limited release, expanding nationwide on June 6. Sheldon Cera made his Wes Anderson debut at the world premiere of the film during Cannes Film Festival and spoke with EbMaster about the experience.

Cera remarked that Anderson’s performance was incredibly detailed yet exhilarating. There was an undeniable sense of enjoyment throughout, he said. It never seemed stressful or tense, instead, it felt like a continuous party even during the hard work. He added that the entire process felt hopeful and positive, and he found himself deeply captivated by the film as they were creating it.

Michael explained that since Wes has the freedom to record multiple takes, it often leads to about 20 attempts before saying, ‘Alright, we’ve got something good, so let’s try something new and keep exploring for fun.’ He continued, ‘This approach makes work enjoyable, as if everything else is a bonus. There are certainly unexpected moments of delight in the film, no doubt about it. I only hope to collaborate with him again whenever the opportunity arises.’

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2025-05-31 02:46