SUBMITTED BY Scooby
August 22, 2001 — It looks like we'll be seeing more of Chan:
After earning $164.7 million in its 2 1/2 weeks, ``Rush Hour 2'' has put to rest any doubts about Jackie Chan's bankability in the United States and may give him the edge he needs to ease away from his ``kung-fu'' image.
``Rush Hour 2's'' take in its first weekend was the fourth-best opener of all time and the largest August box office debut ever. Its earnings after 17 days easily eclipses its predecessor's entire domestic total of $141 million.
But Chan's climb to the top has been long and hard, as he acknowledged to reporters ahead of the film's opening.
``This has taken me almost 20 years,'' Chan said in June. ``I feel like before, maybe I am ready to give up and say no more U.S. market anymore. It totally destroy my confidence. But now everybody send me scripts.''
Following the spectacular opening, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is reported to be putting the final touches on a deal for Chan to star in the update of the 1960 Jerry Lewis comedy ''The Bellboy.''
Although Chan has been attached to the project ever since MGM began development a year ago, the response to ``Rush Hour 2'' seemed to be all the push MGM needed.
``MGM took 'Rush Hour 2's' opening gross to heart and immediately gave 'Bellboy' the greenlight,'' producer Arnold Leibovit said in an interview.
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