Renny Harlin Replaces Sam Fell as Director of Jackie Chan's 'Skiptrace'

In a just world where things are fair and true, Renny Harlin would have a tough time bouncing back after the unmitigated disaster that was The Legend of Hercules. But this being Hollywood, the former Die Hard 2 director has been keeping busy. He recently agreed to direct crime flick, Fallen Cross, and now he's in talks for Jackie Chan's latest action-comedy. No, it's not Rush Hour 4 or Shanghai Noon 3, but it might as well be.

Last year we learned of Skiptrace, which would pair Chan with comedy also-ran Seann William Scott and Fan Bingbing (X-men: Days of Future Past). At the time it was to be animator Sam Fell (ParaNorman) making his live-action directing debut with filming to have begun in January. But due to various behind-the-scenes issues, like the production company shutting down, there was a delay and now Fell is out with Harlin stepping in.

Based on an idea cooked up by Chan, he plays a good cop whose niece gets in trouble with a criminal he's been chasing for years. The only way to save her is to track down a fast-talking American and head off to Hong Kong. Filming on Skiptrace is to begin in August. [THR]

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Jackie Chan and Sean William Scott Team for Action-Comedy 'Skiptrace'

Remember when Hollywood was actively trying to make Seann William Scott happen? Somebody thought that guy who played Stifler in American Pie really needed to break out, and Scott was soon placed as comic relief in a string of action movies. To be fair he was pretty good in The Rundown opposite Dwayne Johnson, but Bulletproof Monk with Chow Yun-Fat was a high-profile dud, and now years later it looks like Scott is heading back into similar territory again.

In the strangest casting announcement of the day (so far, it's still early), Scott will join Jackie Chan and Fan Bingbing (X-men: Days of Future Past) in Skiptrace. The action-comedy is based on an original idea by Chan, who has assembled an army of five writers to pen the story in which he'll play a Hong Kong detective on a crime boss's trail for over a decade. Bingbing will play his niece who is wrapped up in the syndicate, while Scott will do what he does best, portraying a fast-talking American gambler who gets mixed up in the investigation.

And the final oddball twist? The film will be directed by animator Sam Fell, who helmed last year's ParaNorman. It sounds like Chan is trying to relive his Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon days, and whatever you think of those movies (not a fan of them, personally) they made a ton of money. So this is worth keeping an eye on even if it sounds like a potential train wreck.[Variety]

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