Age: 63
male
Li Lianjie (李连杰, born April 26, 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese martial artist, actor, film producer, wushu champion, and international film star who was born in Beijing, China, and who has currently taken up Singapore citizenship. After three years of intensive training with Wu Bin, Li won his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. After retiring from wushu at age 17, he went on to win great acclaim in China as an actor making his debut with the film Shaolin Temple (1982). He went on to star in many critically acclaimed martial arts epic films, most notably the Once Upon A Time In China series, in which he portrayed folk hero Wong Fei-hung. Li's first role in a Hollywood film was as a villain in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), but his first Hollywood film leading role was in Romeo Must Die (2000). He has gone on to star in many Hollywood action films, most recently starring beside Jackie Chan in The Forbidden Kingdom (2008), and as the title character villain in The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (2008) opposite Brendan Fraser. Recently, he appeared in the 2010 film The Expendables.
Live action Hollywood Movie (Lionsgate) Trying to vote on good casting fits with the following in mind: Favoring Actor/Actresses of Asian Descent Favoring Actor/Actresses with Martial Arts experience where able Favoring Actor/Actresses with American cinema experience (English speaking) Also some Concepts for Diversity without Compromising Asian cast too much: Naruto is in a fictional setting, not technically Japan (obviously heavily influenced) Hidden Sand- Has Arab Influence, so Arab descent considered Hidden Cloud- Has western Influence (Especially African-American), so African descent considered Hidden Leaf- Has strongest Japanese influence Hidden Mist- Has story similarities to USSR/Russia, descent considered Hidden Mist-Also has reminiscence of Polynesian culture (Geography/ Water Abilities), descent considered Senju Clan- Lots of references to Buddhism and Hinduism (symbol resembles Vajra, Tsunade Forehead mark, Hashirama's Sev. 1000 hands=Buddhist "Senju Kannon")...Indian descent considered Jashinism (Hidan)- Similarities to Thuggee beliefs, Indian descent considered Uzumaki Clan- Red Hair of great significance, Red Heads considered Inuzuka Clan- Indigenous evoking characteristics, descent considered
