For the character of the villianous Ricky Tan, who plays a dark role in the past of Inspector Lee, Brett Ratner was quick to pursue veteran actor John Lone, best known as the title character of Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1987 Academy Award-winning epic, The Last Emperor. "The believability of the character of Ricky Tan as having had a long history with Jackie’s character Lee required a brilliant actor," says Ratner. "John Lone carries that weight. Not only is he able to deliver the performance of an elegant and sophisticated, yet very dangerous crime lord, but he also supplies a convincing warmth and love for Lee. You totally believe their relationship goes back."
"There’s something really unique that John Lone brings to every role he plays," says producer Arthur Sarkissian. "In this film, playing a criminal is so much more than being just a bad guy. His mannerisms give the role total credibility." "Ricky Tan is a businessman," says John Lone of his character. "His business dealings aren’t what most people would call appropriate, but then again, his hands are never dirty. Ricky Tan has other people execute what needs to be done."
While in Hong Kong scouting locations and holding casting sessions for the role of Ricky Tan’s deadly underboss, Hu Li, Brett Ratner screened an early cut of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Ratner was so taken by the talent and striking beauty of Zhang Ziyi, the 23-year old actress who played opposite Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh, he immediately caught a flight to Beijing to meet with her to discuss making her American film debut in RUSH HOUR 2.
Zhang recalls her first meeting with the director: "He took one look at me and said, ‘oh my god!’ I believe he was more excited than I was." Startled by the youth of Ratner, she was equally surprised at the speed with which their conversation progressed. "I never believed that after ten minutes he’d be talking to me about the script. Until then," says Zhang, "he’d never met me in person. He only knew me as Jen Yu in Crouching Tiger, the person who could fly all over the place." Still, she says, "it seemed as if there was some kind of mutual agreement between us."
The filmmakers were so enamored of Zhang, her role was expanded to encompass a role that was first written for two characters. "She’s quite a chameleon," says producer Arthur Sarkissian. "In contrast to her sweet looks, Hu Li becomes this brutal hard ass — it was a unique way for us to portray a villain." The casting of Zhang Ziyi opposite Jackie Chan marks a teaming of two generations of acrobatic marvels, with Chan working closely with Zhang to help coordinate her fight sequences. Zhang, who studied dance in China, proved more than up to the task of working with the martial arts legend. "She only used a stunt double twice during filming," marveled Chan. "She really wants to learn new things and is always saying ‘I want to do it.’ I tell her to trust me and then she does the stunt. She’s so exciting and a wonderful actress."
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