“Combining innovative and raw fight sequences with real emotion, I think Unleashed is my best work yet. I’m so proud of this movie, and I believe that my fans will love it,” states Jet Li.
“I’ve been in more than 30 films,” he adds. “But I know that audiences want to see something fresh – and I wanted to try to do something new, something challenging to me as an actor. Unleashed pushed me beyond my limits in a number of ways.”
In reteaming with writer/producer Luc Besson on his new movie, one of the world’s biggest martial arts superstars has some surprises in store for his legion of fans.
Under the direction of Louis Leterrier, Unleashed pairs Li with not only the requisite opponents to be vanquished in fight sequences, but also with formidable acting colleagues in Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins – all while giving him a character who, Li notes, is “the kind of character I’ve never been before. Usually, I play tough guys who solve the problem – save the family, save the city, kill the bad guy. Now, Danny is physically very strong and can knock people down in seconds. But, mentally, he’s only around ten years old.
“I wanted to work with Luc Besson again, and I told him that I wanted to do something challenging – and also something where violence is not the only solution. He said, ‘Like what?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking you.’ After a few days, he said, ‘What about a guy who’s like a dog – treated like one – but is saved by music?’ Two months later, we had a script with a wonderful story and character drama, and we got great actors to be in it.”
Morgan Freeman comments, “Jet’s character of Danny is trained to act violently on command, and my character, Sam – who is blind – is trying to salvage Danny’s inner self. Sam senses Danny’s distress, and his humanity. At first, Sam thinks Danny is a child; it’s later that he discovers that Danny is physically an adult. Through this man who can’t see him – who can only feel him – Danny begins to sense that there is something else in him. Thematically, Unleashed is about trying to stem violence in your being.”
Bob Hoskins adds, “When I read the script, I realized that I’d discovered a real story – one that, while having the rhythm and energy of today’s cinema, has something meaningful to say. This film has many fights and confrontations, but it delivers such desire for freedom and peace. You want Danny to sort himself out, and you see him discovering himself.”
Li notes, “This film was an occasion for me to go further emotionally, to play something stronger with human significance.” Accordingly, he began preparing for Unleashed as he had for no other film. “I’d never taken an acting class before,” he admits. “I learned just by working. This time, though, Luc found a wonderful acting coach from London. For two months before shooting, she helped me study Danny and discover what he was like – what he’s thinking, how he walks, how he reacts. We also went to observe real dogs.
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