First trailer for Jackie Chan’s historical drama 1911

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Usually when you hear the phrase “Jackie Chan movie,” you either think of an action film, or an action/comedy film. The “historical drama” genre doesn’t really come to mind.

But Chan is getting older now, and a bit more serious. He’s co-directed a new film with Li Zhang, and the first trailer for it is below. 1911 tells the story of a historical rebellion in Chan’s native China, and though there is definitely action involved, it’s not Chan’s usual fare in any sense.

Check out the minute long spot for the film below, and under that there’s the official full length plot synopsis if you want to know more.

At the beginning of the 20th century, China is in a state of crisis. The country is split into warring factions, the citizens are starving, and recent political reforms have made matters worse, not better.

The ruling Qing Dynasty, led by a seven-year-old emperor, and his ruthless mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen) is completely out of touch after 250 years of unquestioned power. With ordinary citizens beginning to revolt openly, the Qing Dynasty has created a powerful, modern army (the “New Army”) to quash any rebellion.

But weapons are expensive, and desperate for cash, the Qing leaders are trading anything they can get their hands on with foreign countries… and selling China’s future in the process. Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) has recently returned from Japan, where he has studied the art of modern warfare.

When he finds his country falling apart, he feels he has no choice but to pick up the sword, leading an increasingly desperate series of violent rebellions against the powerful Qing Dynasty and the New Army- several with tragic consequences. From the walls of the Forbidden City to the battlefields of China, with no expense spared in production and no detail ignored in its quest for historical accuracy, 1911 is a true epic in every sense of the word.