Nearly four decades after the original Armour of God, Jackie Chan is strapping back in for a fourth installment of his treasure-hunting saga, targeting a worldwide release in 2027. In a franchise first, Chan is handing the director’s chair to Robert Kun, freeing himself to focus purely on the action, and the shoot is heading somewhere the series has never gone before.

Nearly four decades after he first fractured his skull leaping off a castle wall for “Armour of God,” Jackie Chan is strapping in for one more treasure hunt. The 72-year-old star has signed on for a fourth chapter of the saga, this time chasing a sacred relic called the Tumar, valued at more than 20 million dollars, across the landscapes of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. For once, Chan will leave the director’s chair to Robert Kun and focus entirely on what he does best: the acting and the stunts. Produced by Salem Entertainment, the film is slated for a worldwide release in 2027, and it could mark a turning point for cinema in Central Asia along the way.

Jackie Chan is back, and he’s not slowing down

At 72, Jackie Chan refuses to trade high kicks for a rocking chair. According to Variety, the Hong Kong legend will reprise his iconic adventurer role in the fourth installment of the Armour of God series, the franchise that helped define his career. For fans of practical stunts and old-school action, this is very good news indeed.

A new director and a global release

There is a notable change behind the camera this time. Chan directed the previous three films himself between 1986 and 2012, but he is now handing the reins to director Robert Kun, with Salem Entertainment producing. The actor will focus entirely on his performance, a shift in creative strategy for the franchise.

Cameras are set to roll this July, and the film, titled Armour of God IV: Ultimatum, is scheduled for a worldwide release in the second quarter of 2027. That gives the production a comfortable window to deliver the spectacle audiences expect.

A quest for the sacred Tumar

The plot follows a familiar but effective formula: Chan’s roguish treasure hunter must recover an ancient sacred relic called the Tumar, valued at more than $20 million. Think Indiana Jones crossed with Ethan Hunt, a comparison the series has invited since its debut. The setup promises chases, close calls and the kind of choreographed mayhem only Chan delivers.

Exploring new territories in Central Asia

Filming will take place across the dramatic landscapes of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, a first for the star. “It’s my first project with Kazakh partners, but it won’t be the last,” Chan told Variety, adding that the locations open up fresh visual and creative ideas. Producer Igor Tsay called the shoot a historic moment for Central Asian cinema, describing the arrival of a legendary franchise as both an honor and a responsibility for the region’s growing film industry.

A legacy built on dedication and resilience

The franchise is inseparable from the risks Chan has always taken. On the set of the first film in 1986, a stunt went wrong when a tree branch snapped beneath him, sending him headfirst onto a rock below. The result: a fractured skull, a brain hemorrhage, permanent hearing loss in his right ear and a metal plate in his head. He spent months recovering, then returned to set roughly a year later.

Nearly 4 decades on, he still performs his own stunts without a double. Can anyone else claim that at 72? This new chapter should prove the answer is no.