‘Shanghai Noon 3’ Film, Updates: Jared Hess of ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Fame to Direct Sequel; Star Jackie Chan Set to Receive Honorary Oscar

‘Shanghai Noon 3’, otherwise entitled ‘Shanghai Down’, is set to be directed by Jared Hess of ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ fame. The third installment in the action-comedy and Western cinematic series is set to feature the return of lead actors Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson. Meanwhile, Chan is set to receive an Honorary Oscar at the Academy's 8th Annual Governors Awards on November.

According to Movie Web, the upcoming third installment in the ‘Shanghai Noon’ cinematic series starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson is finally moving forward. Jared Hess, who is best known for directing the comedy films ‘Napoleon Dynamite’, ‘Nacho Libre’, and ‘Gentlemen Broncos’ with wife Jerusha, has recently boarded the new project as director.

The third film, entitled ‘Shanghai Down’, is currently in development at MGM. Chan and Wilson are reportedly returning to reprise their roles as the lead characters Chon Wang and Roy O’Bannon, respectively. The two actors first appeared on Tom Dey’s Chinese-American action-comedy and Western film ‘Shanghai Noon’, released last May 2000.

Dey’s film was well-received by critics upon its premiere and currently holds a 79% rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. According to Box Office Mojo, ‘Shanghai Noon’ earned a total of $99.27 million worldwide on a production budget of $55 million.

A sequel, entitled ‘Shanghai Knights’, was released on 2003.  It was directed by David Dobkin and featured the return of Chan and Wilson. It also received mixed to positive reviews from critics and fans of the franchise and earned $88.32 million worldwide on a budget of $50 million.

According to Den of Geek, the third film’s screenplay is prepared by Theodore Riley and Aaron Buchsbaum based on the idea by original screen writers Miles Millar and Alfred Gough. No plot details have been revealed as of the present.

Meanwhile, Chan is set to receive an Honorary Academy Award for his numerous contributions to the entertainment industry. According to the Oscars’ website, the 62-year old martial artist, actor, and filmmaker will received a special Oscar statuette at the Academy's 8th Annual Governors Awards scheduled on November 12.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced, "The Honorary Award was created for artists like Jackie Chan, Anne Coates, Lynn Stalmaster and Frederick Wiseman – true pioneers and legends in their crafts… The Board is proud to honor their extraordinary achievements, and we look forward to celebrating with them at the Governors Awards in November."

‘Shanghai Noon 3’, entitled ‘Shanghai Down’, is an upcoming third installment in the ‘Shanghai Noon’ cinematic series. Jared Hess is set to direct returning actors Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson.