Jackie Chan is set to film “Armour of God IV: Ultimatum” in Kazakhstan starting in July 2026, marking the legendary action star’s first production in the Central Asian region.
Quick Facts
- Principal photography begins in July 2026 across Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
- The film targets a worldwide release in the second quarter of 2027.
- Director Robert Kun leads the project, produced by Salem Entertainment.
- The story follows Asian Hawk as he hunts an ancient artifact called the Tumar with a reward exceeding $20 million.
Confirmed by Variety, the production marks the fourth installment in the Armour of God franchise that launched in 1986. Chan will reprise his role as the globetrotting Asian Hawk character, a role he created and directed in the original film. The franchise is often called “Hong Kong’s answer to Indiana Jones.”
Filming locations will span multiple sites across Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. The project is backed by Alem Fund, an investment vehicle registered with the Astana International Financial Centre created to support Kazakhstan-linked film and media projects. Producers Esmond Ren and Igor Tsay are attached to the film.
Jackie Chan set to film Armour of God IV: Ultimatum in Kazakhstan this July
Brett Goldstein wrote ‘Office Romance’ for Jennifer Lopez, now streaming on Netflix
Chan said in a statement: “This is my first project with Kazakh partners, but it will not be the last. We will be announcing much more soon. I have never filmed there before, and it opens up many new visual and creative ideas that we will be able to bring to audiences.”
The previous installments were “Armour of God II: Operation Condor” (1991) and “Chinese Zodiac” (2012), with Chan directing and starring in both sequels. Igor Tsay, a producer on the new film, emphasized the significance: “Having worked on productions around the world, I can say that this is an absolutely historic moment for Central Asian filmmaking — to host a legendary franchise starring Jackie Chan.”
Sources
- Variety — Exclusive report confirming the Kazakhstan production, filming timeline, release target, and director details.
- IMDb — Corroborating the July 2026 production start and Q2 2027 release window.
- Film Stories — Confirming the Kazakhstan and July filming schedule.
