Jackie Chan, Leo Zhang Team for Action Comedy 'Pawfect Agents'

Mar 16, 2026 5:00pm PT Jackie Chan, Leo Zhang Team for Action Comedy ‘Pawfect Agents,’ Cappu Films Handling Sales (EXCLUSIVE) By Naman Ramachandran Plus Icon Naman Ramachandran Latest Japan Pushes for a New Global Stage as Film Frontier Makes Its Debut at Hong Kong Market 26 minutes ago AI Registry to Protect Athlete Likenesses and Digital IP Launched by New Sports-Tech Firm Callandor Group (EXCLUSIVE) 12 hours ago National Theatre Director Indhu Rubasingham Eyes Bollywood Talent, India Expansion — and Brings Ayesha Dharker Full Circle in ‘The Jungle Book’ 14 hours ago See All Cappu Films Jackie Chan and director Leo Zhang have teamed for “Pawfect Agents,” an action comedy set to begin production in September, with international sales company Cappu Films handling pre-sales and introducing the project to buyers at Hong Kong FilMart. The live-action and CG hybrid feature is directed and produced by Zhang, whose previous credits include “Fox Hunt” and “Bleeding Steel.” LinKEY Sanxing Film and Zhang’s Shangjia Film are key partners in the project’s development and production. Related Stories 'CBS Mornings' Top Producer Shawna Thomas Will Leave Role as Show Pursues Softer Stance in A.M. (EXCLUSIVE) Have I Got News for You: CNN Keeps Digging Deeper Into Comedy The film follows a veteran agent on the verge of retirement who is pulled back into the field after the Sanxingdui Golden Mask – one of China’s most prized national treasures – is targeted by an international theft operation. The reluctant hero pairs with a technologically advanced spy dog on a chase across continents, from Europe back to China. The project draws inspiration from action spectacles that blend live-action performance with animated characters. Popular on Variety The film’s CG animal universe has been designed by contemporary artist Li Erpeng, whose work has appeared in major international exhibitions, including Art Basel, and features in the permanent collection of Sydney’s White Rabbit Gallery. “What makes the film unique is that Jackie Chan steps into an entirely new kind of partnership. Unlike many of his classic films, where he teams up with human partners, this time his allies are a group of animal agents brought to life through a blend of live-action and CG,” Zhang said. The production secured access to two major international landmarks for filming: France’s Palace of Versailles and the National Museum of Qatar in Doha. Notably, the production team completed a scene scan inside the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, the first time the palace has permitted a Chinese production to capture and make use of its virtual image assets. A worldwide theatrical release is targeted for summer 2027. “At Cappu Films, we are always looking for stories that combine high entertainment value with global appeal,” said Janice Woo, founder and head of sales at Cappu Films. “The project represents a rare cultural and technological exchange between some of Europe’s most admired heritage sites and a Chinese film production, allowing the film to capture the grandeur of iconic scenery while introducing a lively new adventure that we believe will resonate strongly with audiences worldwide.” Beyond the feature itself, “Pawfect Agents” is conceived as a broader IP franchise, with planned extensions spanning exhibitions, character-driven artworks, collectibles and other cross-media collaborations. Cappu Films is separately handling sales on another Chan project in development. In “Retired Cop,” Chan plays a storied Hong Kong police officer who, facing both retirement and a serious illness, makes a journey to Canada to reconnect with his family, only to be drawn into a final reckoning when a conspiracy puts his son in danger. The company’s FilMart slate also includes “Fox Hunt,” starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Olga Kurylenko, action thrillers “Assassin” and “Fury 12 Hours,” Busan winner “Malika,” CGK Award recipient “Waterdrop” and Karlovy Vary selection “Promise, I’ll Be Fine.” Cappu is currently closing multiple territory deals on “Fox Hunt.” Jump to Comments James Schamus, Fabula Co-Produce Gerardo Naranjo’s ‘The Son-in-Law’ for Netflix, Which Drops May 1 (EXCLUSIVE) Netflix Promises ‘Creative and Explosive Science Challenges’ in New Mark Rober Series ‘Schooled!’ Netflix, After Walking Away From Warner Bros. Deal, Will ‘Move Forward’ With ‘$2.8 Billion in Our Pocket That We Didn’t Have a Few Weeks Ago,’ CFO Says Scott Stuber on Hollywood’s ‘Emotional’ Response to Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger, Predicts Entrepreneurial Boom Finneas O’Connell to Score ‘Beef’ Season 2 Paramount President Jeff Shell Sued for $150 Million Over Alleged PR Contract JavaScript is required to load the comments. Loading comments...