Jet Li promotes The Forbidden Kingdom in Hong Kong on March 18, 2008.

[Photo: Tungstar/ent.sina.com.cn]

Two of China's best-known action film stars, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, appeared together on Tuesday in Hong Kong to kick off promotions for their first collaboration, The Forbidden Kingdom.

Director Rob Minkoff and female leads Liu Yifei and Li Bingbing also attended the press conference, the film's first in Asia.

"The Forbidden Kingdom" is being heavily promoted as the first film starring both Jackie Chan and Jet Li, an opportunity Li said both he and longtime friend Chan had waited 15 years for. He said working together made them even closer, like brothers.

Critics are saying that young actress Liu Yifei, who signed earlier with the William Morris Agency, might have a career breakthrough with her first international film.

The English-language action adventure was inspired by the classic Chinese legend of the Monkey King. It is slated to open in North America on April 18, and in Asia on April 24.

(CRIENGLISH.com March 19, 2008)