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By Jeff Jensen
Jeff Jensen
Jeff Jensen, an EW senior writer, has been despondent since the cancellation of ''Twin Peaks''

It has taken Jet Li four years to learn English, and just as long to figure out the language of Hollywood. On his first American movie, Lethal Weapon 4, the slightest demonstration of the furious charisma and supersonic fists and feet that made him a star in Asia earned him the most effusive praise. ''GREAT! FANTASTIC! WOW!'' recalls Li, 38, with a concussive sarcasm that nearly capsizes his cappuccino. ''Later,'' he says, returning to his usual contemplative tone, befitting the quiet hotel cafe in this quiet Pasadena neighborhood near his home, ''I figure out everybody is GREAT! FANTASTIC! WONDERFUL!'' When dealing with studio execs and producers, he adds, ''Nobody says, 'You suck.' Everybody says, 'You're amazing.''' He shrugs. ''But I don't have a movie.''

So Li took matters into his own fearsome hands, producing -- with French filmmaker Luc Besson -- Kiss of the Dragon, a $25 million showcase just released by Twentieth Century Fox (see review on page 53). The first major martial-arts flick to debut Stateside since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon rocketed the genre into the mainstream, Kiss of the Dragon is Li's initial strike in a flurry of moves for 2001. This fall, he will serve as executive producer with Lethal Weapon 4 star Mel Gibson on Invincible, an action series for TBS. And in November, Columbia Pictures will unleash The One, a $75 million sci-fi mind-bender steeped in Li's Buddhist beliefs.

In return for his hard work, all Li wants is what he calls the third ''recharge'' in a career that already spans over 30 films. The first came in 1982, when Li (real name Li Lianjie) leaped from the world of competitive martial arts to movie superstardom with the Chinese fight flick Shaolin Temple. After a couple of late-'80s duds, Li rebounded in 1990 with Once Upon a Time in China, a seminal blend of history, slapstick, and ferocious kung fu that spawned five sequels. But in 1997, as the Asian economy dipped, so did Li's career. The actor headed to Hollywood, seeking recharge number three. Lethal Weapon 4 and his starring role in last year's Romeo Must Die won him new fans but the watered-down kung fu and Asian stereotypes alienated the old. Li then became picky about his follow-up, even turning down a role in the two Matrix sequels. His manager, Steven Chasman, confirms that money was an issue, but wouldn't talk numbers. (Li reportedly wanted $13 million but was offered only $3 million.) ''The first Matrix -- very successful,'' Li says. ''Part 2 and 3, with no Jet Li? Still will be very successful. Guaranteed. So why do you need Jet Li?''

Unable to find a worthy vehicle for Li, Chasman helped create one by arranging a meeting early last year with an old client, Luc Besson. Voila! The pair agreed to make a movie that melded elements from Besson's 1994 cult thriller The Professional and Li's 1994 Bruce Lee homage Fist of Legend -- a savvy choice, since fans on Li's website were clamoring for a return to Legend's bungee-free, street-fighting style. ''We knew the Hong Kong action movie had become popular,'' says Li. ''But when there's too many Coca-Colas on the market, you make wine.''


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