The New Chop-Socky Superstar

Here's an article I've pitched and want to write: a profile of Thai martial arts actor Tony Jaa, who starred in the cult hit "Ong-Bak" and returns in September with the even better (but still delightfully hokey B-movie-ish) "The Protector." Jet Li says he won't make any more martial arts movies and Jackie Chan is getting really old (he makes an amusing cameo in "The Protector") so Jaa is the man now. He loves Charlie Chaplin and isn't afraid to include references to his absurdly pretty face and bee-stung lips in the film. (The guy probably had to learn how to fight as a kid because he was so darn pretty.) And he really knows how to scare you: Jaa wants to direct. He'll direct and star in "Ong-Bak 2" starting in October.