During a rescue operation, Eddie drowns after being trapped in a container that is dropped into the water. Jai survives with the help of an inflatable tent and uses the medallion to bring Eddie back to life. When Eddie awakens, he discovers that he now possesses superhuman abilities and immortality. With his newfound powers, he faces off against Snakehead, who has one half of the medallion and is now stronger, but still mortal. The climax of the film takes place in an ancient Irish castle called Raven’s Keep, where Snakehead attempts to acquire the other half of the medallion. During a grand battle, Nicole is killed, but Eddie ultimately destroys Snakehead using the medallion. He then uses it again to bring Nicole back to life, and they both walk off as immortals. Jai disappears through a portal to another world.

The Medallion is an action-fantasy film from 2003, directed by Gordon Chan, starring Jackie Chan as Eddie Yang, a Hong Kong police officer. Yang works alongside Interpol to track down a dangerous criminal named Snakehead, played by Julian Sands. Snakehead is in search of a mysterious medallion that, once activated by a chosen boy, grants immortality and superhuman powers to the wearer. During a mission in Hong Kong, Snakehead tries to kidnap the boy, Jai, from a temple. Eddie and an Interpol team, led by British agent Arthur Watson (played by Lee Evans), try to stop him. While Jai is temporarily safe, Snakehead later manages to escape with him to Dublin, Ireland. Eddie is then brought back into the investigation and teams up with Nicole James, a British Interpol agent played by Claire Forlani.

In addition to Jackie Chan, who as usual performs his own stunts and fight choreography, the film features an early appearance by Scott Adkins. Adkins plays one of Snakehead’s henchmen and gets the chance to physically confront Jackie Chan twice in the film. Though his role is limited, he showcases his martial arts talent in both fights. For Adkins, who later became a well-known name in the action genre, this was a noteworthy start. In a way, it served as a kind of honorary medal to appear alongside Jackie Chan early in his career—a nod to the film’s title.

The film was produced as a collaboration between Hong Kong and American parties. Although director Gordon Chan originally had a different version of the film in mind, Sony took control of the project and re- shot and re-edited the film. This resulted in a mix of styles that never really comes together coherently. There were originally plans for an alternative version to be released in Hong Kong, but it was never made available.

Also noteworthy is that during filming at Dublin Castle, Jackie Chan – according to local guides – sat on the throne, becoming the first person to do so since King George V. This anecdote sums up the quirky nature of the film’s production. While The Medallion is mostly known as a lighter, supernatural detour in Jackie Chan’s career, it features several international influences, early appearances by rising stars like Adkins, and a plot that combines traditional action with fantasy elements.