How a 2003 action comedy accidentally invented the legend of Sherlock Holmes
In short: In the 2003 sequel Shanghai Knights, a fictionalized version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle meets a bumbling American adventurer. This encounter inspires the writer to create his iconic detective, Sherlock Holmes. It is a playful, anachronistic romp that blends martial arts, Victorian history, and the birth of cinema.
Shanghai Knights, the 2003 sequel to Shanghai Noon, follows Chon Wang and Roy O'Bannon as they travel to London to recover the stolen Imperial Seal of China. The plot, set in 1887, features a conspiracy by the tenth-in-line for the British throne to assassinate the royal family. Amidst the chaos, the duo befriends Inspector Artie Doyle at Scotland Yard. By the film's conclusion, Doyle is inspired by O'Bannon's disguise to create the character of Sherlock Holmes, while the protagonists set off for Hollywood to join the burgeoning motion picture industry.
The production of the film was a complex international effort. While the story is set in London, much of the filming took place in Prague between February 4 and June 21, 2002. Director David Dobkin, personally selected by Jackie Chan, faced a rigorous casting process for the role of Chon Lin. Although Chan initially preferred Faye Wong, Fann Wong was cast after Dobkin reviewed her previous work. Her involvement proved significant, as her screen time was increased by thirty percent during production.
Critical reception was mixed, with the film holding a 66% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 58/100 score on Metacritic. Critics frequently praised the chemistry between Chan and Owen Wilson, often citing it as the film's primary strength. However, the plot was widely criticized as thin or arbitrary. Despite these narrative flaws, reviewers like Joe Leydon and Elvis Mitchell lauded the action sequences and the film's cheerful, entertaining nature. The legacy of the film remains tied to this dynamic, with long-standing rumors of a third installment, Shanghai Dawn, circulating for years, though development has stalled as of 2026.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Shanghai Knights
- Also: Wikidata — Shanghai Knights · CC0
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