February 20, 2025 - British actor AJ Donnelly is making waves in the international film scene with his standout role in Detective Chinatown 1900, the latest installment in the globally popular Detective Chinatown franchise. Sharing the screen with cinematic icons Chow Yun-Fat and John Cusack, Donnelly describes the experience as an unforgettable milestone in his career.
While his screen time in the film was limited, Donnelly, who plays racist Irish Union leader Thomas Lewis, describes the experience as a career-defining moment, particularly because it gave him the opportunity to share the screen with cinematic legends Chow Yun-Fat and John Cusack.
"Working with Chow Yun-Fat and John Cusack was nothing short of incredible," Donnelly shares. "These are actors I grew up watching, and to now be on set with them, casually chatting and learning from their acting processes, was both surreal and deeply inspiring."
Set in the early 1900s, Detective Chinatown 1900 blends action, mystery, and historical intrigue, bringing a fresh perspective to the beloved franchise and maintaining its trademark slapstick humour whilst also looking at some of the darker societal trends typical of the era it is set in. Since its release, the film has captivated audiences with its gripping story, and Donnelly’s performance has received widespread praise, particularly in China, where his fanbase has grown by thousands.
"This film has been a dream come true and has only fueled my passion for storytelling. I may have had a small role, but it’s made me even more excited for what’s next. I would love to work on more projects that connect different cultures through storytelling."
Key Facts:
● Detective Chinatown 1900 is the latest entry in the highly successful Detective Chinatown franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion USD globally.
● The film stars Chow Yun-Fat, a legend in Hong Kong cinema, and John Cusack, a Hollywood veteran known for films like High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank.
● The film blends action, mystery, and historical drama, offering a fresh take on the Detective Chinatown universe.
● The movie was filmed in large part in Shandong, China, from July to October 2024.
● The movie was released on the Chinese mainland on January 29th (Chinese New Year’s day), and also saw a limited worldwide release in more than 20 countries, including in the UK and the US.
● Donnelly is a British actor, working in China, playing an Irish racist in a movie set in 1900 San Francisco.
● While his screen-time in Detective Chinatown 1900 was limited, Donnelly’s role was pivotal to the story and was both a valuable learning experience and a major personal milestone.
● Donnelly had to learn both an Irish accent and how to free dive, for the movie, despite
previously being afraid of water and unable to swim.
● Donnelly has previously worked with iconic directors Zhang Yimou (Snipers), Andrew Lau (The Battle of Shangganling and Dumpling Queen) and Jiang Wen (on his upcoming new movie, Let the Music Fly).
Links:
Detective Chinatown 1900 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34463310/
AJ Donnelly IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9176933/
AJ Donnelly talking about his involvement with Detective Chinatown 1900: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtxhTBccnU7K1nTvsYvc6nCO3N5WLf18d&si=VyLENUKxv633zsFZ
For media inquiries, interviews, or further information, please visit https://www.ajdonnelly.com/connect-aj-donnelly/ or contact connect@ajdonnelly.com
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Website: https://www.ajdonnelly.com/
