Jackie Chan, seen in a file photo, has signed on to star in the action comedy "The Spy Next Door." [File Photo]

Jackie Chan is taking his martial-arts high jinks to the neighbors, signing on to star in the action comedy "The Spy Next Door."

Chan plays a man who is called to baby-sit his neighbor's children and ends up fighting off secret agents after one of the kids inadvertently downloads a secret code.

Brian Levant ("Are We There Yet?") will direct the project for financier Relativity Media.

Chan, star of the hit "Rush Hour" trilogy, was in theaters earlier this year with "The Forbidden Kingdom," which earned US$51 million in North America.

(CRI/Agencies August 5, 2008)