Chinese action superstar Jet Li has denied reports that he is to star in a remake of the 1982 smash-hit film "The Shaolin Temple", which launched his celebrated career.

Jet Li was promoting his self-developed exercise "Wuji" in Beijing on Wednesday. When reporters asked him to confirm his involvement in the project, the actor said, "I never heard about this film."

Several media reports had suggested Jet Li was in talks to play a supporting role in the remake.

The 46-year-old actor made his screen debut as a teenager, playing the leading character, monk Jue Yuan in "The Shaolin Temple". The film, named after the martial-arts hotbed in central China's Henan Province, not only made Jet Li an idol for many, but also brought an influx of kung-fu hopefuls to the temple.

Previous reports say a remake of the film is being planned with a budget of 200 million yuan (US$29.3 million) and the Shaolin Temple would allow the film to be shot on location.

(CRI August 6, 2009)