Tony Jaa Quits Acting, Joins a Monastery

Twitch Film is reporting that action star and director Tony Jaa has walked away from the film industry...to join a monastery. The story goes that on Friday, "Jaa rode an elephant to a Buddhist temple in Surin, Thailand, where he shaved his head, took vows, and was officially ordained as a Buddhist monk." There have actually been a few indications that Jaa was close to some kind of breaking point, or that he at least needed a massive change in his life. It all been, apparently, during Ong Bak 2 a couple years ago. On-set reports indicated that the actor, who assumed creative control of the film because of the success of its predecessor, began sacrificing chickens before each day's filming. He was unexperienced, so the movie went vastly over budget and over schedule. Then, Jaa disappeared for a couple months. But that's just the beginning. When he returned, Jaa reportedly did a TV interview in which he couldn't fight back tears, which was followed by Jaa splitting the massive Ong Bak sequel into two films, the second part of which (with reshoots) is Ong Bak 3, already released in Thailand. And now, Jaa has gone to a monastery. The speculation from Twitch Film, which seems well-placed, is that Jaa was coerced back out of his sabbatical because he had signed a contract. Once he completed everything he had begun under the terms of that deal, Jaa might have been absolved of future responsibilities. Or, he's just waiting out the rest of a ten-year deal in a monastery and won't work again until after that. Man, this is an odd story. The shame of it is, Jaa might be in the top three Asian action bad-asses ever. I don't know of anyone I'd put between him and Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, but maybe you'd like to nominate someone. He's certainly the best international action star to join a monastery at this stage of his career.

Comments

[SEAN]

A monastery? What the heck? Did he just break? Someone please get him some help

I hope this turns out to be wrong or a mistake by Jaa. Jaa dont do this please you are a great action star & have fans across the world.

[chad]

thats actually kind of cool lol

[William Munney]

talking about a mental breakdown lol, the dude flew over the coocoo's nest

[jack]

thais, and buddhists in general, do this regularly, guys, it doesn't mean he's "quit" or "left showbiz". they do it to honor dead relatives and on special occasions, etc. it's pretty normal for buddhists. he'll probably be there for a week, maybe less, and then'll be out. people are making a big deal out of this in thai because he's a celeb, that's all.

[Jeremy]

He Dave Chappelle'd. Damn shame.