There is a hidden role in Jackie Chan's new film "Railroad Tigers": the role is played by his son, drug offender Jaycee Chan.

Jaycee Chan, though he has the second most important role in the film, doesn't appear on any posters or promotional materials for the film and hasn't attended any promotional events for the film, even the premiere.

No one knew he was in the film until the press members saw him at an advanced screening on Dec. 22 in Beijing.

Jackie Chan refused to answer the question at the premiere regarding whether he helped his son return to movies with this film, diverting the question to director Ding Sheng.

"I felt Jaycee Chan was perfectly fit the role when I wrote script, " Ding said, "this is why."

The junior Chan was arrested by Beijing police for drug possession on Aug. 14, 2014, alongside Taiwanese actor Kai Ko. Police later found more than 100 grams of marijuana in a search of Chan's apartment.

In September 2014, the Beijing procurator's office approved the formal arrest of Jaycee Chan on suspicion of "accommodating drug users." Jaycee Chan was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 2,000 yuan (US$320). He was released from jail on Feb. 13, 2015.

At the same time, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television had issued a ban forbidding any actors, industry professionals and entertainers with convictions for drugs, prostitution and other misdeeds to appear on screen. Shanghai People's Congress set the ban limit at three years.

But Jaycee Chan returned to the movie scene as early as in 2015, when he appeared in the film "Monk Comes Down the Mountain" directed by Chen Kaige. The director negotiated with China's film watchdog to save Chan's scenes. Jaycee Chan never appeared in any of the film's promotional activities.

Jackie Chan's latest action comedy "Railroad Tigers," directed by Ding Sheng, was adapted from China's War of Resistance Against Japan classic "Railway Guerrilla" and will hit Chinese screens on Dec. 23.

source: China