Jet Li's new movie, "Fearless," which opens in theaters today, is being marketed as the star's last martial arts film. But does that mean we've seen the last of Li's distinctive high-flying, hard-hitting action work?

Not necessarily, as Li revealed in a phone interview from Los Angeles this week.

Li has another action film in post-production, Lion's Gate's "Rogue," in which he plays a mysterious assassin pursued by an FBI agent. And a long-awaited collaboration with martial arts contemporary Jackie Chan is set to begin next April.

"I don't think I said that ("Fearless") would be my last action film," Li said. "It is my last wushu film, my last martial arts film."

The distinction isn't merely semantic. Li has long bemoaned the emphasis on physical confrontation in martial arts films, which, like the broader genre of action films, involves "two pairs of arms and two pairs of legs beating each other up."

In "Fearless," Li instead elaborates on what he sees as the higher principles of Chinese martial arts.

"In Chinese, 'wushu' is made up of two characters: 'stop' and 'war,' " he explained. "There are a lot of action movies that only have a lot of fighting. Not so many talk about the idea of 'stop war.'

"Martial arts has a strong philosophy — it has an interior and exterior — and we have to learn how to use it in daily life. With this movie, I get the chance to share the Jet Li belief. Everything I need to say spiritually, mentally and physically. After this, there is nothing left to say about it."

"Fearless" is based on the life of early 20th-century Chinese martial arts master Huo Yuanjia, one of the founders of the influential Jin Wu Athletic Foundation. More of a loose adaptation than a strict bio-pic, the film follows Huo's evolution from brash, young fighter to wisened, temperate master.

Li, who collaborated on the screenplay, says the film takes the basic facts of Huo's life and melds it with his own beliefs on the essential nature of martial arts.

The creative distancing allowed Li to focus on the film's greater message, rather than attempt to mimic the real-life master.

"I didn't try to act this role, but to show what I believe from the bottom of my heart," he said. "It has a lot of myself. 'Fearless' is my personal most important film."

Central to Li's beliefs is the idea that mastery of martial arts involves three stages.

"When you learn martial arts, you learn it from the bottom to the top," he said. "No. 1, you use physical contact to stop your enemies. No. 2, you use language and intelligence and knowledge to stop your enemy. But at the highest level, you use your honor and belief and love to make your enemy into your friend."

Despite its philosophy of conciliation, the film has a fair share of violence, all of it orchestrated by legendary fight choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping ("Kill Bill," "The Matrix," "Kung Fu Hustle"). Li previously worked with Yuen in last year's "Unleashed."

"Fearless" was shot last year on location in China over a period of five months. According to Li, filming consisted of "90 days of shooting and 60 days of fighting."

Yet, the presence of violence in a film that emphasizes nonviolence is not contradictory to Li. He likens "Fearless" to an antiwar movie that depicts war to prove its point.

Li's philosophy is informed by 35 years of hard practice. He entered the brutal but prestigious Beijing Sports and Exercise School at age 8 and, later, toured the world as a member of the Beijing Wushu Team. (He first touched American soil at the Honolulu International Airport en route to a performance in Washington, D.C.)

While known for his aggressive, powerful fighting style, Li has consistently preached the nonviolent lessons of wushu.

"In real martial arts, the first rule is that you never use it to beat up other people," he said. "You have to learn who your biggest enemy is in life. For me, I learned it was myself.

"You fight fear, stress, your struggles in life. People complain a lot about outside things — 'I don't like my job. It's not fair. I didn't get a good promotion.' — but you can't get anywhere if you do this too much. You have to do your best, and success will follow naturally."

And while Li says "Fearless" is his best effort at communicating these ideals, he says he isn't trying to be didactic.

"I never want to educate anyone," he said. "I only want to share my personal beliefs with this film. People around the world will see this film, and they may be different ages, religions, or cultures. I can't change people's minds. They will understand it differently. I try to share (what) I believe.

"It's my most personal film."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.