Get ready for a new martial art! 14 years after its theatrical reboot, the Karate Kid saga will return to the big screen under the direction of Sony Pictures. In November 2023, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio announced the good news themselves in a short video broadcast to the media.
If the Chinese martial arts star starred in the 2010 reboot alongside Jaden Smith, Ralph Macchio has been the star of the franchise since the first opus in 1984. He portrayed the iconic character of Daniel LaRusso in 3 feature films and the TV series Cobra Kai. on Netflix.
70-year-old Jackie Chan and 62-year-old Ralph Macchio are still ready to fight!
Cobra Kai x Karate Kid!
Thus, the two worlds will come together in a feature film that will hit theaters on December 18, 2024. When the project was announced, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio also launched a giant casting call to find the new Karate Kid. A few months later, a successor was found!
Ben Wang, 24, most notably seen in Chinese American, Legion and MacGyver, will play Lee Fong, the new star of the franchise. According to sources cited at Sony varietyThe actor gave A “An exceptional audition that showed her deep connection to the character.”
Ben Wang, who is fluent in Mandarin, is also proficient in many forms of martial arts including karate, wing chun/kung fu, gumdo, kempo and taekwondo. He therefore has all the qualities required to fulfill this role, which promises to be demanding.
Recall that this will be the 6th part of the movie after Ralph Macchio’s trilogy, Miss Karate Kid with Hilary Swank (1994) and no information about the 2010 reboot has been revealed regarding the plot of this new opus.
Not Johnny Lawrence?
We just know that Ralph Macchio is clearly reprising his Daniel LaRusso role and Jackie Chan is reprising his role as Mr. Han. However, we also don’t know if William Zabka, aka Johnny Lawrence, will return. On the other hand, the cast was expanded with Ming-Na Wen, Joshua Jackson and Wyatt Olaf.
A true pop culture phenomenon spanning nearly 4 decades, the Karate Kids franchise has grossed $618 million worldwide in 5 films. The license was relaunched in 2018 with the triumph of the spin-off series Cobra Kai.
The show’s 6th and final season is set to premiere on Netflix in 2024. As for the next film, it is currently being shot under the direction of Jonathan Entwistle. The release is scheduled for December 18.
Notre Voix Phew with Alexis Victor, VF Johnny Lawrence
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
