Karate Kid fans are in for an exciting treat! It has been announced that both Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, who have both starred in the iconic Karate Kid films decades apart, are set to reprise their popular roles in Sony Pictures’ latest installment of the coming-of-age martial arts franchise. A global search for an actor to play the next Karate Kid is underway as both Chan and Macchio are featured in an introductory video. You can check out the official announcement below.
THE NEXT KARATE KID FILM
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jonathan Entwistle who is best known for his award-winning teen television dramas Not Okay with This and The End of the F***ing World, is on board to direct the new film while Rob Lieber (Peter Rabbit) will write the script. The film will be both a sequel to the original 80s-era theatrical series and the 2010 blockbuster remake.
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It is also known that it will bring the story to the East Coast and will focus on a teen from China who “finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor.” Karen Rosenfelt will be producing the feature which Sony has set the film’s debut date to be December 13, 2024. No official date for filming has been announced but the company is looking to start shooting next Spring.
THE SUCCESS OF THE KARATE KID
The original 1984 film was an unexpected hit. Macchio starred as Daniel LaRusso, a kid from Brooklyn who moved to California and ends up a karate champion with the help of Mr. Miyagi, who was played by the late Pat Morita. Morita received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his work.
The film spawned three sequels. Macchio appeared in two of them and by the third film, Hilary Swank took on the role in 1994. In 2010, Sony revived the title with a remake that was updated for a more modern story, that focused on an American kid (Jaden Smith) who moved to Beijing and is mentored by a handyman/martial arts master (Jackie Chan). The film scored positive reviews and it also became an unexpected hit. It grossed $359 million and it had a budget of $40 million.
The Karate Kid franchise soon regained popularity thanks to the hit series, Cobra Kai. The series became a hit first on YouTube and soon after, Netflix decided to take over. The show brought back many of the original characters and it introduced a new generation of karate-centric teens. The fifth season aired in 2022 and fans are eagerly waiting for what’s to come as the sixth season will be the series’ last.
Even though it has been nearly 40 years since the first film was released, with the revival and new stories that have been developed over the years, fans of all ages are enjoying them. Time passes by but Karate Kid fans are still around and with this new film that is being released next year, it doesn’t seem like the franchise will be slowing down any time soon.
RELATED: A New Karate Kid Movie Is Going To Wax On To Theaters In 2024
What do you guys think? Are you excited about the new Karate Kid film? Are you a fan of The Karate Kid franchise? If you are, who’s your favorite character? Let us know and make sure to check out our socials! If you like this article, don’t forget to follow us for more content.
SOURCE: Sony Pictures, The Hollywood Reporter
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