According to Deadline, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, two icons from different corners of the Karate Kid universe, are set to share the screen in a new installment of Sony’s popular martial arts saga. In this feature film, Macchio will reprise his role as Daniel LaRusso, the karate champion guided by Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi, while Chan will return as Mr. Han, the kung fu master who assisted Jaden Smith’s character in Sony’s 2010 Karate Kid remake.
The plot details of the film are being kept under wraps, but sources indicate that it will continue the mythology of the original franchise. The movie is directed by Jonathan Entwistle, known for his work on “The End of the F***ing World,” and the script is written by Rob Lieber. Karen Rosenfelt is producing the film, which is scheduled for release by Sony Pictures on December 13, 2024.
The Karate Kid franchise, which has been a pop culture phenomenon for almost three decades, recently expanded with the Emmy-nominated series “Cobra Kai.” This series, picking up with LaRusso over three decades after his time with Miyagi, gained popularity on Netflix after initially debuting on YouTube. Ralph Macchio, in addition to starring in Cobra Kai, serves as an executive producer. The franchise began with the original Karate Kid film in 1984, followed by four sequels, collectively grossing over $430 million globally.
Jackie Chan said they’re looking for a new Karate Kid, so Will Smith’s son Jaden Smith will be replaced.
