After the popularity of the television show Cobra Kai, it has been announced that a new Karate Kid movie starring Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan will be made. Additionally, a worldwide search is underway to find a young actor to star in the film.
Macchio, known for his role in the original Karate Kid trilogy from 1984 to 1989, returned to star in Cobra Kai which premiered in 2018. In a short video, he and Chan, who was in the 2010 remake with Jaden Smith, announced their upcoming collaboration. The casting call mentioned a new character named Li Fong, who should be Chinese or of mixed Chinese heritage, between the ages of 15 and 17, and fluent in English. The website also noted that conversational Mandarin would be a valuable skill for the role, as Li Fong is described as intelligent, resourceful, and skilled in martial arts.
It appears that the new film will include both Macchio and Chan, suggesting that the separate storylines of the Karate Kid series will both be present. The “Miyagi-verse”, centered around the character of a Japanese-American coach-mentor portrayed by the late Pat Morita, was featured in the first three films with Macchio, as well as the 1994 sequel The Next Karate Kid, which starred Hilary Swank alongside Morita. The TV series Cobra Kai, named after Johnny Lawrence’s (William Zabka) dojo, also exists within the “Miyagi-verse” and includes flashbacks with Morita (who passed away in 2005).
The 2010 movie changed the setting to China and replaced the main form of martial arts from karate to kung fu. Additionally, Chan was cast as Mr. Han, a mentor/coach similar to Miyagi.
According to Variety, the movie will be helmed by Jonathan Entwistle (known for creating the popular TV show The End of the F***ing World) and is scheduled to come out in December 2024.
Source: theguardian.com
