Jackie Chan to star in "The Karate Kid" series again, new film to be released next year

Sony Pictures has announced a new Karate Kid film starring Jackie Chan and original series actor Ralph Macchio, which is expected to be released next year.

The two actors who have been confirmed to be in the film announced the news of the new film in a new casting video. The film is looking for new leading actors worldwide. This is actually the beginning of a brand new "movie universe". Both of them have starred in "Karate Kid", but Jackie Chan's film is called "The Karate Kid" in China.

Movie trailer:

The film will be directed by Jonathan Entwistle, the director of the TV series "Not What I Want", and the script will be written by Rob Lieber, the screenwriter of "Peter Rabbit" and "Alexander and His Worst Day".

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new film focuses on "a teenager from China who finds strength and direction through martial arts and a strict but wise mentor." According to the official casting website, the film is looking for an actor between the ages of 15 and 17 who is fluent in English and of Chinese or mixed Chinese descent who is "smart, motivated and highly skilled in martial arts."

Ralph Macchio played Daniel LaRusso in the first three Karate Kid films and reprised the role in the Netflix sequel, Kobra Kai. Jackie Chan played Mr. Han in the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid, which starred Will Smith's son, Jaden Smith, in the title role.

The film universe that includes "Cobra" and "The Karate Kid" is called the "Miyagi Universe" by overseas fans, named after Nariyoshi Miyagi, the beloved martial arts master played by Noriyuki Morita in the first "The Karate Kid".

The untitled new "The Karate Kid" film is scheduled to be released on December 13, 2024.