Sony’s Upcoming 'Karate Kid' Movie Unites Both Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan
The actors from two different spaces in the franchise have activated a casting call for the new lead, with whom both will star.
Cobra Kai never dies, and as it turns out, its history won’t be rewritten either. Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan have both signed on to reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han from their respective realms of the Karate Kid franchise for Sony’s upcoming new film set for release next December.
The new film is directed by Jonathan Entwistle, the man who’s supposed to be shepherding the new phase of the Power Rangers franchise and whose past work includes I’m Not Okay with This and The End of the F***ing World. The film was originally reported to be a reboot, but this news instead makes Chan’s 2010 version he starred in with Jaden Smith as his student more of an offshoot than a remake of the series starring Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso under the tutelage of Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi for three films, before the franchise went on without him briefly for a fourth film The Next Karate Kid.
The prospect of a reboot was bewildering to many, an especially wrong idea, as what was thought to be the “original” continuity (affirmed to be the only by sharing its world with the 2010 version) has been in the midst of a very successful resurgence. That resurgence came in the form of the the Emmy-nominated streaming series it spawned, titled Cobra Kai, starring William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence and Macchio’s LaRusso. Created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, it originally debuted on what was known as YouTube Red, running its first two seasons there (with the name change happening in time for season 2) before the service bowed out of original scripted series, moving to Netflix for the final four seasons of its run. That sixth and final season is awaiting a restart on production following the end of both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
It was during these strikes that Sony delayed this film from June 7, 2024 to December 13, 2024. Apparently they’re going to keep that date as they aim for a spring shoot. That gives them about 4 months to find their lead, for which Macchio and Chan sent out an open casting call on Sony’s YouTube channel. Within a day, the studio received more than 10,000 submissions from countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, India, Australia, Singapore, Finland, Sweden and South Africa.
While a full plot is unknown, the film will center on a teen from China named Li Fong who after moving to the East Coast of the United States, nearly a reverse of the Jaden Smith film, finds strength and direction through martial arts and a tough but wise mentor. The film is written by Rob Lieber, whose credits include Sony’s Peter Rabbit and Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day.
According to the casting call‘s website, Li Fong should be Chinese or mixed-race Chinese between 15-17 years old. He is smart, scrappy and a fluent English speaker with conversational Mandarin as a huge plus. Previous acting experience is preferred but not mandatory, and any backgrounds in martial arts, movement, gymnastics and dance are ideal. Karen Rosenfelt is producing the film.
