Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan have found their new Karate Kid for the upcoming movie that will see the two Karate Kid franchises collide.
Young actor Ben Wang, star of Disney+‘s American Born Chinese, won out kids from all over the globe to nab the role and ‘delivered a standout audition that demonstrated his deep connection to the character. It also helped that he is fluent in Mandarin and highly skilled across many forms of martial arts, including karate, wing chun/kung fu, gumdo, kempo and taekwondo.’
WATCH: Worlds collide as Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan unite for new Karate Kid movie
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While little is known about the new movie, it’s known that it will ‘bring the story to the East Coast and focus on a teen from China who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor (or maybe even two)’.
The movie will tie together both Karate Kid franchises as well as, I’d imagine, Cobra Kai, and will pave the way for the future of the series (plural); it will be directed by The End of the F***ing World’s Jonathan Entwistle and penned by Peter Rabbit’s Rob Lieber.
It’s nice that the series will continue with Macchio and Chan both stepping up, but it’s hard not to feel that the story had reached its natural ending with Cobra Kai – last season due later this year! – and I hope it feels earned and natural for a new story to come along after Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence out their differences behind them for a greater good.
Also, Johnny Lawrence better be in this movie! Anyways, are you excited for the next stage of the Karate Kid saga? Let me know…
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Source: THR
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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