On Tuesday evening in New York, Ralph Macchio, Jackie Chan (cast), and Joshua Jackson graced the “Karate Kid: Legends” red carpet event.
Macchio reprises his legendary role alongside Chan, who stars as a Kung Fu teacher.
Chan, who has done his share of martial arts movies, talked about how important the first Karate Kid was to him.
“At that time, funny thing, I was very depressed. Action movie not popular anymore. And I just tried to quit. Then I saw Karate Kid brings me back. And at the same time, the Rocky, Rocky 1, Rocky, Rocky 1 was a wow. Yes, I have to do the best I can, you know, brings me back all the confidence, I keep training, keep training. Until one day one director called me to do a movie, then a success becoming Jackie Chan. Thank you Rocky, thank you Karate Kid, first one,” said Chan.
Macchio discussed the significance of representation for the Karate Kid series.
I believe it’s highly significant because it adds diversity to the narrative. The setting of New York City, which is essentially a cultural melting pot, introduces an additional layer to the storyline. A child from Beijing growing up in such a varied environment brings new dimensions to the tale. Provided that the core themes remain authentic and maintain their essence—the spirit embodied by ‘The Karate Kid’—I find great value in carrying forward this tradition. However, what truly matters is maintaining relevance; starting with Pat Morita who addressed serious issues like Japanese-American internment during WWII, these elements elevate the film beyond mere entertainment.
Ben Wang begins as an aspiring kung fu practitioner who moves to New York City along with his mother so he can go to a new school. Shortly thereafter, he faces off against a local karate champion.
Wang discussed how universally relatable “The Karate Kid” really is.
What I appreciate the most about this series is that, unlike others, it conveys the message that anyone could become the Karate Kid. Given the franchise’s legacy—starting from the original movies through Jaden Smith’s installment and continuing with Cobra Kai—I feel that my involvement further emphasizes this concept. It really reinforces the notion that this applies to everyone.
“The Karate Kid: Legends” premieres at theaters on Friday.