While Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio have never before appeared together on screen, even as they’ve led films in different corners of the Karate Kid universe, they’re getting that opportunity now via a new feature installment in Sony‘s hugely popular martial arts saga.
Macchio reprises his role as Daniel LaRusso, the karate champion molded by Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi, with Chan as Mr. Han, the kung fu master who helped Jaden Smith fend off bullies in Sony’s 2010 Karate Kid remake. Details as to the plot of the film are under wraps, though sources say that it will mark a continuation of the mythology of the original franchise.
Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F***ing World) is directing the as-yet-untitled film from a script by Rob Lieber, with Karen Rosenfelt producing. Pic’s slated for release by Sony Pictures on December 13, 2024.
A pop culture phenomenon spanning almost three decades, the Karate Kid franchise most recently spawned the Emmy-nominated series Cobra Kai, picking up with LaRusso more than three decades after his time with Miyagi, which broke out as a hit on Netflix after debuting its first two seasons on YouTube. In addition to starring on that show created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, Macchio serves as an executive producer. Prior to Cobra Kai, five Karate Kid films were made, beginning in 1984, which collectively grossed more than $430 million globally.
News of the new Karate Kid pic starring Chan and Macchio was first unveiled by The Hollywood Reporter.
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