Yahoo Lifestyle ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Trailer: Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan Team Up and Bring the Franchise Back to the Big Screen
There’s a new “Karate Kid” ready to learn the art of “wax on, wax off.”
Sony has released the official trailer for “Karate Kid: Legends,” the next chapter in the martial arts franchise that’s coming to theaters on May 30.
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“Karate Kid: Legends” brings together star Ralph Macchio, who began playing Daniel LaRusso back in the original 1984 “Karate Kid” movie, and Jackie Chan, who played Mr. Han in the 2010 “Karate Kid” remake. “American Born Chinese” star Ben Wang plays a new student named Li Fong, who becomes the latest protege to Daniel and Mr. Han.
Wang was found after Chan and Macchio announced a worldwide search that saw thousands of young actors from around the world audition for the role. Wang was chosen in part for his variety of martial arts skills, including karate, wing chun/kung fu, gumdo, kempo and taekwondo.
“I was the target audience when that movie came out. I was exactly the age of the character,” Wang told Entertainment Weekly. “That whole movie takes place in Beijing, and I’d just come back from living for a year in Beijing. Also, I grew up watching Jackie Chan movies. He is the first memory I have of knowing what an actor is. It was all of my favorite things in one place.”
Ming-Na Wen plays Li Fong’s mother. Joshua Jackson and Sadie Stanley will also appear in the film.
Jonathan Entwistle, the creator and director of Netflix’s “I Am Not Okay With This” and “The End of the F—ing World,” will direct the film from a screenplay by “Peter Rabbit” scribe Rob Lieber. Karen Rosenfelt will produce.
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