Jackie Chan Teams Up With Ralph Macchio for a New Karate Kid Movie

Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio will work together on a new The Karate Kid movie. The two actors announced the reboot with a video and said they were looking for the next karate kid. Sony Pictures will distribute the movie in 2024.

The Internet audience was excited about the new project. One user wrote it meant their childhood dreams would come true. Another added that they couldn't believe the two The Karate Kid movies would be connected. A third one shared they got tears in their eyes every time they watched the movie from the beginning to the end. A fourth user said it was great they would choose to hire an unknown actor for the part instead of "another nepo," referring to "nepo babies," or children of celebrities and people in the film industry.

The Karate Kid is a much-loved American martial arts drama movie from 1984. The movie was directed by John G. Avildsen, and Macchio starred as Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who moves to a new town and learns karate to defend himself against bullies at school.

The movie was so successful that it inspired a couple of sequels: The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989). In 2010, Jackie Chan starred in the remake together with Jaden Smith, and the movie got much praise from both fans and critics. Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz also revived the franchise in 2018 when their show Cobra Kai premiered. The series takes place much later than the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. Middle-aged Daniel LaRusso was the martial arts rival of Johnny Lawrence once again.