(L to R) Ben Wang, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio star in ‘Karate Kid: Legends’.
‘Karate Kid: Legends’ opens in theaters on May 30th, combining characters from both the original ‘Karate Kid’ franchise as well as the 2010 remake and was directed by Jonathan Entwistle (‘Hello Tomorrow!’).
Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio reprise their ‘Karate Kid’ roles as Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, respectively, and are joined by Ben Wang (‘American Born Chinese’), Sadie Stanley (‘Somewhere in Queens’), Joshua Jackson (‘Fringe’), and Ming-Na Wen (‘The Mandalorian’).
Moviefone recently had the honor of speaking with Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio and Ben Wang about their work on ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Chan discussed his love for the first movie and combining the remake with the original franchise, while Macchio talked about reprising his role on the big screen opposite Jackie Chan, and Wang spoke about joining the franchise and what he learned from working with the two legendary ‘Karate Kid’ actors.
Related Article: Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan to Team Up for New ‘Karate Kid’ Movie
(L to R) Ben Wang, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo By
Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Moviefone: To begin with, Jackie, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the idea of bringing Mr. Han and Daniel together in the same film?
Jackie Chan: Believe it or not, I have a long story to tell you. When I was a stunt guy, I was in a martial arts movie that was not popular anymore. Then I was disappointed, nobody hired me. Then what should we do? Even the people around me, all the martial artists, the stunt guys, we were just very depressed, and wanted to give up. No training anymore, just fooling around. Then suddenly ‘Karate Kid’ comes out. We buy the ticket, we go in, and we watch. More we watch all my friends go, “Yes. Wow. Wow.” You know, that brings you up. Then I talk to myself, “Why are you training so many years? One small thing knocks you down, you just give up. No, we should get back up. Do it again.” We will go to training, training, training. Yeah. Till suddenly another movie, ‘Rocky’, comes out. It brings me up again. The two movies bring me back to training with all my friends. Then some friends become action directors. Then some become stunt coordinators. I become an actor. I become a Jackie Chan. So, I really thank you, ‘Rocky’, and Ralph. Then many years later, Will Smith call me, “Jackie, I want you to make ‘The Karate Kid.” I said, “Me? I’m not a kid anymore.” Then he said, “Not you. You are Miyagi.” Because when I watched the movie for the first time, I already was thinking, “Oh, why him? Why not me? I want to be a Karate Kid.” But now I become a Miyagi. 40 years later, the movie is a success, and when I see Ralph, I just don’t believe it. “Wow. That’s Daniel.” We work together. Now we are becoming a Miyagi and Daniel. For me it’s just amazing.
(L to R) Jackie Chan, Ben Wang and Ralph Macchio in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
MF: Ralph, what was it like to reprise your iconic character on the big screen and share scenes with the legendary Jackie Chan?
Ralph Macchio: I mean, that was super special. Jackie’s legendary in his career, his stunt work as an actor, and his personality in the industry is so well respected. So that was just like anytime you can work with an element of greatness, I’ll take it. I want to learn. Every experience I want to learn and gain from. The character of Daniel Russo is near and dear to the world. He has become a piece of pop culture. The original films, very few have that kind of staying power. Then through the ‘Cobra Kai’ series and how that exploded, and we got to explore different sides of all those characters and in a whole new generation of karate kids in that show then leads us to, “Okay, how do we connect these worlds?” Using that footage from ‘The Karate Kid Part II’ where we learn and are reminded that Shimpo Sensei fell asleep off the coast of China and brings back the secret to Miyagi karate to Okinawa. Now we connect the worlds. For me, it was just about how to be honest, truthful, and genuine to LaRusso. We find him in a place that he’s in this grounded element of wisdom at this point of his life, and how he can spread a piece of the legacy of Miyagi forward and help a kid in need. Then connecting the Kung Fu and the karate. It was like, okay, there’s a lot of boxes to check, but there’s organic stories to tell for a fresh new generation and in a different style. Then you add Ben to this, because my question was, “Who’s the kid?” If you don’t have a kid and you’re not leaning in and rooting for this kid in this movie, then you could come up with all the Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio you want but we need to love this kid. You need to get on his shoulders like you did with LaRusso and the other characters. Then Ben has delivered in a way that’s so cinematic and so much fun. Yet the through line of the same human themes that made ‘The Karate Kid’ what it is today are there and hopefully for a whole new generation.
Ben Wang in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
MF: Finally, Ben, what was it like for you to join this franchise and what did you learn from working with Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio?
Ben Wang: I was a huge fan ever since I was a kid. I saw Jackie’s ‘Karate Kid’ film when I was in elementary school in a theater with my mom. Shortly thereafter I started doing after-school martial arts. So, it’s the start of what got me here in the first place. Ralph’s films were passed down to me by my aunt because they were her favorite films. So, I have known these films for as long as I remember watching movies. I am a fan, so I understand why there’s so much goodwill and so much love for this whole franchise. It was exciting for me to get to be the center of this next part and to bring the two film universes together. It’s also really terrifying because as a fan, if it wasn’t me, I’d be like, “Who’s this kid? Can he do it?” So, I knew I had a lot of work cut out for me.
“When masters unite a new legacy begins.”
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1 hr 34 minMay 30th, 2025
In Karate Kid: Legends, after a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with… Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘Karate Kid: Legacy’?
In Karate Kid: Legends, after a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother. Li struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates, and although he doesn’t want to fight, trouble seems to find him everywhere. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition – but his skills alone aren’t enough. Li’s kung fu teacher Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) enlists original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) for help, and Li learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.
Who is in the cast of ‘Karate Kid: Legacy’?
(L to R) Jackie Chan and Ben Wang in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
List of Movies and TV Shows in ‘The Karate Kid’ Franchise:
Buy Tickets: ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Movie Showtimes
Buy ‘The Karate Kid’ Movies on Amazon
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