Karate Kid (2025 film)

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Karate Kid
Directed byJonathan Entwistle
Written byRob Lieber
Based onThe Karate Kid
by Robert Mark Kamen
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJustin Brown
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • May 30, 2025 (2025-05-30)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Karate Kid is an upcoming American martial arts film directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Rob Lieber. It is the sixth film in The Karate Kid franchise and stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, both reprising their roles from previous films, with Ben Wang as the main lead alongside Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight and Wyatt Oleff.

Following the release of the fourth film, The Next Karate Kid (1994), the only film released in the franchise was a remake of the original film in 2010 starring Chan as Mr. Han. The television series Cobra Kai (2018–present) served as a direct sequel to the original four films, with Macchio returning as Daniel LaRusso from the first three films. In September 2022, a new feature film was confirmed to be in development, with the casting of Chan and Macchio announced in November 2023. Filming began in April 2024.

The film is scheduled to be released on May 30, 2025 in the United States.

Cast[edit]

Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight, and Wyatt Oleff have been cast in undisclosed roles.

Production[edit]

Background[edit]

See also: The Karate Kid (franchise)

The Karate Kid (1984), starring Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, was followed by three sequels: The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989) and The Next Karate Kid (1994), although Macchio did not return for the fourth film. A remake of the first film was released in 2010, with a similar storyline but with a different set of characters, including Jackie Chan as Mr. Han. Despite maintaining the original title, the remake focused on kung fu, as the film was set in China. A television series, Cobra Kai, premiered at YouTube Red (before passing later to Netflix) in 2018, serving as a sequel to the original four films which comprise the "Miyagi-verse" (named after the character Mr. Miyagi) and reuniting several actors from the first three films, including Macchio.[1]

Development[edit]

A sequel to the 2010 remake was announced shortly after its release with Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson, and Chan set to reprise their roles. Breck Eisner was tapped to direct in April 2014.[2] By then, two drafts of the screenplay had been written by writing duo Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris as well as Zak Penn. Eisner left the project three months later and a new screenplay by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer was commissioned.[3] In April 2017, Eisner returned to the project[4] but by October, Chan expressed dissatisaction with the film's script.[5]

In September 2022, a new feature film was confirmed to be in development, being described as "the return of the original Karate Kid franchise".[6][7] Shortly after, Cobra Kai co-creator Jon Hurwitz stated the film was not connected to the series, despite the creators' intention to make films for the franchise in the future.[1] In November 2023, it was reported that Jonathan Entwistle was set to direct the film, with a screenplay written by Rob Lieber and with Karen Rosenfelt serving as the producer.[8]

Casting[edit]

In August 2023, Chan was reported to be reprising his role in the film.[9] Later on in late November 2023, Chan and Macchio were officially revealed to have joined the cast. The announcement confirms that the original films and the remake take place in the same universe,[10] despite Hurwitz's 2021 statement that the 2010 remake is a film in-universe within the "Miyagi-verse".[11] In addition, Chan and Macchio announced a world-wide open casting call for an actor to star as the film's iteration of the titular character, described as a Chinese teen who moves to the East Coast and begins studying martial arts.[10]

In February 2024, Ben Wang was cast as the titular character, Li Fong.[12][13] In March, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen were cast in undisclosed roles.[14][15][16] In April, Aramis Knight and Wyatt Oleff joined the cast.[17]

Filming[edit]

Principal photography began in Montreal on April 1, 2024, and is expected to last until June 3, under the working title Victory Boulevard.[10][18]

Release[edit]

The film is scheduled to be released on May 30, 2025 in the United States.[19] The film was originally set to be released on June 7, 2024,[6][7] but was delayed to December 13, 2024, due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[20] It was moved once more to May 30, 2025, so that it wouldn't conflict with the final season of Cobra Kai.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Glynn, Jennifer (September 18, 2022). "'Cobra Kai' Co-Creator Jon Hurwitz Reveals New 'Karate Kid' Movie Is Not Connected to Series". Collider. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2022.}
  2. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 7, 2014). "'Karate Kid 2' Locks Breck Eisner To Helm Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan".
  3. ^ "'Karate Kid 2' Gets New Writers, Loses Director Breck Eisner". ScreenRant. June 26, 2014.
  4. ^ "Breck Eisner Will Direct 'Karate Kid 2' (Jaden Smith & Jackie Chan Return)". shadowandact.com.
  5. ^ "Jackie Chan Gives Update On Karate Kid Sequel". LRM. October 6, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Jirak, Jamie (September 16, 2022). "Karate Kid: Sony Announces 2024 Release Date for New Movie". ComicBook.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  7. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 16, 2022). "New 'Karate Kid' Movie Among Sony Pictures Release Date Adds; 'Kraven The Hunter,' 'Madame Web' Move & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  8. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (November 22, 2023). "'Karate Kid' Open Casting Call Quickly Lands 10K Submissions for Lead Role in New Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Arun Venugopal (August 9, 2023). "Jackie Chan is Set to Reprise his Role in the New 'Karate Kid' Movie". Max Blizz. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Kit, Borys (November 21, 2023). "Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio Team for New 'Karate Kid' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  11. ^ Topel, Fred (2021-01-15). "'Cobra Kai' Creators Reveal Which Characters Can Return to the Show and What to Expect from Season 4 [Interview]". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  12. ^ "Ben Wang Is The New Lead For Sony's Karate Kid". The Republic Reporter. February 12, 2024. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  13. ^ Kit, Borys (February 12, 2024). "'Karate Kid' Found: 'American Born Chinese' Actor Ben Wang Nabs Lead in Sony Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  14. ^ Kit, Borys (March 1, 2024). "Joshua Jackson Joins Sony's 'Karate Kid' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Kit, Borys (March 6, 2024). "'Karate Kid' Casts 'Cruel Summer' Star Sadie Stanley as Romantic Lead (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Stephan, Katcy (March 6, 2024). "Ming-Na Wen Joins Sony's New 'Karate Kid' Film (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  17. ^ Stephan, Katcy (April 3, 2024). "Aramis Knight & Wyatt Oleff Join Sony's 'Karate Kid'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  18. ^ "What's Shooting". ACTRA Montreal. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  19. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 26, 2024). "'Kraven The Hunter' Heads To December, 'Karate Kid' To Chop Next Summer: Sony Release Date Changes". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  20. ^ Donnelly, Matt (July 28, 2023). "'Beyond the Spider-Verse' Taken Off Sony Release Calendar as Strikes Delay 'Kraven' and 'Ghostbusters' Sequel to 2024". Variety. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Couch, Aaron (April 26, 2024). "'Kraven the Hunter,' 'Karate Kid' Pushed Back by Sony". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 27, 2024.

External links[edit]

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