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Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, who starred in separate “Karate Kid” movies decades apart, will team up for an all-new movie set in the martial arts franchise.
The new film, from Sony Pictures director Jonathan Entwistle and writer Rob Lieber, will open in theaters on December 13, 2024. Karen Rosenfelt is producing.
Plot details of the new film have not been revealed, but Macchio will reprise his role as Daniel LaRusso, who he played in the original “Karate Kid” film trilogy that began in 1984 and reprises his role in the Netflix series “Cobra Kai.” Chan will return to the role of Mr. Han, a kung fu master based on Mr. Miyagi who coached Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker in the 2010 remake.
Macchio kept Daniel’s character going through “Cobra Kai,” which announced its sixth and final season earlier this year. This show, created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, takes place several decades after the events of the original “Karate Kid” movies, rekindling a rivalry between the now middle-aged Daniel and Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka ).
It is unclear how the long story of “Cobra Kai” will affect the new “Karate Kid” movie.
Making the announcement in a video posted to YouTube, Chan and Macchio launched a global casting search for a brand new karate kid to lead the film, inviting young actors to submit audition tapes to KarateKidCasting.com.
Since 1984, the “Karate Kid” franchise has become one of Hollywood’s most beloved sports epics, spawning the Emmy-nominated “Cobra Kai” series and grossing more than $430 million at the global box office.
Macchio is repped by Untitled Entertainment, Buchwald, Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman, LLP and Jill Fritzo PR. Chan is repped by CAA and Jessica Chen. Entwistle is repped by CAA, Grandview, 42 and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer. Leiber is repped by Verve, Fourth Wall Management and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
Watch the video of the announcement below.
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