The New ‘Karate Kid’ Movie: Everything We Know So Far

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The Karate Kid franchise has captivated audiences since the release of the original film in 1984. Fans of the iconic series have enjoyed the ‘Cobra Kai’ spin-off TV series since 2018, and to their delight, the newest installment in the film series has recently been announced. Here’s everything we know so far about the newest ‘Karate Kid’ movie.

What is the New ‘Karate Kid’ Movie About?

The last ‘Karate Kid’ movie, 2010’s ‘The Karate Kid,’ starred Jaden Smith as 12-year-old Dre Parker, the protagonist who learns kung fu to defend himself from neighborhood bullies. Smith is now 25 and doesn’t exactly fit the “kid” in ‘Karate Kid’, meaning it’s unlikely he’ll be the primary protagonist of the new film.

Instead, the new film will reportedly be about a teenager from China who moves to the East Coast of the United States and begins to train in martial arts. As in other films of the franchise, the teen will be trained by a tough mentor, and it so far seems likely that this will be the return of Jackie Chan to the franchise. Chan played Dre Parker’s mentor, the ruthless kung fu master Mr. Han, in the 2010 film and will be reprising his role in the new movie.

How Will the New ‘Karate Kid’ Movie Connect to the Original?

While not many details have been revealed about the new movie, we do know that in addition to Chan, Ralph Macchio, the original Karate Kid, will return to the franchise and reprise his role as Daniel LaRusso. Whether Macchio’s character will serve as another mentor to the protagonist or play a different role isn’t yet known.

What about Johnny Lawrence, LaRusso’s nemesis from ‘Karate Kid’ and the main character of ‘Cobra Kai’? It hasn’t yet been announced whether William Zabka, who plays Lawrence, will make an appearance in the new movie. With Macchio joining the cast as Daniel LaRusso, however, it seems likely that Zabka will be part of the new ‘Karate Kid.’

Who Will be the New Karate Kid?

The full cast of the new movie hasn’t yet been released, and it seems like much of the casting remains to be determined. This includes the star of the film, whoever will play the newest Karate Kid.

In fact, Macchio and Chan recently appeared together in a casting call announcing the search for the star of the new film and inviting young fans with acting experience to submit their name for consideration. Hopefully, this will give young actors the opportunity of a lifetime to jump-start their career and enjoy an exciting role.

When Will the New ‘Karate Kid’ Movie Come Out?

The new ‘Karate Kid’ movie is slated for release on December 13, 2024. The film is being produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and will most likely have a theatrical release at that time. Following its time in theaters, the film will probably be available on Netflix along with the rest of the movies in the franchise, as well as ‘Cobra Kai.’