A victorious comeback of the beloved movie series “Karate Kid” is on the horizon, so be ready for another exciting chapter in the narrative. On Tuesday, Sony Pictures made the official announcement that a new film is in development and nearing completion.
Ralph Macchio, who played the franchise’s title character in the first three movies, will make a comeback in the next picture. Jackie Chan, best known for replacing the late Oscar candidate Pat Morita as the senior martial arts expert in the 2010 adaptation, is joining him.
Macchio and Chan announced a casting call to find the next rising star in the “Karate Kid” tradition and conveyed their excitement for the project in a video that was posted to YouTube.
Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan (Credits: Daily Mail)
The release of this new film in December 2024 not only happens to be fortuitous, but it also falls precisely on the 40th anniversary of the first “Karate Kid” film. The story debuted in June and centers on Macchio, a California high school student who is bullied and learns valuable lessons from his neighbor about honor, self-control, and martial arts methods.
With “Karate Kid Part II” in 1986 and “Karate Kid Part III” in 1989, Macchio’s involvement in the franchise continues. Five years later, the fourth entry, “The Next Karate Kid,” starring Hilary Swank, was released.
The primary protagonists in the 2010 revival of “The Karate Kid” were Jaden Smith and Chan. With the popularity of the Emmy-nominated series “Cobra Kai,” which began in 2018 and is nearing its last season, the brand saw a rebirth.
William Zabka, who played the original bully in the first two movies, plays Macchio’s characters, Danny and Johnny, in the show, which centers on their adult life. Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” ended its fifth season last year.
While William Zabka’s representative has not yet commented on his inclusion in the upcoming movie, fans can excitedly await “The Karate Kid”s December 13, 2024, theatrical return.
