Original Karate Kid Star Reveals True Feelings About Jaden Smith Reboot

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1984’s “Karate Kid” star Ralph Macchio reprises his role as Daniel LaRusso in the latest installment, “Karate Kid: Legends.” 15 years later, the actor from “Cobra Kai” has expressed his thoughts on the 2010 version of “The Karate Kid,” which featured Jaden Smith. This reboot was intended to reignite the franchise, but despite a strong box office performance, no sequels were produced. Eventually, the torch was passed back to the original cast for “Cobra Kai,” with Macchio once again portraying LaRusso.

In an interview with THR about the upcoming release of “Karate Kid: Legends,” I must admit I initially felt protective when I first heard about the 2010 version of “The Karate Kid.” I didn’t quite grasp their vision at the time. However, upon reflection, I believe they crafted a movie that was both well-made and incredibly successful. To me, it serves as an exemplary demonstration of how you can tell the same story in a different way, making it feel fresh and unique each time.

The evolution of both the 2010’s version of “The Karate Kid” and its eventual integration into the main “Karate Kid” series was an unforeseen path. Initially, the film starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan was promoted as a remake of the 1984 classic, but with China as the setting and a focus on kung fu instead of karate. Despite being a successful box office hit, the 2010 “Karate Kid” faced challenges in creating its own sequel like “The Karate Kid: Part II,” for over a decade. However, the emergence of the popular series “Cobra Kai” changed the game.

Initially airing on YouTube Red and later moving to Netflix, the series “Cobra Kai” spanned six seasons, revolving around Ralph Macchio’s character Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence trying to put their youthful rivalry behind them and lead their own groups of students. The show gained immense popularity among viewers, sparking multiple spin-offs in development. Interestingly, “Karate Kid: Legends” served as a unifier within the franchise, essentially redefining the 2010 “Karate Kid” film as a part of the main “Karate Kid” series rather than a remake.

In the film “Karate Kid: Legends,” Jackie Chan once again portrays Mr. Han, who was first introduced in the 2010 movie “The Karate Kid.” Previously, Mr. Han had trained Jaden Smith’s character Dre Parker, and now he runs a successful kung fu school in Beijing. When Li Fong (Ben Wang), one of his students, enters a high-pressure martial arts competition in New York City, Mr. Han steps in to help. He aims to save the pizza parlor owned by Victor Lipani (Joshua Jackson) and his daughter Mia (Sadie Stanley). Given the intense opposition Li is facing, Mr. Han enlists Daniel LaRusso – a friend of Mr. Miyagi, who was Mr. Han’s late mentor – to teach Li both kung fu and karate for the upcoming tournament.

1984’s “The Karate Kid” is a cherished symbol of both the ’80s and the martial arts genre, so any remake like the 2010 version would naturally carry high expectations and a sense of possession that Macchio mentions. Conversely, the surprising continuation of the genuine “Karate Kid” series through “Cobra Kai” was a stroke of luck, and one that a remake like the 2010 “Karate Kid” usually wouldn’t allow. However, it ultimately paved the way for unifying the entire “Karate Kid” universe under one roof.

There are numerous spin-offs being developed for the Cobra Kai series, and a fresh Karate Kid character named Li Fong, played by Ben Wang, has been introduced. This opens up a multitude of directions for the franchise to take, as both Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han and Ralph Macchio’s Daniel are now mentoring Li. The 2010 release of The Karate Kid left a lasting impression, and with Karate Kid: Legends, it has grown even more essential in shaping the entire Karate Kid universe.

In 2010, you can find the movie “The Karate Kid” for rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Fandango Now, and Apple TV. Meanwhile, “Karate Kid: Legends” is currently showing in cinemas.

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2025-06-04 13:40