6 Karate Kid Legends Characters Replacing Original Movie Icons

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Karate Kid: Legends!

In “Karate Kid: Legends,” a fresh lineup of characters for the “Karate Kid” series is presented to cater to a new audience, yet six of these newcomers secretly assume roles previously held by characters from the original series. The original cast of “The Karate Kid” has become legendary, with numerous members reprising their roles in sequels like “Cobra Kai” and “Karate Kid: Legends.” Over time, some of these classic characters have returned, but “Karate Kid: Legends” gives new characters a chance to fill the shoes of original characters. Here are the characters that take on these roles.

Karate Kid: Legends

The eagerly awaited Karate Kid: Legends has made its debut, serving as an affectionate tribute to the cherished Karate Kid series. The movie skillfully merges the three distinct strands of the Karate Kid saga, drawing inspiration from the classic films, the 2010 reboot, and the hit TV series Cobra Kai.

Embellished with Easter eggs and symbols reminiscent of the franchise’s rich history, this film goes beyond mere nostalgia. Karate Kid: Legends also introduces a fresh cast of characters, focusing on a martial arts tournament unfolding in New York City. Yet, the 2025 production heavily borrows from the blueprint laid out in the original films.

6. Li Fong Is Karate Kid: Legends’ Replacement For Daniel LaRusso

Played By Ben Wang

In a fresh retelling, Li Fong stands out as the new incarnation of Daniel LaRusso. Li Fong is our main character in “Karate Kid: Legends,” initially studying under Mr. Han in China. When he and his mother relocate to New York, he faces challenges adapting. But, he eventually thrives when he becomes part of New York’s martial arts community. At school, he confronts bullies, builds friendships, and discovers romance. The arrival of Mr. Han aids Li Fong in navigating his new life, while Daniel LaRusso offers additional support.

Li Fong’s “Karate Kid: Legends” narrative shares striking similarities with that of Daniel LaRusso from the original “The Karate Kid” film. In this movie, Daniel, initially residing in New Jersey, gets relocated to Los Angeles with his mom. Upon arrival, he encounters difficulties adjusting, as a friendship with a schoolgirl leads him into conflict with her former black-belt boyfriend, Johnny Lawrence. However, Daniel finds solace and direction when he engages in the karate community of California, under the guidance of a kind mentor, Mr. Miyagi.

It’s particularly intriguing to note that Daniel LaRusso plays a role in Karate Kid: Legends. In this instance, Daniel serves as Li Fong’s mentor, imparting upon him much of the same wisdom that Daniel himself received from Mr. Miyagi. The parallels between his new student and himself are striking, adding an engaging twist to the character swap.

5. Mr. Han Is Karate Kid: Legends’ Replacement For Mr. Miyagi

Played By Jackie Chan

In the movie “Karate Kid: Legends”, it’s not just Daniel LaRussio who undergoes a character change, but Mr. Miyagi does too. Instead, Mr. Han serves as Li Fong’s primary instructor in this version of the story. The narrative begins in China at Mr. Han’s martial arts school, where Li Fong is one of his most promising students. There’s a history between Mr. Han and Li Fong’s family that adds depth to their relationship. When Li Fong relocates to New York, Mr. Han eventually follows suit. Upon arriving in New York, he encourages Li Fong to join a local karate competition. Throughout this journey, Mr. Han continues to teach Li Fong, with Daniel LaRusso offering assistance at times.

In the original film, Mr. Miyagi was a handyman who taught karate to Daniel LaRusso. As the story progresses, Miyagi becomes a respected sensei and upholds the tradition of Miyagi martial artists. Similarly, in the movie “Karate Kid: Legends”, Mr. Han often discusses the legacy of Miyagi and his responsibility in Li Fong’s life. Notably, this isn’t the first time that Han has taken on a similar role, as he served as a replacement for Mr. Miyagi in Jackie Chan’s character in the 2010 movie “The Karate Kid”.

4. Mia Is Karate Kid: Legends’ Replacement For Ali Mills

Played By Sadie Stanley

In the series “Karate Kid: Legends,” Mia is one of the new characters introduced, serving as a replacement for Ali Mills from the original movie. Within this storyline, Mia works at a local pizzeria where she crosses paths with Li Fong when he picks up dinner for himself and his mother. Over time, Mia develops into both a love interest and a close confidante for Li Fong. However, complications arise when it is revealed that Mia’s former boyfriend is an accomplished martial artist and a real troublemaker, who emerges as one of Li Fong’s adversaries. Despite this, Mia tries to persuade him to leave Li Fong alone.

As I found myself immersed in the world of “Karate Kid: Legends,” it struck me that the storyline bears striking resemblance to the original Karate Kid, specifically the character arc of Ali Mills. In the classic version, Ali was a well-off schoolmate whom Daniel crossed paths with, eventually forming a tight bond and romantic connection. However, there’s a twist – in the original film, Ali previously dated Johnny Lawrence, an accomplished martial artist hailing from the Cobra Kai dojo.

However, in “Karate Kid: Legends,” Mia is quite different. Instead of coming from wealth, she and her father run a small, struggling pizza business. The narrative revolves around their efforts to climb out of financial hardship throughout the film.

3. Conor Is Karate Kid: Legends’ Replacement For Johnny Lawrence

Played By Aramis Knight

Regarding Johnny Lawrence’s character in “Karate Kid: Legends”, Conor takes on his role instead. In the 2025 movie, Conor is Mia’s former lover and a member of an infamous dojo, known for producing arrogant individuals. Throughout the film, Conor serves as Li Fong’s main adversary, culminating in a confrontation during the climactic battle of “Karate Kid: Legends”. After employing underhanded tactics, Conor is ultimately bested by Li Fong who executes a daring maneuver, seizing victory and the tournament title.

In many ways, I find myself drawn to a tale strikingly reminiscent of young Johnny Lawrence’s journey in “The Karate Kid.” Just like him, I too have found myself at odds with a rival group, and my romantic entanglements have played a significant role in the development of my adversarial relationships. In this narrative, I am bound to a faction similar to Cobra Kai, while Ali Mills, much like her character, holds a special place in my heart. My path crosses with another, Daniel, who, through his connection with Ali, becomes my formidable opponent.

As we navigate the karate tournament together, our rivalry intensifies, culminating in an epic showdown that mirrors Johnny’s climactic fight against Daniel. Much like Johnny, I resort to underhanded tactics, but Daniel, through determination and mastery of a cunning move he has honed throughout the story, emerges victorious. The parallels between our stories are striking, making me appreciate the impact this classic tale continues to have on us all.

Over six seasons of Cobra Kai, Johnny Lawrence has been given a lot more depth compared to Connor, who only appeared in a single movie. Even back in the original Karate Kid, Johnny was somewhat more developed than Connor is in the 2025 film. This could be because Karate Kid: Legends had the shortest runtime among all the series.

2. Dr. Fong Is Karate Kid: Legends’ Replacement For Lucille LaRusso

Played By Ming Na-Wen

Similar to how events unfold in other Karate Kid movies, the story commences when the character is compelled to relocate to an unknown city due to their mother’s occupation change. In Karate Kid: Legends, Dr. Fong, Li Fong’s mother, moves to New York for a medical job. In the original Karate Kid, Lucille LaRusso, Daniel LaRusso’s mother, moves from New Jersey to California due to a job change as well. Though they don’t play significant roles in the later parts of their stories, both mothers serve identical narrative purposes.

1. O’Shea Is Karate Kid: Legends’ Replacement For John Kreese

Played By Tim Rozon

In the sequel series “Karate Kid: Legends“, O’Shea is introduced as a minor antagonist who instructs at the dojo where Conor trains. He exhibits sinister tendencies, advocating for more aggressive techniques used by Conor. This mirrors John Kreese, the head of Cobra Kai in the original “The Karate Kid“. Notably, O’Shea is depicted as both a loan shark and a sensei within the context of “Karate Kid: Legends“, thereby further developing his villainous persona.

2025-06-04 17:28