Said another way, would you ever accept another “Italian Stallion” Rocky Balboa? Would be tough, for sure. The same can be said, perhaps, for accepting another Daniel Larusso (played by Ralph Macchio) or Mr. Miyagi (played by Pat Morita).
So here’s the question: Can the Karate Kid remake come even close to comparing to the original?
Current Status
The main actors have already been decided upon. Jackie Chan will play the role of Mr. Miyagi. Will Smith’s son, Jaden Smith, will take on the role of Daniel Larusso. In addition, Will Smith will produce the film. Below is some more information on the Karate Kid remake.
- Director: Harald Zwart
- Producer: Will Smith
- Screenplay Writer: Chris Murphy
- Release Date: 2010
- Start Date: 2009
- Title: So far the Karate Kid Remake is untitled.
- Setting: "We're making it with the China Film Group, so it'll be based in Beijing,” Will Smith told MTV. "Mr. Miyagi was originally Japanese, so there'll be a Chinese adaptation to it."
Background
The original film, The Karate Kid, was about a boy named Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) that moves to California from New Jersey after his father dies, prompting the need for a new beginning for he and his mother (Randee Heller). While in California, Larusso meets Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue) a potential love interest. Unfortunately for him, Mills’ former boyfriend Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) does not take kindly to their growing relationship. Lawrence is the best karate student at the Cobra Kai dojo, a martial arts school where the children are taught a particularly violent philosophy of martial arts. Thus, Lawrence and his karate mates set out to do harm to Larusso.One night, as five Cobra Kai students attack Larusso, the apartment complex’s handyman, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), uses karate to easily subdue them. From there, Miyagi begins to take on a fatherly role with Larusso, eventually teaching him a form of Okinawan karate in an unorthodox and rather mystical way. This leads to Larusso defeating his tormentors, including Lawrence, in a karate tournament. And, of course, Larusso gets the girl as well.
