New Karate Kid Movie Gets Official Title and Logo Ahead of NYCC

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As a child of the ’80s, I can barely contain my excitement for the upcoming film, “Karate Kid: Legends.” It’s been far too long since we last saw Daniel Larusso on the big screen, and the prospect of a theatrical release featuring the legendary Ralph Macchio is a dream come true. The addition of Jackie Chan and newcomer Ben Wang promises to breathe fresh life into this iconic franchise.

Despite the fact that Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” series has kept most Karate Kid fans entertained, it’s been about 15 years since a movie from this franchise graced the big screen. However, this will be rectified next year as the franchise makes its way back to cinemas with the sixth installment of the iconic martial arts tale that started in 1984. What we now know is that this new film will be titled “Karate Kid: Legends.

Karate Kid: Legends brings back Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso, last seen in a theatrical release with Karate Kid 3 in 1989. Jackie Chan will reprise his role of Mr. Han from the 2010 film, while newcomer Ben Wang plays the lead character, Li Fong. Plot details are currently secret, but the movie centers around Fong’s journey from China to the East Coast of the U.S., where he connects with Mr. Han to learn martial arts. Joshua Jackson stars as Victor, who might be the film’s antagonist, and Shaunette Renée Wilson portrays Ms. Morgan, possibly one of Fong’s teachers. Other cast members include Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight, Wyatt Oleff, and Jennifer-Lyn Christie.

Where Does Karate Kid: Legends Fit in the Franchise Timeline?

Initially slated for a June release this year, the date was moved to December due to the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023. The date shifted again when the strikes also impacted the release of “Cobra Kai,” causing everything to be pushed back to 2025 to avoid clashing with it. Now, “The Karate Kid: Legends” has a confirmed release date of May 30 next year. Meanwhile, the sixth and final season of the Netflix series is already in production, having aired its first five of fifteen episodes in July. Split into three parts, the remaining five episodes will be released on November 15, with the rest of the grand finale expected to premiere in February, according to Martin Kove, although this has not been officially confirmed by Netflix yet.

For now, details about the plot of “Karate Kid: Legends” are being kept under wraps, so we don’t know exactly where it fits in the franchise timeline. However, it is anticipated that the story will explore events that occurred between “The Next Karate Kid” (1994) and “Cobra Kai,” while also referencing the happenings depicted in the 2010 movie. It’s unclear whether it will be a direct sequel to the series, but with the excitement building since the announcement of the new film two years ago, we can’t wait to see how it delivers a nostalgic cinematic experience on par with the Netflix show.

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2024-10-12 17:32