Karate Kid: Legends Unleashes Jackie Chan-Style Action on the Big Screen!

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The film “Karate Kid: Legends” is set to premiere in cinemas on May 30th, exciting fans of the martial arts series as it marks the first new Karate Kid movie on the big screen in 15 years. Directors Jonathan Entwistle and Rob Lieber have cleverly woven together elements from both the original franchise and the 2010 reboot by placing Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) within the same timeframe. Spectators are eagerly anticipating the emotional turmoil to unfold, but what’s truly surprising for Jackie Chan devotees is that Entwistle has promised action sequences in “Karate Kid: Legends” reminiscent of Jackie Chan’s iconic martial arts films.

In an interview with Empire magazine, Entwistle discussed the upcoming sequel to Cobra Kai, which is set three years after the original events. This new movie will see Daniel LaRusso joining forces with Mr. Han in New York City to train Li Fong, a gifted kung fu practitioner portrayed by Ben Wang. Entwistle mentioned that he has included some of Chan’s signature fighting styles from his early career in the choreography for the action scenes.

Day by day, Ben diligently practiced with the Chinese acrobat troupe. He was determined to create martial arts scenes for the movie that echoed the spirit of Jackie Chan’s early works, and he worked tirelessly to achieve this goal. We employed plenty of traditional Hong Kong wire-fighting techniques in our efforts.

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve long admired the legendary prowess of Jackie Chan in the martial arts world. It’s not just about the scars he bears from past injuries, but rather the incredible empire he’s built with his extraordinary talent and versatile skillset. Kicking off his career in martial arts films back in the 1970s, this Hong Kong native churned out an astonishing number of movies. Before his unique fighting style graced American screens in the 1995 film “Rumble in the Bronx,” he had already established a formidable presence in Asian cinema. However, it was films like “Rush Hour” and “Shanghai Noon” that truly secured him a place in Hollywood. In 2016, Jackie Chan was bestowed with an honorary Academy Award for his groundbreaking work in the action comedy genre and invaluable contributions to the film industry.

In addition, Entwistle playfully showcased his cinematic approach during this chance. Moreover, he criticized the “action-fighting style in Marvel films,” which seems to imply a preference for real-life stunts instead of computer-generated imagery (CGI).

The sequence of movements in the choreography has a playful quality. Jackie and his team imparted a valuable lesson: “What’s the story behind this fight? Does he grab something from the ground as part of the action?” We’ve grown accustomed to seeing fights portrayed in a specific manner, often with heavy VFX enhancements or following the Marvel combat style. I aimed to incorporate a more authentic martial arts technique on set.

The ‘Karate Kid’ Franchise Continues Post-‘Cobra Kai’

It’s been a while since I last saw the finale of Cobra Kai, the fantastic Netflix spin-off that brought back most of the cherished characters from the 1984 sports drama by John G. Avildsen. I miss it dearly, but my longing will soon be alleviated when Karate Kid: Legends hits the big screen, allowing me to reconnect with this beloved franchise once more.

In essence, “Cobra Kai” and “Karate Kid: Legends” share the common thread of Daniel LaRusso. However, just because they are connected doesn’t mean that the “Cobra Kai” universe cannot stand alone. Offshoots or spin-offs are being developed, and while they may retain the nostalgic feel of the original series, there is a possibility that the “Cobra Kai” segment of the franchise could evolve into its own distinct entity, no longer tethered to Miyagi’s teachings or LaRusso’s vision.

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2025-04-11 15:32