Karate Kid: the next film with Jackie Chan has found its main actor

The new Karate Kid has been chosen! It’s Ben Wang, seen alongside Michelle Yeoh in the Disney+ series Chinese American, who landed the coveted role. He will face Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio in a new opus of Karate Kidcurrently announced in theaters in December 2024.

A global search

Since this new Karate Kid was announced in November 2023, Sony Pictures was actively looking for the new performer of the budding karateka. A casting call was launched, receiving thousands of applications from all corners of the world, including more than 10,000 in the 24 hours following the announcement of the new film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, during his audition, Ben Wang stood out by demonstrating how connected he is to the character; He further benefits from speaking Mandarin fluently and being skilled in several martial arts, including karate.

If the plot details of this new Karate Kid are currently being kept secret, we know that the film will take place on the East Coast of the United States and will follow a teenager from China who makes his way in martial arts with the help of a tough, but wise mentor .

An indestructible franchise

Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio will reprise their roles previously in the franchise. Macchio rose to prominence in 1984 playing Daniel LaRusso in the first film Karate Kid. He then continued to play this character in two sequels, before returning once again in his guise in the Netflix series Cobra Kai.

Jackie Chan appeared in a remake of Karate Kid released in 2010, alongside Jaden Smith as the young martial arts prodigy.

Jonathan Entwistle (I’m Not Okay With This, The End of the F—ing World) is at the helm of this new Karate Kid with Rob Lieber (Peter Rabbit, Alexander and his appallingly terrible and awful day) attached to the scenario.

Movies Karate Kid have brought in more than $618 million in revenue worldwide and it’s Cobra Kaia series derived from the franchise, which reignited public interest in it in 2018. The sixth and final season of the show is currently being filmed for Netflix.

The new movie Karate Kid is expected in cinemas on December 18.