Ralph Macchio, Jackie Chan are looking for next ‘Karate Kid’
Casting for "Karate Kid" FILE PHOTO: Actors Ralph Macchio, Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan arrive to premiere of Columbia Pictures' "The Karate Kid" after party held at Mann Village Theatre on June 7, 2010, in Westwood, California. Macchio and Chan have announced a casting call for the new "kid." (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The makers of “The Karate Kid” are looking for a new star.
Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio have entered the arena in the search for a new Chinese actor to play the kid in the latest entry in the film franchise.
Chan starred in the 2010 reboot of “The Karate Kid” as Mr. Han along with Jaden Smith, while Macchio played Daniel LaRusso in the original 1984 movie and the 1986 and 1989 sequels, reprising the role in the Netflix series Cobra Kai.
Macchio and Chan will appear in the new movie that is slated to come out next year along with whoever is chosen.
According to Sony, the filmmakers are looking for someone “to portray Chinese or Mixed-Race Chinese and between 15-17 years old.” The actor should be fluent in English but having conversational Mandarin is a plus. The person should be “smart, scrappy and a skilled martial artist” but any martial arts, movement, gymnastics and/or dance experience will help. One thing the person does not need to have is acting experience.
They must be available from March to June next year.
Jonathan Entwistle has been tapped to direct the movie which will be a combination of the original and the Chan/Smith films.
Rob Lieber wrote the script which, according to The Hollywood Reporter, will bring “The Karate Kid” story to the East Coast and will focus on a teen who has come from China to find a direction through martial arts thanks to a “tough but wise mentor.”
While it will combine the Macchio and Chan storylines, Variety said it was not clear if “Cobra Kai” will also be part of it. The show’s creators said last year they were not part of the new project, Entertainment Weekly reported.
The film will be in theaters on Dec. 13, 2024, Variety reported.
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years Here are some memorable photos of actor Jackie Chan through the years. (S&G/PA Images via Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1980: Hong Kong actor and martial arts expert Jackie Chan demonstrates his remarkable agility during a visit to the UK, to promote his latest film "The Big Brawl," on October 15, 1980. (Monti Spry/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1996: Jackie Chan stars in the movie "SuperCop." (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1997: Jackie Chan embeds his hands and feet in Mann's Chinese Theatre cement on Jan. 5, 1997, in Hollywood, California. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1998: Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan star in the movie "Rush Hour." (Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 1999: Jackie Chan arrives at the MTV Movie Awards held at the Barkar Hangar, Santa Monica Airport, on June 5, 1999, in Santa Monica, California. (Dan Callister/Online USA Inc./Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2000: Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson In "Shanghai Noon." (Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2001: Actor Jackie Chan arrives at the launch of United Airlines "Rush Hour Express" on July 26, 2001, in Los Angeles. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2002: Jackie Chan at the premiere of "The Tuxedo" at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002. (Kevin Winter/Imagedirect/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2003: Actor Jackie Chan arrives at the premiere of "Shanghai Knights" at the El Capitan Theatre on February 3, 2003, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2004: Actor Jackie Chan arrives at the premiere of Disney's "Around the World in 80 Days" at the El Capitan Theatre on June 13, 2004, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2005: Actor Jackie Chan poses in front of Cologne Cathedral prior to the premiere of his film, "New Police Story," on October 10, 2005, in Cologne, Germany. (Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2006: Actor Jackie Chan presents the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress at the Closing Ceremony of the 63rd Venice Film Festival on September 9, 2006, in Venice, Italy. (Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2007: Actors Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan attend the premiere of the New Line Cinema film "Rush Hour 3" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on July 30, 2007, in Hollywood, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2008: Actors Liu Fengchao (left), Jackie Chan and Wang Wenjie attend the "Le Silence de Lorna" premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2008, in Cannes, France. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2010: Jackie Chan (left) and Jaden Smith arrive at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios on June 6, 2010, in Universal City, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2011: Zhang Ziyi and Jackie Chan arrive at the red carpet of the first Beijing International Film Festival at China's National Grand Theater on April 23, 2011, in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2012: Actors Laura Weissbecker, Jackie Chan and Caitlin Dechelle attend "In Conversation With ... Jackie Chan" premiere during the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 9, 2012, in Toronto, Canada. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2013: Actor Jackie Chan makes hand imprints during the Jackie Chan Hand and Foot Print Ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre on June 6, 2013, in Hollywood, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2014: Jackie Chan attends a photocall to introduce a special screening of "Chinese Zodiac" at BFI Southbank on August 12, 2014, in London. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2015: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, talk with Kung-Fu star Jackie Chan as they attend a "Creative Collaborations: UK & China" event at Lancaster House on October 21, 2015, in London. (Heathcliff O'Malley - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2016: Honoree Jackie Chan accepts his award during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' eighth annual Governors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 12, 2016, in Hollywood, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2017: Actor Jackie Chan attends the 89th annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2019: Jackie Chan signs copies of his new book "Never Grow Up" at Barnes & Noble, Fifth Avenue, on January 22, 2019, in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2020: Li Ning (left), Jackie Chan, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend the Li-Ning Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 18, 2020, in Paris. (Francois Durand/Getty Images)
Photos: Jackie Chan through the years 2022: Actor Jackie Chan holds the Olympic Torch at the Badaling Great Wall on the second day of the torch relay in Beijing on February 3, 2022, a day before the start of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Through the years Ralph Macchio, circa 1980. (Photo by Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years C Thomas Howell and Ralph Macchio run away from home in a scene from the film 'The Outsiders', 1983. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images) (Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Through the years Portrait de Ralph Macchio, circa 1984. (Photo by Jean-Jacques BERNIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) (Jean-Jacques BERNIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Through the years Ralph Macchio sits with Mitchell Whitfield and Joe Pesci in a scene from the film 'My Cousin Vinny', 1992. (Photo by 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images) (Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Through the years Ralph Macchio, Phyllis Fierro, and daughter Julia Macchio at the Ralph Macchio, Phyllis Fierro, and daughter Julia Macchio at Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years Actor Ralph Macchio attends the premiere of The Shipping News December 17, 2001 at the Ziegfield Theatre in New York City. (Photo by George De Sota/Getty Images) (George De Sota/Getty Images)
Through the years PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 18: Actor Ralph Macchio of the film "Rosencrantz & Guildenstein Are Undead" poses for a portrait at the Film Lounge Media Center during the 2009 Slamdance Film Festival on January 18, 2009 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Matt Carr/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years WESTWOOD, CA - JUNE 07: Actors Ralph Macchio, Jada Pinkett and husband actor Will Smith arrive to premiere of Columbia Pictures' "The Karate Kid" after party held at Mann Village Theatre on June 7, 2010 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 02: Actors Ralph Macchio, Topher Grace and Anthony Michael Hall attend Relativity Media presents the premiere of "Take Me Home Tonight" after party held at the Conga Room on March 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Relativity Media) (Frazer Harrison)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Actor Ralph Macchio attends an IZOD party to celebrate the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 at The Colony on April 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Indy 500 will take place on May 29, 2011 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for IZOD) (Joe Scarnici)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 12: Martin Kove and Ralph Macchio attends "The Karate Kid" 30th Anniversary Panel at 2014 New York Comic Con - Day 4 at Jacob Javitz Center on October 12, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images) (Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: William Zabka and Ralph Macchio attend the screening of "Cobra Kai" during the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival at SVA Theatre on April 24, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Fe)
Through the years SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 18: Martin Kove, William Zabka and Ralph Macchio speak at the "Cobra Kai: Past, Present, And Future" panel during 2019 Comic-Con International at San Diego Convention Center on July 18, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Through the years SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: Ralph Macchio attends the Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2022 at Barker Hangar on April 09, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - MAY 14: Ralph Macchio attends Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 4 New York Premiere at Netflix Brooklyn on May 14, 2022 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Ralph Macchio and Martin Kove attend Netflix's "Cobra Kai" Season 5 Premiere Event at Los Angeles State Historic Park on September 07, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 10: Ralph Macchio attends the US Premiere of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" presented by Paramount Pictures and Skydance at Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center on July 10, 2023, in New York, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)