Martial arts icons Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio team up on screen for the first time in Karate Kid: Legends, blending kung fu and karate to mentor a new young fighter in the latest evolution of the beloved franchise.
The Karate Kid legacy lives on in a powerful new chapter as Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio join forces in Karate Kid: Legends, released this week. The film introduces Ben Wang as Li Fong, a kung fu prodigy from Beijing who moves to New York with his mother and soon finds himself entangled in a martial arts rivalry.
When Li’s growing friendship with a local pizza shop owner, Victor, and his daughter Mia sparks tension with a neighborhood karate champion, he is drawn into the world of competitive fighting. To prepare for the challenge, Li is trained by not one, but two legendary mentors: Jackie Chan’s Mr Han and Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso—bridging the worlds of kung fu and karate in a cinematic first for the franchise.
“They presented the concept... connecting the Miyagi to the Han family and how that made sense,” said Macchio. “That was the challenge at first—figuring that out. Working with Jackie was like, ‘Woohoo sign me up—when, where?’”
Macchio returns as LaRusso for the fourth time on film, continuing the journey of a character he also reprised in the hit series Cobra Kai. Meanwhile, Chan steps back into the role of Mr Han, whom he first portrayed in the 2010 reboot opposite Jaden Smith.
"Now we've both become a Miyagi," Chan quipped. "I remember when I saw the first one... I want to be 'The Karate Kid'. Now we work together."
For 25-year-old Ben Wang, stepping into the iconic franchise was both daunting and deeply meaningful. “It’s a terrifying thing in a certain way because it’s a beloved franchise… but it’s also a great honour. I know how special and lucky it is that I get to do this with the two of them,” Wang said.
With nostalgia, action, and a message of mentorship at its core, Karate Kid: Legends promises to inspire a new generation while honouring the spirit of the originals.
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