Jaden Smith Is The New Karate Kid Will Smith's son to wax on, wax off
Looks like Jaden Smith will be learning how to paint the fence over the coming months. And by that, of course, we don’t mean that Will Smith’s 10 year-old actor son is going to be helping out around the house. No, instead, he’s signed on to become the new Karate Kid in a remake of the Ralph Macchio 80s cult classic.
Smith, who made an impressive acting debut alongside his dad in The Pursuit Of Happyness and who has a role in the upcoming The Day The Earth Stood Still, is a martial arts practitioner in real life, so the role should come naturally to him.
Nevertheless, his casting is still a surprise, as it immediately skews the remake in an unexpected direction, given that Smith is a good decade-and-change younger than Macchio was when he first took on the role of Daniel LaRusso back in 1984.
So, are producers Jerry Weintraub, James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and – yes! – Will Smith himself refashioning The Karate Kid as a kids’ film? Perhaps. And then again, perhaps it’s a huge vote of confidence in Smith The Younger. If his dad feels he’s capable of carrying a film when he’s barely out of nappies, then who are we to argue?
Otherwise, very little is known about the Karate Kid remake, other than that it will hew fairly close to the plot of the original (bullied kid seeks solace in karate, and is taken under the wing of seemingly eccentric tutor), and that it will take place in Beijing, despite the Japanese influences of the original. And there’s no word yet on whether there’ll be a Mr. Miyagi-type character.
Chris Murphy is currently working on a script, while a director has yet to come onboard. But it can only be a matter of time, with filming set to start next year. Columbia is stumping up the cash.
1 - he's too young
2 - we had a "next karate kid" with Hilary Swank and it sucked
3 - it was essentially a kid's remake of Rocky with a happy ending anyway
4 - it is sacreligious to remake anything from the sacred year of 1984 ... Read More
well personally, I'm going to have a little faith in the Smiths and see how this comes on. Will is probably one of the savviest guys in Hollywood right now, and the kid already showed he can act. The only thing I cant see that they can replace is Pat Morita's Mr Miyagi.
also wondering how it'll be Karate Kid if it's set in China, seeing as Karate is a Japanese martiala art and all. tho maybe that's one of the points of it. ... Read More
L: Leeorami 2.0
It doesn't need to be remade!
sp;
Absolutely! How can you match the cheesy charm of Ralph and Pat? IMO the Karate Kid trilogy is one of the best movie trilogies - stupendously naff of course but very entertaining. Casting a 10 year old sounds like a George Lucas type casting decision!
Greatest moment of KK cheese? KK Part 2 when he has the Chinese guy on the floor 'Live or die man, live or die?' and we know what happens next..p;
Hilarious! ... Read More
L: waltham1979
think telling a ten year old kid to f*** off, albiet in a forum, is a touch harsh - but I see where you are coming from. Personally i can't believe its another bloody remake !!
sp;
The expletive wasn't aimed at the 10 year old, it was an expression of my feelings towards the idea of a Karate Kid remake! However, Smith can indeed go forth and multiply if he so wishes ... Read More
