The Karate Kid is back! Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan to REPRISE roles for new film in iconic series – as actors launch search for new teenage protegee

The Karate Kid stars Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan have announced a new film in the iconic franchise – with the actors launching a global search for the movie’s teenage protegee.

Macchio, 62, who played original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso in the famed 1984 film and its two sequels, and Chan, 69, who starred as kung fu master Mr Han in the 2010 remake, teamed up for a fun video on Tuesday to make the announcement.

Chan said: ‘Hi everyone! We’ve got big news’ before Macchio added: ‘We’re starring in a new Karate Kid movie together.’

Chan responded: ‘That’s big news, but we even have bigger news. We’re looking for the next Karate Kid.

Quoting Mr Miyagi’s iconic line in closing, Macchio said: ‘That’s right — the global search for the star of our new film starts right now. So let’s wax on, wax off, everybody.’

Waxing on! The Karate Kid stars Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan have announced a new film in the iconic franchise – with the actors launching a global search for the movie’s teenage protegee

Iconic: Macchio, 62,  played original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso in the famed 1984 film and its two sequels alongside Pat Morita as the wise Mr Miyagi

The video then directed aspiring auditionees to KarateKidCasting.com for more information on how to apply for the role.

The next Karate Kid will be named Li Fong and is described 

Fong is described as a teenager between 15-17 years old who is Chinese or mixed-race Chinese.

The announcement reads: ‘He’s smart, scrappy and a skilled martial artist. Any sort of martial arts, movement, gymnastics, and/or dance experience is a strong plus.’

The film is set for release on December 13 2024 and will be directed by Jonathan Entwistle with a screen play by Rob Lieber.

Ralph played Daniel for three instalments – The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989), but did not reprise the role in The Next Karate Kid (1994). 

The story of The Karate Kid follows Daniel as he is taught the martial art by the wise Mr Miyagi (played by the late Pat Morita) to help defend himself and compete in a tournament against his bullies.

The film also stars Elisabeth Shue as Daniel’s love interest Ali Mills and William Zabka as her ex-boyfriend – and one of Daniel’s bullies – Johnny Lawrence.

It was directed by the late John G. Avildsen – the Academy-Award winning director of Rocky. 

A remake set in China and focusing on kung-fu was released in 2010 starring Chan and Jaden Smith, adopting a similar storyline but different characters. 

Cobra Kai is a follow-up series which started in 2018 and is set three decades after the original films. It features some of the original cast-members, including Ralph and William. 

Last year, the 2022 Chinese remake of the 2010 Karate Kid film was announced. 

Announcement: Chan said: ‘Hi everyone! We’ve got big news’ before Macchio added: ‘We’re starring in a new Karate Kid movie together’

Chan responded: ‘That’s big news, but we even have bigger news. We’re looking for the next Karate Kid’

Wow: Quoting Mr Miyagi’s iconic line in closing, Macchio said: ‘That’s right — the global search for the star of our new film starts right now. So let’s wax on, wax off, everybody’

Legendary: The story of The Karate Kid follows Daniel as he is taught the martial art by the wise Mr Miyagi (played by the late Pat Morita) to help defend himself and compete in a tournament against his bullies 

Adaptation: A remake set in China and focusing on kung-fu was released in 2010, adopting a similar storyline but different characters (pictured Jackie Chan back and Jaden Smith front)

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