Yahoo Movies What we know about Karate Kid: Legends as trailer lands online
The martial arts classic is being rebooted so prepare to wax on, wax off one more time…
After finding later-in-life success with the legacy sequel series Cobra Kai, ’80s kids’ classic The Karate Kid will grace the big screen once more in a brand new movie, titled Karate Kid: Legends. While already exciting news, what makes this upcoming Karate Kid project even more intriguing is that it looks set to splice two different corners of the franchise’s cinematic universe.
What else do we know about this nostalgic new project? Grab your gi and meet us in the dojo: it’s time to train up on some key Karate Kid details.
When will Karate Kid: Legends be released?
Karate Kid: Legend will be released in cinemas on May 30, 2025, some 15 years after the previous Karate Lid film.
Is there a trailer for Karate Kid: Legends?
The trailer for Karate Kid: Legends landed online in December 2024, giving fans a first glimpse at new star Ben Wang alongside returning favourites Jackie Chan and Ralph Maccio. Watch the clip below:
What is the plot of Karate Kid: Legends?
The plot synopsis for Karate KidL Legends reads: “After a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother. Li struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates, and although he doesn't want to fight, trouble seems to find him everywhere.
When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition — but his skills alone aren’t enough. Li’s kung fu teacher Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) enlists original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) for help, and Li learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.”
Released in 1984 and directed by John D. Avildsen, The Karate Kid followed Daniel LaRusso, a young boy who finds himself at odds with the new town he’s moved to with his mother. After struggling with some high school bullies, Daniel finds solace in studying karate with an elderly handyman and martial arts expert named Mr. Miyagi.
Avildsen’s movie also introduced us to Daniel’s high school bully Johnny Lawrence who went on to play a significant role in the film’s spin-off series Cobra Kai years later.
Who is starring in Karate Kid: Legends?
The film will bring characters from two different areas of the Karate Kid franchise together, with Ralph Macchio playing Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan reprising his role as Mr. Han — the Mr. Miyagi-esque martial arts expert — who trained 12-year-old Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker in the 2010 reboot.
American Born Chinese star Ben Wang will play Li Fong, the new Karate Kid. According to reports, Wang bagged the role thanks to his “standout audition” that saw him display a “deep connection to the character.” The fact that he is fluent in Mandarin and trained in various forms of martial arts also helped him to secure this coveted role.
The decision followed an intense open casting call that encouraged interested parties from all over the world to enter the ring and try out for the role. Just one day after the casting call was made public, The Hollywood Reporter learned that the production had received over 10,000 submissions from all over the globe.
Mulan star Ming-Na Wen will play Li Fong’s mother, while Joshua Jackson and Sadie Stanley have also been cast. Despite playing a key role in Cobra Kai, there’s currently no word on whether William Zabka will return as Johnny Lawrence.
The film is based on a new script from Peter Rabbit scribe Rob Lieber and will be directed by Jonathan Entwistle, the same filmmaker behind Channel 4 drama The End of the F***ing World.
Karate Kid: Legends will be released in cinemas on 30 May, 2025.
