After a year-long delay that included a pair of strikes that greatly impacted all facets of production in Hollywood, Sony is moving forward with their new Karate Kid film. Murphy’s Multiverse first broke the news of Sony developing the film with Rob Lieber on board to write.
According to THR’s Borys Kit, the new film–which he described as “positioning as the fusing and continuing the mythology of the original franchise,“–will team original Karate Kid Daniel Russo and Cobra Kai star Ralph Macchio with Jackie Chan, who played Mr. Han in 2010’s The Karate Kid, and will be directed by Jonathan Entwistle.
As we first reported, the film will feature a Chinese teen lead, referred to as “Li”, who relocates to Brooklyn from Beijing with his mother.
Li is said to be struggling with a past tragedy, which drives a wedge between him and his doctor mom, who has managed to handle the same tragedy in her own way. After Li meets Mia, a student from his high school, and her father, Victor, at a local pizza restaurant, he’ll soon find his life has changed yet again – for the better. Li soon finds himself training Victor in the art of Kung Fu, despite his mother’s stance against violence and fighting, and ultimately back in the ring himself.
From our original exclusive, August 2022
In the first 24 hours after the film was announced, an open casting call for the lead role received over 10,000 submissions.
Sony hopes to begin production on the new film next Spring with Sony currently hoping it’s ready for theaters on December 13th, 2024.
Source: THR
