Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan unite in “Karate Kid: Legends,” blending nostalgic legacy with fresh talent as martial arts traditions converge for a new generation.
The Karate Kid film series has captivated audiences for decades, and now a new chapter is set to continue the legacy. Ben Wang, star of “Karate Kid: Legends” (also known as Karate Kid 5), was introduced to the original “Karate Kid” movie as a youngster because it was his aunt’s favorite film.
Wang’s on-screen rival, Aramis Knight (both 25), had never experienced it until he was cast in the new film. And “Legends” director Jonathan Entwistle – born in 1984, the year the first “Kid” came out – got into the mythology thanks only to the Netflix spinoff series “Cobra Kai.”
Then there’s Ralph Macchio, the OG karate kid. The Ralph Macchio Karate Kid connection has been a part of the franchise before there was a franchise, before “wax on, wax off” became a touchstone. It’s no secret to Macchio why folks still follow the journey of his Daniel LaRusso – and why he thinks people will love Wang’s teen character, Li Fong, the new karate kid.
Ben Wang, actor, at CinemaCon 2025 here he was honored with the Star of Tomorrow award at Caesar’s Palace at Las Vegas, NV
Photo credit: Jennifer 8. Lee, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
“He’s dealing with an internal struggle a little bit different than what my struggle was back in the day, but at the end of it, you’re rooting for people you care about. That’s the storytelling,” Macchio says. “And we’re hoping that this fresh new take for the 2025 families is going to be what it needs to be: entertainment for everyone.”
“Legends” (in theaters May 30) expands the Miyagi-verse – named for Daniel-san’s beloved sensei Mr. Miyagi (the late Pat Morita) – by bringing in kung fu shifu Mr. Han, Jackie Chan’s wise old master from the Jackie Chan Karate Kid movie, also known as Karate Kid (2010). But there are echoes of the original “Karate Kid”: After moving from Beijing to New York City, Li runs afoul of karate-champ bully Conor (Knight), reflecting the theme of bullying prevalent in the series. And when Li enters an ultimate karate competition to win prize money for his struggling friend Victor (Joshua Jackson), Han reaches out to LaRusso for karate help because of the Miyagi-Han family connection.
Unlike young Daniel, Li is way past the basics when it comes to karate kung fu. “This is grad school,” says Wang, the first Asian-American lead of a “Karate Kid” film, representing the next generation of martial arts practitioners.
Jackie Chan’s ‘Karate Kid’ love goes back to the ’80s
Wang recalls meeting Chan and the hubbub about the 71-year-old Hong Kong action icon starting before he got to the set. Filming in Montreal, Wang watched a crew full of laid-back French Canadians freak out hearing that Chan was driving himself from the airport. “Thirty minutes later, Jackie pulls up in a van, and he’s like, ‘What’s up?’ ” Wang says with a laugh. “And then we shot a fight scene together.”
Jackie Chan arriving for the press conference DA BING XIAO JIANG (Little Big Soldier).
Photo credit: Siebbi, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Chan was aware of the 1984 film and enjoyed it, and it was “part of the reason why I did my first ‘Karate Kid’ movie,” he says. “It gives people a chance to know karate and the culture.” He had wanted to work with Macchio ever since meeting him at the premiere of Karate Kid (2010), and for him, the best part about “Legends” is “we get to train Ben and torture him together!” This collaboration brings together Jackie Chan karate expertise with Macchio’s classic karate kid moves.
Filming those sequences, Macchio and Chan “were always trying to one up each other,” Entwistle adds. “It’s baked into this idea of kung fu versus karate, which one is better?” And it’s a “quite meta” way to nod to the audience division between the 2010 movie and the beloved original, while also serving as fan-service for long-time followers of the franchise.
Knight believes the 1984 film still holds up: “It’s a feel-good movie that anybody can relate to, whether you’re 13 or 30 or 100 years old.” And there are moments in “Legends” with Macchio in the old Miyagi house where “he looks on-screen to me like he could be 17,” Entwistle says, highlighting the nostalgic elements that fans love.
Original ‘Karate Kid’ Ralph Macchio embraces his most Mr. Miyagi self
Macchio has a good sense of humor when it comes to his apparent eternal life. “Don’t let the youthfulness fake you out,” quips the actor, still looking great at 63. That vigor helped when he wrapped the “Cobra Kai” series finale, got on a plane and immediately went to work on “Legends.” “You buy the goldfish, you keep it in the bag until it gets used to the climate. I was just, they cut the bag, threw me in.”
“Cobra Kai” ended with LaRusso and former rival Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) finally at peace, and “there’s really a grounded sort of almost Miyagi-esque element” about Daniel now, Macchio says. “He’s less the uptight car salesman who’s pissed off that Johnny’s getting up in his kitchen.” This character development showcases how beloved characters can evolve over time.
The teachings of Miyagi continue to flow through the franchise. For Chan, there’s Mr. Han’s continued passion for training his student but also the core of “Karate Kid,” where “we protect, not attack, and we take care of each other,” he says. This philosophy underlines the importance of mentors in the series. And Li becomes a martial arts master of sorts for ex-boxer/pizza-place owner Victor, showing him that “everything is kung fu” as he trains for a comeback fight. “He’s still doing the boxing that he’s always done. But it’s almost like he believes in himself,” Entwistle says.
Macchio sees it in the “heartfelt way” Daniel and Han connect, “that sharing a piece of the wisdom and the legacy of Miyagi is never the wrong choice when it’s for the greater good,” he says.
And Macchio takes all that to heart in his real life as well, be it with young co-stars like Wang or his own children: “Sharing those stories and a piece of that going forward, be it from the actor side or the sensei side, is something I take a great deal of pride in.”
The new film promises to deliver exciting action scenes and intricate choreography, blending the best of karate and kung fu techniques. As fans eagerly await the chance to watch Karate Kid: Legends, it’s clear that the franchise continues to evolve while honoring its roots, offering something for both new viewers and long-time fans of The Karate Kid.
Source:
Brian Truitt (May 29, 2025). How Ralph Macchio’s ‘feel-good’ first ‘Karate Kid’ informs ‘Legends’. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2025/05/29/karate-kid-legends-ralph-macchio-jackie-chan/83873692007/
Header Photo: Ralph-Macchio
Photo credit: CobraKai0707, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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