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Jaden Smith is the Next Karate Kid

November 11, 2008

Columbia Pictures has refashioned its new version of the 1984 hit The Karate Kid as a star vehicle for Jaden Smith, reports Variety.

The film will be produced by Jerry Weintraub (who launched the original franchise) and Overbrook Entertainment's James Lassiter, Jaden's father Will Smith and Ken Stovitz.

The script is being written by Chris Murphy, and the film will shoot next year in Beijing and other cities. While the new film will be set in that exotic locale, it will borrow elements of the original plot, wherein a bullied youth learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor.

The younger Smith, who next stars in The Day the Earth Stood Still, is a martial arts practitioner.

From ComingSoon.net

The Karate Kid
Jackie Chan Joins The Karate Kid Remake
Steven Conrad Writing The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid Remake Gets Underway in Beijing
The A-Team Spotted in Vancouver!

Other Movie Sites

The Hollywood Round-Up: November 17
The Hollywood Roundup: June 8
First Look: Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith Filming The Kung-Fu Kid
35th Saturn Award Nominations Are In!
Scream Awards Results As They Happen

COMMENTS (90)

Posted by:

Too Young

November 11, 2008

He's only 10 and so i'm assuming it will be geared more towards younger kids. I don't mind the idea of rebooting the franchise I just think that they should have made it with someone in the late teens/early 20's instead.

Posted by:

Dwight The Barbarian

November 11, 2008

Karate is Japanese, not Chinese, so why is it being set in China?? And not Japan!!

Posted by:

major

November 11, 2008

Horrile Idea, the kid is way too young

Posted by:

major

November 11, 2008

I mean don't really mind a remake, but the kid is ten, he hasn't even reached puberty, 3-4 years time, he will still be young but at least it will be watchable.

Lol, I wonder if they will be giving a 10 year old a love interest.

Posted by:

Poddington

November 11, 2008

@ Dwight: Karate is a Chinese Martial Arts, based on Chinese Kenpo and other indigenous fighting methods. So it makes perfect sense to film in China. Of course, we don't know if the whole film is in China, but it will start there.

I'm not entirely sure what they are trying to achieve with this. I liked Karate Kid when i was younger and i liked it's 80's American take on it.

I don't know if this is a re-make or a new start, but whatever happens we will always have the original :)

Posted by:

Mr. Miagi

November 11, 2008

GOD. . . HELP. . . US!!!

Posted by:

Daniel-San

November 11, 2008

No Mr. Miyagi? No Ralph Macchio? No way. Stupid idea. WAX ON, WAX OFF.

Posted by:

purewitz

November 11, 2008

I have my doubts about this reboot. Plus no one can fill the shoes of Noriyuki "Pat" Morita as Mr. Miyagi. If this movie get made they should dedicate the movie to him and his work in movies and television.
R.I.P. Noriyuki "Pat" Morita June 28, 1932 � November 24, 2005

Posted by:

Josh

November 11, 2008

Actually, there isn't an exact form of martial arts called "karate"; the term refers to any form which not does utilize weaponry. The film series' creator, Robert Mark Kamen, deliberately had Miyagi describe it as meaning "empty hand", because it's the truth.

As for this new reboot, I'm not sure it will do very well. The original and "Part II" are still the best, and I really think they need to go older with the current entry. In my opinion, audiences may have trouble identifying with a 10-year-old learning expert karate skills. The only movie that really succeeded in that regard was the original "3 Ninjas", and mostly because they used it as a comedic device.

Posted by:

Poddington

November 11, 2008

Well to say it's a chinese martial arts might be too far indeed, but it was developed from Chinese Kenpo and types from Ryukyu Islands. Chinese famileis that moved to Okinawa in er 1300's? (can't remember) shared their martial arts and when Okinawa had a banning on weapons, it was used to great affect against invading clans. Masters were also sent to China to learn chinese martial arts. And Karate wasn't properly taught on main land Japan until something like the late 1800s early 1900s.

What i was doing was trying to find reason for the locale to be China and since Karate was developed from Ryukyu Islands and chinese Martial Arts it makes sense.

That should be enough facts for you and i wasn't calling 'people out' merely finding reason for the locale. You know (insert laughter) instead of trying to troll and ***** (looks at Andrew)