New Karate Kid Movie Unites Two Legends For Epic New Journey, See The Proof

In Karate Kid Legends, the titular kid is played by Ben Wang who plays a young kung-fu prodigy (Li Fong) who must master some sweet moves in the dojo while dealing with problems like bullies at his school. He seemingly has not one but two mentors, and their identities are sure to excite fans of this hit franchise.

You see, this new karate kid is being mentored by two legends: Jackie Chan (who played Jaden Smith’s mentor, Mr. Han, in the 2010 Karate Kid reboot) and Ralph Macchio, (who played Daniel LaRusso, the franchise’s original protagonist).

Certainly, Karate Kid Legends isn’t hiding that two of its biggest stars are returning: both Chan and LaRusso appear very prominently in the movie’s poster. They were just as prominent in the trailer for the film that was recently shown at NYCC, with both of these veteran warriors appearing to teach Wang’s character. The trailer drops some fun lore (the revelation that Chan’s character Han knew Pat Morita’s character, the famous Mr. Myagi), and it also ends with some Yoda-like advice from Macchio as he talks about “two branches from one tree.”

One thing that is strangely unclear about Karate Kid Legends is whether it takes place in a different universe than one we have seen before, complete with Marvel-style Variants. Remember, Macchio is a star in the first movies and Chan is the star of the 2010 reboot, and their film universes have always been treated as completely separate.

This is driven home by Netflix’s Cobra Kai show: its lore is limited to only the early movies with Mr. Myagi in them, and the show frequently references Jackie Chan…given that, it’s quite weird to think about Chan playing alongside the original karate kid.

Speaking of that show, it will likely be imperative to watch the sixth season of Cobra Kai because it will wrap up only months before the release of Karate Kid Legends. While it’s not a sure thing that they will be in the same universe, the smart money is that this season will give Daniel an arc that explains his motivation in the film. By staying on top of this universe, audiences can continue following the ever-evolving adventures of the ‘80s most earnest hero.

At a glance, Karate Kid Legends looks like it might live up to its lofty goal of bringing this venerable franchise back to the big screen. The franchise was on its last cinematic legs when it was revived as a hit show on Netflix, one that has given fans a sprawling, binge-worthy story. Now, a big-screen blockbuster hit could make this brand “wax on and wax off” when it comes to cleaning up the kung-fu competition.