It looks like Will Smith is going to be all over the remake of the Karate Kid. Today we learn that he will not only be producing, but also directing the project. We get the scoop from our friends at moviesonline:
Will Smith is in fact going to direct the upcoming Karate Kid movie according to production notes. His son Jaden Smith will also star. There has been a lot of past speculation on who would star, and who would direct but it would seem the speculation can now end. Overbook Entertainment have Will Smith listed as the director and Jaden Smith as its star.
Will Smith has had quite the journey. If you would have told me back in the day, that The Fresh Prince would be directing a remake of the Karate Kid in the future (as the Kung Fu Kid); I would have called you a liar and a prophet of questionable ability. But here we are, and it looks like Mr. Smith’s directorial debut on a feature film, will be alongside his son and Jackie Chan or Steven Chow.
Steven Chow has confirmed that he is in talks to play Mr. Miyagi and we get his words on the matter today via themoviehole:
Martial arts magnate Stephen Chow (“Kung Fu Hustle”) has confirmed online rumours that he’s in talks to play wise and wrinkly warrior Mr Myiagi in a ‘’Karate Kid’’ remake.
“I’m very fond of ‘The Karate Kid’ and would love to join in the remake project, no matter as a producer, director or actor”, says Chow. “But it depends on my schedule. As you know, next year I will work on two movies, ‘Dragon Ball’ and ‘Journey to the West.’”
So it is not yet confirmed that Chow will be Miyagi, but he is certainly still in the running. Chan is a high octane contender however and although both men are great choices, I think I would prefer the pastoral Chan for the role of Kung Fu Master. Lots of news out today regarding this project and we will have to hope that they walk with the wisdom of Macchio to create a film that pays tribute to the original.
44 Comments, Comment or Ping
Kristina
Aww HELL naw!
Dec 11th, 2007
Terry Letourneau
After seeing Will Smith on ‘60 Minutes’ (and countless other interviews lately), I would have to say that has got to be one of the most down to earth guys in Hollywood. Not only has he become a great actor over the years, he is very serious about his work. I just wished he was directing something original instead of a remake of ‘The Karate Kid’. I am looking forward to ‘I am Legend’ though even though it too is a remake.
Dec 11th, 2007
doug nagy
I really liked Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. I do not like a lot of the films he is in, but he does ability and he certainly seems to be a quality dude.
Dec 11th, 2007
doug nagy
I really liked Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. I do not like a lot of the films he is in, but he does have outstanding ability and he certainly seems to be a quality dude.
Dec 11th, 2007
Rafa1215
I’m down with Will directing a movie. But, I don’t want him to do this one. Leave it alone. I understand that his relationship with his son is great and all. For me they hit it out of the park with Happyness as a team. Will, don’t do a remake. Do something original. Do something that a studio bought rights to, but is just sitting in a dark room ready to be unleashed to the public. Karate Kid was probably the “Rocky” of the 80’s for the both of us. Good Luck dude.
Dec 11th, 2007
Phil Gee
Cobra Kai…….never dies!
Dec 11th, 2007
Adam McCune
Someone needs to put this idea in a body bag!
Dec 11th, 2007
Darren J Seeley
I said it once…I’ll say it again.
Forget Chow and/or Chan for Myagi.
Sammo Hung.
Sammo Hung.
Sammo Hung.
Dec 11th, 2007
Nathan Rossin
Look, I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t read this beyond the first couple of paragraphs. It is “would HAVE,” not “would OF.” Man, some grammatical errors are easy to get through, but that one just grinds the entire article to a halt…
Apr 23rd, 2008
John
In paragraph three, “I would of” should be “I would have.” Just because have and of are pronounced the same by people doesn’t make them interchangeable.
Apr 23rd, 2008
doug nagy
Fixed, thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Apr 23rd, 2008
The BEst Around
i cant wait till these retards start remaking remakes that were already remade. this is the worst idea ever. sorry but no kid will be as perfect for the role of daniel larusso as macchio. more importantly karate kid is a time piece, back in the 80s everyone was karate/ninja crazy. these days its all about that ufc mixed martial arts shit.
and let me guess, zach effron is playing jonathan lawrence.
i would rather listen to a new will smith cd than watch him ruin this classic.
Apr 23rd, 2008
Hmmmmm...
I just find it funny, looking at the comment dates, that the only comments where made on the day that the article was written, and the day Cracked.com wrote an article about it.
Epic.
Apr 23rd, 2008
earthling
Stephen Chow? Jackie Chan? Oh dear, as much as i have very high regards for those two thespitainers, it’s the ol’ geisha error once again. Mr miyagi = japanese. those two = chinese. That;s probably like saying Will Smith is the obvious choice for a remake of Gandhi.
Apr 23rd, 2008
mos
“geisha”? I do not think that word means what you think it means.
fail.
Apr 23rd, 2008
Scourge
I will agree this movie shouldn’t be made, but certainly not because it’s ruining a classic… rather because it’s resurrecting a piece of excretus that should have been buried in a pit and forgotten.
Unfortunately, I saw Karate Kid several times in the 80’s, so I can also point out that Mr. Miyagi was not Japanese or Chinese, but Okinawan - and calling an Okinawan “Japanese” is about as smart as calling a Scotsman “English”.
Apr 23rd, 2008
Helen Waite
I would just like to point out that Will Smith is a Scientologist. Calling a Scientologist “down-to-earth” is kind of like calling Tom Cruise tall. So, yeah. I’m not in the least surprised that Willy thinks this is a good idea.
Apr 23rd, 2008
Ekateryna
re: Mos
“Geisha” refers to the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha”, in which Japanese characters were played by Chinese actresses
fail
Apr 23rd, 2008
Michael Brown
Fail.
Apr 23rd, 2008
.....
FAIL!!
Apr 23rd, 2008
Mike
Actually, the way I read it, it’s going to be the Kung Fu Kid. Using the name Mr. Miyagi might just be a place-holder name for the “teacher” of the movie. It would then make sense that they are looking at Chinese actors. OR, they’re just xenophobic boobs who just have no idea what they are talking about.
Apr 23rd, 2008
LLIK
Agree… AWWW HELL NAW!
Apr 23rd, 2008
Svolech
“Would HAVE,” not “would OF.”
Apr 23rd, 2008
Athe
WELCOME TO ERF!
Apr 23rd, 2008
Coquito Von Tito
Uh… WHAT?
Apr 23rd, 2008
Jake
Kinda sad to see Will Smith use the same old stereotypes.
Why not make one called The UFC Kid and have a some UFC fighter teach an Asian kid?
Apr 24th, 2008
will smith is on crack
You have got to be kidding me remaking probably the best movie from the 80s whats next Morgan Freeman in Easy Rider..some things should stand on their own…Will back away from the crack man
Apr 24th, 2008
This is terrible.
Who’s funding this? Have they been drug tested recently? It’s going to be awful.
Apr 26th, 2008
Diego
Jaden Smith is too young to play the rol of Ralph Macchio. He is a 9 years old boy. Karate Kid is all about teenagers and the 80’s.
Besides none one can replace Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi… not even Jackie Chan.
Apr 27th, 2008
gaston-san
(Type your comment here. Make sure you’ve read the commenting rules before doing so) THE KARATE KID”…remake? I” like, really , the story not repeat again please!!!….Ralph Macchio is back ,in the skin of the master .,And Jaden Smith is the new “san”, whit a new story,you know , the karate kid continued ….. bye,my name is Gaston ,I”m from Uruguay(south america).
Apr 28th, 2008
Mak
NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!
-sigh-
May 1st, 2008
Jenny
Sounds like a crappy deal, too bad for Wil Smith. Also, “alot” is actually two words, two, words. “a lot” thanks.
May 1st, 2008
Rob
I hope he remembers one phrase:
“Sweep the leg, Johnny!”
May 23rd, 2008
Gh0StFaC3
Oh, bring it on!!
Although, it’s not actually clear if this will be a direct rip of ‘The Karate Kid’ or a movie along the same lines.
If it’s supposed to be based on the original, then Mr. Miyagi should definitely be played by a Japanese actor (Takeshi Kitano anyone?) and Jaden Smith would be a horrible choice for Daniel LaRusso, instantly ruining any credibility this premise may have had.
I hope they don’t go the UFC route either.. this was already done with the recently released - ‘Never back down’
Jun 3rd, 2008
Jackie
ARGH
DHIAFBVNS;’BSLGV; BA;KJVDBH’PDWZEXSDRCTFVGYBHUNJK
NOOOOOOOOO!!!! I am so dissapointed. They can NOT, i repeat NOT make this movie. I wasnt even born when karate kid came out but i am a devoted fan. Macchio is an amazing actor and not mention he was soooo hot. He was the perfect guy for the part and pat was the perfect mr.myagi. If will goes through with this he can kiss his career goodbye. I used to like him but now that i know this silly thought crossed his mind i will never listen to his music or watch a single movie with smith in it again.
call me crazy but someone needs to knock some sense into this man.
i am going to mourn now.
=[
Jun 6th, 2008
none of your business
because we need another freakin’ remake of a classic, right?
Jul 25th, 2008
Paulo
Well, why don’t they just turn Mr Miyagi into a kung-fu (that’s right, not karate) version of Michael Jackson and be done with destroying all my childhood memories? The only thing that’s left now is making a movie about evil smurfs that kill little children in their sleep.
Aug 7th, 2008
Taroc
Sammo Hung, would be my choice.
Aug 14th, 2008
mike
Crappy movies do not belong in this dojo, do they? NO SENSAI!
Aug 15th, 2008
Darrell
This movie will be full of Fail. You can’t remake classics successfully. There are exceptions but in general they lose money.
Aug 15th, 2008
Zach
You’ve got to be kidding me. There is no need to remake a movie like this, they got it right the first time. Will, go back to fighting robots and zombies.
Aug 21st, 2008
Ao
(Type your comment here. Make sure you’ve read the commenting rules before doing so)
MAK, JACKIE, totally agree, …. I’m a japanese girl, am telling you, you can’t replace Miyagi-san, he’s actually American-Japanese whatever, not matter…… and why do you really want/have to remake karate kid! Leave it alone, honestly, pls!!!
Sep 3rd, 2008
Mike
Hopefully this never gets made. Just like he should have never been casted for the lead in the Wild Wild West remake, he should have nothing to do with a classic like this. Another opportunity to shove his family down our throats.
I hope it tanks.
Sep 29th, 2008
ramon
i couldnt agree more that the original shouldnt be remade. its a classic and it should be left alone. just look how crappy “the next karate kid” with that chick was.if your a fan of the original you tube “sweep the leg” by no more kings. heres an idea make a new movie with the original cobra kai and macchio. it could be about their kids duking it out. like i said just an idea.
Oct 5th, 2008
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