Karate Kid: Legends: All About the SixthKarate KidFilm (Starring Franchise Icons Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio!)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jackie Chan, Ben Wang and Ralph Macchio in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ (2025).Photo:© Columbia Pictures

© Columbia Pictures

TheKarate Kidfranchise is being introduced to a new generation.

Almost 40 years after the original movie was released,Sony Pictures announcedin September 2022 that the sixth film inThe Karate Kidfranchise was in the works.Karate Kid: Legendsis set to hit theatres on May 30, 2025 — and fans can expect to see both new and old faces in the next installment of their favorite martial arts drama.

Mean Girls’ Ben Wang stars as Li Fong, a new kung fu prodigy who struggles to fit in after moving from Beijing to New York City.Jackie ChanandRalph Macchiowill reprise their roles as Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, respectively. Macchio, who also stars in Netflix’s spinoff seriesCobra Kai,confirmed to PEOPLE thatKarate Kid: Legendswill be “canon” and stay true to the rest of the “Miyagi verse.”

He added, “To me, this was just about carrying the honesty and truth of Daniel LaRusso and what Miyagi, his mentor, meant to him and paying it forward."

Ahead of the film’s 2025 release, here’s everything to know aboutKarate Kid: Legends.

What isKarate Kid: Legendsabout?

Ben Wang in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ (2025).© Columbia Pictures

“After a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother,” the official synopsis reads. “Li struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates, and although he doesn’t want to fight, trouble seems to find him everywhere.”

The plot description continues, “When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition — but his skills alone aren’t enough. Li’s kung fu teacher Mr. Han enlists originalKarate KidDaniel LaRusso for help, and Li learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.”

Who is in the cast ofKarate Kid: Legends?

Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley and Ming-Na Wen.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Amy Sussman/Getty; Frazer Harrison/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Amy Sussman/Getty; Frazer Harrison/Getty

The film already has a star-studded cast lined up. In addition to Macchio and Chan, the cast includesJoshua Jackson(markinghis return to filmafter almost a decade-long hiatus),Sadie Stanley,Wyatt Oleff,Shaunette Renée Wilson andMing-Na Wen— the original voice ofMulan.

Wang, who plays the new karate kid, toldEntertainment Weeklyin December 2024 that he first fell in love with the marital arts films when he saw the 2010 remake.

“I was the target audience when that movie came out,” theAmerican Born Chineseactor said. “I was exactly the age of the character. That whole movie takes place in Beijing, and I’d just come back from living for a year in Beijing.”

Wang continued, mentioning his iconic costar: “Also, I grew up watching Jackie Chan movies. He is the first memory I have of knowing what an actor is. It was all of my favorite things in one place.”

What has Jackie Chan said about returning toThe Karate Kidfranchise?

Jackie Chan attends the Norwegian premiere of ‘The Karate Kid’ on July 23, 2010 in Fredrikstad, Norway.Ragnar Singsaas/Getty

Ragnar Singsaas/Getty

Though he didn’t join the franchise until the 2010 remake, Chan has solidified himself as an iconic part ofTheKarate Kiduniverse. Director Jonathan Entwistle toldEWthat on set, theRush Houractor came up with tons of “tiny ideas."

“He was like the magical Dumbledore to us on set, and he’s like that in the movie too,” the director said. “He was always looking for an opportunity to either roll on the floor, roll over a table, jump off a staircase — he would just be like, ‘I will do this.’ None of us ever had a choice. It was like, Jackie would have an idea, and we just filmed it because it’s Jackie, and it would always be awesome.”

Fans who are thrilled to see Mr. Han return to the big screen are equally upset about the alleged absence of Smith, who played Dre Parker in the 2010 remake opposite Chan. The rapper hasn’t been listed in any casting announcements and hasn’t commented on the upcoming film.

Who is directingKarate Kid: Legends?

Kristina Bumphrey/Getty

Entwistle toldEWthat he first read the script in 2022 and was excited about bringing together two major characters from theKarate Kiduniverse who have yet to be connected. “One of the things that was really exciting to me when I first read it was this idea of connecting the Jackie Chan character of Mr. Han with Daniel LaRusso, both from the movies and then subsequently what [his character] had become withCobra Kai,” the director said.

He continued, “Without giving too much away, I can say that Mr. Han and Mr. Miyagi are the connection to Daniel. The Han family and the Miyagi family are connected all the way back to the old times. And there is a mention of this within theKarate Kidmovie canon for those people who want to go looking for it."

Entwistleposted a photoof the movie’s clapperboard on Instagram in April 2024, with the caption “Day One 🥋 🍕,” signaling the start of filming. He alsomarked the end of shootingon Instagram in June 2024 with a group photo of the cast and crew.

How isKarate Kid: Legendsconnected toCobra Kai?

illiam Zabka as Johnny Lawrence and Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai.Netflix© 2024

Netflix© 2024

Karate Kid: Legendstakes place after the events in theCobra Kaiseason 6 finale (which premieres in 2025 and will conclude the series).

Entwistle toldEWthat he was in touch with the show’s creators while makingKarate Kid: Legendsand that even after all these years, Macchio is still at the center of keeping the franchise true to its roots.

“I was excited about the idea that the films and the series can all be part of one family,” the director said. “Obviously, Ralph is really, really close to it after all those years onCobra Kai, and they’ve been involved in little steps along the way. Everything we talked about made it into the movie in some way or other."

Is there a trailer forKarate Kid: Legends?

Jackie Chan and Ben Wang in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ (2025).© Columbia Pictures

TheKarate Kid: Legendstrailerwas released on Dec. 17, 2025, and teased how Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso will meet.

When asked how he knew Mr. Miyagi, Han replies, “I did not come looking for Sensei Miyagi. I came looking for you.”

When willKarate Kid: Legendsbe released?

Ralph Macchio and Ben Wang in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ (2025).© Columbia Pictures

Karate Kids: Legendswill be released in theaters on May 30, 2025.

Where can I watch theKarate Kidfranchise?

Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio in a scene from the film ‘The Karate Kid’ (1984).Columbia Pictures/Getty

Columbia Pictures/Getty

You can streamThe Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II,The Karate Kid Part IIIandThe Next Karate Kidon Netflix as well as all six seasons of the showCobra Kai.

The Karate Kid2010 remake with Chan and Smith is also available on Netflix but is leaving the platform on Dec. 31, 2024.

source: people.com