It was only a matter of time before martial arts icons Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan would join forces on the big screen—and that moment has arrived with Karate Kid: Legends.
“Bringing these two legends together is beyond a producer’s dream,” says producer Karen Rosenfelt. “What’s fresh and unique about this movie is that both Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso are training a Chinese, Mandarin-speaking boy. It’s a story about family and recovering what’s important. And it works as a standalone if you have never seen a Karate Kid film, and it’s also a love letter to those who were there for The Karate Kid in 1984.”
In Karate Kid: Legends, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) finds himself in New York City, adapting to a new life while clashing with the local karate champ. As tensions rise, his kung fu teacher Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) teams up with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) to merge their martial arts wisdom in preparation for an epic showdown.
The creative team behind the film has worked hard to honor the legacy of The Karate Kid while bringing fresh energy for today’s audience—and no one has poured more heart into the project than Ralph Macchio, who also serves as executive producer.
“I’ve been careful over the years with protecting this franchise, protecting this character,” Macchio says. “The evolution of these characters, the themes in the original movie, they still stand the test of time and win over each generation.”
Jackie Chan was eager to get back into the franchise, reprising the role of Mr. Han. “I wanted to come back to this role because the audience wants to come back,” he says. “We’ve been looking for a good story. We’ve been waiting.”
For Macchio, working with Chan was a unique learning experience. “I have so much respect for him as an artist and entertainer,” he says. “He’s a legend in the field, whether it be motion pictures and martial arts or even comedy. He cares very much, and he’s very involved in every take, certainly in the martial arts takes. He’s like, ‘No, no, this is how it’s done!’ I kind of just say, ‘Okay!’”
The feeling was mutual with Chan, who felt like he had immediate chemistry with Macchio. “Our first time meeting was the premiere of The Karate Kid ten years ago. He’s an actor like me—so experienced,” says Chan. “He knows what a film needs. Immediately we just melded together. Whatever I’d say, he was already thinking.”
Catch these two legends as they inspire the next wave of martial arts heroes in Karate Kid: Legends, distributed by Columbia Pictures, the Philippine office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. The film opens in Philippine cinemas on May 28
