The Karate Kid franchise returns with a powerful new chapter as Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio unite in Karate Kid: Legends, released this week. The film introduces a fresh storyline centered on Li Fong, played by Ben Wang, a kung fu prodigy from Beijing who relocates to New York with his mother. There, he meets Victor, a pizza shop owner and retired boxer, and his daughter Mia—setting the stage for a new journey in martial arts mentorship.
In a joint interview with Reuters, Macchio, who reprises his iconic role as Daniel LaRusso for the fourth time, spoke about the unique challenge of blending the original Miyagi storyline with Chan’s Mr. Han legacy from the 2010 reboot.
“They presented the concept to me … connecting the Miyagi to the Han family and how that made sense,” Macchio said. “I was like, ‘That’s kind of clever.’ Then it was all about how we keep it organic and truthful to Li Fong’s story.”
Working alongside Jackie Chan, Macchio added, was an easy yes:
“Working with Jackie was like, ‘Woohoo, sign me up – when, where?’ But we also needed to love the new kid, because without him, there’s no movie. Somehow, this franchise always finds that magic.”
Chan returns as Mr. Han and expressed his excitement at now being a mentor alongside Macchio.
“Now we’ve both become a Miyagi,” he said. Reflecting on the original film, he added with a laugh: “Why him (Macchio)? Why not me? I wanted to be The Karate Kid. Now, we work together.”
Ben Wang, 25, said Chan’s 2010 film introduced him to the franchise and called the opportunity both thrilling and daunting.
“It’s a terrifying thing in a certain way because it’s such a beloved franchise,” Wang said. “But it’s also a great honor. A lot of people auditioned for this part, so I know how special and lucky I am to do this with the two of them.”
Karate Kid: Legends promises to carry the legacy forward, combining nostalgia, action, and heart for a new generation of fans.
