Jackie Chan’s 2010 remake ofThe Karate Kidhas long been a standalone project, but a sequel would have been welcomed if it had ever materialized.Chan’s character followed an incredibly similar trajectory to Pat Morita’sMr. Miyagi when they each made their respective debuts. Similarly, Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker was the movie’s replacement for Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso. While it was never intended to be a sequel to the original fourKarate Kidmovies, it has recently become one thanks to its being folded into the main continuity.
Thanks to Chan’s 2010 effort being integrated into the mainKarate KidandCobra Kaitimeline, Mr. Han can finally interact with the franchise’s other legacy characters.WhenKarate Kid: Legendsis released, that development will be fully taken advantage of whenMr. Han unexpectedly teams up with Daniel LaRusso. It was once a partnership that would have been canonically nonsensical, but it’s now happening and is sure to be a great ride. However, the then-remake deserved a far less meta sequel.
The Karate Kid (2010) Was A Box Office Hit But Never Got A Sequel
Chan’s movie made a lot of money internationally
According toBox Office Mojo,The Karate Kid’s 2010 remake had a budget of $40 million and took in over $350 millionat the worldwide box office. Those figures would quite often make studios' mouths water, and a sequel would pretty much be a foregone conclusion in a lot of cases. Sadly, even though there was still plenty of source material to continue updating and remaking theKarate Kidfranchise, a second movie never happened.
Jackie Chan’s Karate Kid Movie Already Explained A Big Cobra Kai Season 6 Absence
The 2010 remake of The Karate Kid is now part of the Miyagi-verse, which means it can account for something that’s missing from Cobra Kai.
Unsurprisingly, a second Jackie Chan-led movie was actually planned after the success of 2010’s effort. Everyone involved in the first movie was expected to return to make the sequel, but then it entered development hell. After years of production discussions and failed negotiations, the plans fell apart, and a second movie was abandoned. Thankfully,Cobra Kaicame along in 2018 and reasserted the original continuity. If Chan had made another movie in the immediate wake of his 2010 triumph, it’s unclear if the legacy sequel show with Ralph Macchio would have happened.
The Karate Kid Remake Is Finally Getting A Sequel (Sort Of)
Karate Kid: Legends is allowing Jackie Chan to return to the franchise after 15 years away
BecauseCobra Kaiwas such an immediate hit, it became apparent that making another Chan movie was probably never going to happen. It’s not unusual for certain franchises to have two active timelines simultaneously, but it would be a little too high-concept for a martial arts series likeThe Karate Kid. That being said,Chan’s reprisal of Mr. Han inKarate Kid: Legendstechnically makes it the sequel the actor never hadafter the 2010 installment. Of course, it’s very different from what Chan’sThe Karate Kid2would have been, but it’s still great he’s coming back at all.
The Karate Kid
Cast
The Karate Kid is a 2010 remake of the original martial arts drama film released in 1984. Directed by Harald Zwart, this new telling follows young Dre Parker who after a big move with his mother from Detroit, Michigan to Beijing, China, finds difficulty fitting in and manages to get caught in a bullies' crosshairs. Dre is saved by the mysterious maintenance worker named Mr. Han, who teaches him Kung Fu to defend himself.
Karate Kid: Legends
Karate Kid: Legends is a sequel to Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film sees Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles, continuing the legacy of martial arts mentorship and rivalry in a new era of challenges and apprentices.
