A modern martial arts tale

Karate Kid: Legends unites Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio to mentor a new prodigy

- STORY: TATAT BUNNAG

When Karate Kid: Legends lands in cinemas on July 17, it won't be just another sequel - it will mark a long-awaited cinematic reunion decades in the making. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle and produced by Karen Rosenfelt, the film unites martial arts icons Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio on screen for the first time while introducing rising star Ben Wang as the new face of the franchise.

For Entwistle, pairing the legendary figures — one from the 1984 original and the other from the 2010 reboot — was far more than a novelty. It was a creative opportunity to tell a story that truly spans generations. He said they leaned into the tone and style of Jackie Chan’s earlier films, drawing inspiration from the humour, physicality and warmth that defined Chan’s global appeal.

"But this time,” noted Entwistle, “we weren't just making a throwback. We were telling a story about connection — about how different cultures and legacies can collide and ultimately strengthen one another.”

Set in contemporary New York, Karate Kid: Legends follows Li Fong (Wang), a teenage kung fu prodigy from Beijing who is forced to rebuild his life in a foreign land. There, amid culture shock and conflict, he encounters two unlikely mentors: Han (Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), who team up to guide him through a world he doesn’t yet understand.

“This was a film about rediscovery,” Rosenfelt said. “It was about people finding out who they are — as teachers, as students, as parents, as people. That's what really excited me about this story. It spoke to anyone who's ever had to start over.”

Although the film offers plenty of nods to