Jackie Chan Teaches Jaden Smith to Wax Off

Tuesday

13Jan2009

Jackie Chan Teaches Jaden Smith to Wax Off

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 9:20PM

It was just a rumor a few months ago, and now it's been confirmed that Jackie Chan will play the new Mr. Miyagi in the remake of The Karate Kid. Chan's name surfaced as a possibility around the time that Will Smith announced he'd produce the remake as a star vehicle for his son, Jaden.

While doing press for Seven Pounds, the elder Smith said The Karate Kid will shoot in China, because that's where the money came from, and he spun in some story about karate originating in China, though it's commonly regarded as a Japanese art. The Chinese influence certainly opens the door for Chan, whose star has dropped significantly over the past few years in America, though he remains one of the most profitable actors in the world.

I doubt his name will remain Miyagi in the update, because that just wouldn't make a lot of sense. However, the fundamentals of the story should remain close to the original. The Hollywood Reporter also discovered that Harald Zwart will direct, and if I had any hope left to salvage for this project, it was stripped away when this was announced as the next project for the director of Agent Cody Banks and The Pink Panther 2.

Shooting will begin this year in Beijing, and while I'm sure it will do terrific business, I don't know a single person who thinks it's a very good idea.

Colin Boyd |

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Casting Couch,

Jackie Chan,

Karate Kid,

Remakes,

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