Sony Pictures has announced that Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan will reprise their popular characters in Sony Pictures’ new Karate Kid movie.

Jonathan Entwistle, best known for his well-regarded and award-winning teen television dramas I’m Not Okay with This and The End of the F***ing World, is the director. The new Karate Kid movie will fuse and continue the mythology of the original franchise.

A global search for a Chinese actor to play the main character launched today. Rob Lieber wrote the script, which will reportedly bring the story to the East Coast and focus on a teen from China who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor.

The new but untitled Karate Kid movie will premiere on 13 December 2024.

Ralph Macchio starred in the Karate Kid movies and Cobra Kai, a series that was developed for YouTube Red by Sony and is a direct sequel to the original Karate Kid films by Robert Mark Kamen. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprised their roles of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence from the original films released in 1984. After two seasons on YouTube Red, the series moved to Netflix where it has aired for three additional seasons. The series takes place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. All five seasons of Cobra Kai are currently streaming on Netflix. Check out our review of Season 5 here.

Meanwhile, Jackie Chan played a KUNG FU master in 2010’s Karate Kid remake starring Jaden Smith.