14 DAY TRIAL // Although news of a “Karate Kid” remake was received with raised eyebrows when it was made official in November last year, it seems that Will Smith and his production company are busy at work to get things moving along. The Hollywood Insider reports, from very reliable sources, that Jackie Chan has already been contacted and agreed to take on Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi part in the upcoming production.
No confirmation of this has yet been made, but it was enough for word to get out on the Internet to bring fans of the cult classic into a frenzy. It’s not so much that Jackie Chan would not fill in the shoes of the mentor just fine that’s the problem, most fans seem to agree, but that they are really going to make a remake of what must be one of the most popular movies of its kind. Remakes, as it is known, often pale in comparison to the originals, and it’s precisely this that bothers fans.
If the rumors checks out, Chan will join Jaden Smith, son of reputed actor Will Smith, who has already made his debut on the silver screen opposite his father in “The Pursuit of Happyness.” He has also appeared in the alien flick “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” where his performance was, however, bitterly criticized by movie watchers worldwide. Therefore, he is not a stranger to acting, and would probably do just as well in “Karate Kid,” it is being said.
The same source also says that “Pink Panther 2” director Harold Zwart will be at the helm of the remake, with Will Smith’s production company, Overbrook, directly overseeing production. “China Film Corp. Group will coproduce the movie, which will shoot entirely in China.” the Insider also states, again citing the same well-placed insiders in the industry.
At the same time, proving that, indeed, “The Karate Kid” remake is to remain a family business, it is being said that Jada, Will’s wife, will also be actively involved in the film, by playing the part of Jaden’s mother. For more on this, stay tuned here.