Jaden Smith set for 'Karate Kid' redo
 

Jaden Smith set for 'Karate Kid' redo - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety


Jaden Smith set for 'Karate Kid' redo
Columbia taps Chris Murphy to write script
By MICHAEL FLEMING

Columbia Pictures is back in the dojo with a new version of the 1984 hit "The Karate Kid," which has been refashioned as a star vehicle for Jaden Smith.

The film will be produced by Jerry Weintraub (who launched the original franchise) and Overbrook Entertainment's James Lassiter, Will Smith and Ken Stovitz. Will Smith, who is the 10-year-old actor's father, co-starred alongside Jaden in his feature debut, "The Pursuit of Happyness," which Overbrook and Escape Artists produced for Columbia.

The script is being written by Chris Murphy, and the film will shoot next year in Beijing and other cities. While the new film will be set in that exotic locale, it will borrow elements of the original plot, wherein a bullied youth learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor.

China Film Group Corp. will co-produce in China.

The younger Smith, who next stars in "The Day the Earth Stood Still," is a martial arts practitioner.

Columbia presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach said they had been trying to find a way to bring back the series, which began with three films that featured Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. A subsequent film launched the career of Hilary Swank.

They've gone too far!

There is nothing about this that sounds like a good idea.
/tk

Holy Christ no.

I'm not really against remaking movies as long as they're done in a classy way.

That being said, I don't approve of this remake. Pat Morita was such a major part of the Karate Kid series, and without him you just can't call it "Karate Kid". Why not just call it "The Karate Wonder" or something else, instead of using the name to make more $$$.

+1000

Hell, Ralph Macchio still looks young enough to play the lead. Was he Dorian Grey in a past life?

Yeah, I don't agree with this at all. Karate Kid 1 is actually a very, very good movie that deals with some pretty awesome issues for what was a kids movie. Holds up very well today.

I'll be shocked if this remake is anything more than a watered-down action movie with a very light dose of drama.

There can only be Miyogi-mai.

Life as we know it is over. Why do these monsters insist on re-making the classics? That kid from The Pursuit of Happiness is no Ralph Macchio that's for sure. Damn Will Smith, damn him to hell.

I think that Jaden Smith has a lot of potential, actually. I think that so long as they try not to make it too much like the original...that it could be okay.

I do agree with folks that Pat Morita made that movie, but I do think it can be okay tho.

OK wait, why did the writers in Hollywood go on strike for again?

Despite all of the valid arguments already put forth, I think you have to stop at the fact that Jaden is TEN YEARS OLD. He needs at least 5-6 years before they begin filming such a movie for it to be anything remotely not farcical.

I hope they get Jet-Li to play Miyogi.

Or David Carradine.






Or Uma Thurman.

Bah, she is such a fake. Mythbusters TOTALLY busted the whole "breaking out of the coffin" thing.

You’re the best!
Around!
Nothing’s gonna ever keep getting Jiggy Wit It

When Zac Efron stars in a remake of 'The Last Starfighter' I'm outta here.

It's not even that. Watch Uma fight and it looks like somebody who was trained to fight just for a movie. Now, watch "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." The quality of fight scenes from the females aren't even close.

CTHD

Kill Bill

The movie that inspired my screen name many moons ago. CTHD that is. ;)

You are now my favorite poster. Anyone who gives a shoutout to Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yoeh is very cool. I would also add my favorite wuxia movie, House of Flying Daggers.

I had always assumed you were inspired by a JRPG: Dark Cloud

Who the fuck is Jaden Smith?!?

Will Smith's son...don'tcha know? He's ALREADY got star status 'cause of his dad!

:lol:

Cheers!

Sorry..that last post by Tiphnie was me (she's my wife and I'm on her computer tonight). Just wanted to give credit....or critiscisim where it is due.

Thanks.

I hope there's a part in the movie where the kids make fun of him and scream.....

Daddy loves you! Daddy Loves you!

barf, this is a horrible idea for a re-make.

this is gonna be like when Coke redid their formula some years back

People actually gave a shit about how coke tasted, though. I don't think anyone deals with the original Karate Kid or the effect on their life on a daily basis. Except for say Ralph Macchio.

QUOTE=Mustang;1885119]

When Zac Efron stars in a remake of 'The Last Starfighter' I'm outta here.[/quote]

funniest thing I have read in months!

I guess the fact that he's in the Footloose re-imagining didn't really have much of an effect.

Here is an idea; create something new you F.

Hollywood Exec: New? New? What is this New you speak of? I've never heard of that. Now excuse me, I'm in the middle of development on the Barnaby Jones remake with Billy Bob Thornton. I've got the Love Boat remake on the burner too!!!

Everyone thinks that. Nope. The Dark Cloud character in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I never played the Dark Cloud video game. I only play sports games on console.

I assumed Eeyore

It will be impossible to find anyone who can hold Zabka's jock as Johnny Lawrence for this remake. That will be the "epic fail" part of any Karate Kid remake.

The funny thing is how they feel the need to remake things which are already completely conventional stories. I mean however good you think Karate Kid is, it's one in a long long line of books and films about a kid, a wise mentor, winning the fight that can't be won, whatever. Hollywood already churns out this movie 18 times a year, and now they want to remake it. Good Lord.

So the kid is going to be 10 years old in this? That kills it for me right there because you know they won't have some ten year old bully yelling "Get a body bag!" And without that line this movie will be crap.

The whole Cobra Kai crew was perfectly cast. They'll never recreate that magic.

Maybe they can put Jake Lloyd in the film, and he can get his ass real-life kicked, as partial retribution for his "acting" in Phantom Menace.