Ralph Macchio on Decision to Return to ‘Karate Kid' Films and Future of the Franchise 40 Years In

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Ralph Macchio is back on the big screen in a Karate Kid film, a place he hasn't been in 36 years.
Macchio starred as Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid one, two and three in the '80s, before sitting out 1994's The Next Karate Kid and 2010's The Karate Kid remake. He reprised his role in six seasons of Cobra Kai and is now back for Karate Kid: Legends, starring alongside Jackie Chan, who appeared in the 2010 film.
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At the Legends premiere in New York on Tuesday, Macchio told The Hollywood Reporter that his decision to return to the films came after many discussions with the studio, as 'I was in the middle of Cobra Kai and we were still finishing that story, so I wanted to know where it was landing in Daniel LaRusso's narrative and his evolution. And once we figured out it was three years later and we landed him in the series [as] kind of the best version of himself through his little midlife crisis of the Cobra Kai soap opera, there's an element of him being more Miyagi in his way and paying that legacy forward to a kid who needs his help.'
There was also the appeal of connecting his films with Chan's, with the link that Chan's character Mr. Han knew Daniel LaRusso's teacher Mr. Miyagi, in a way that 'that feels authentic and honors the legacy of the entire franchise, and I think we do that,' Macchio continued. 'It's another ecosystem in the grand universe. This franchise doesn't know how to not do it right when we care, and I try to always take great care and protect my character, and I like to believe I've done that again.'
Macchio — who admitted he was 'a bit nervous' do sparring scenes with someone of Chan's skill level — weighed in on the future of the Karate Kid franchise as well, after Cobra Kai recently wrapped up and the films are now on No. 6.
'We'll see. As long as it's honest, genuine and truthful to the base of this character and these characters, I'll always be open to listen because I like that the next generation can experience the joy of what we've been through,' the star said. 'In a world that's not always joyful, it's really cool to bring some of that.'
Chan also spoke on the carpet about working with Macchio for the first time, teasing, 'When I was young I watched Karate Kid one and at that time I said, 'Why Ralph and not me? I can do it,'' only to get a call a few years later from producer Will Smith asking him to come on board in the karate master role opposite son Jaden in the 2010 remake.
'That was a good timing — I want to change, I want the audience to know I'm not the action star, I want to be an actor who can fight,' Chan explained, noting it took '10 years to change audience's minds — 'Oh, Jackie's not the action star, Jackie can act.' I want to be an actor who can fight, just like Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Stallone.'
And despite being 71 years old, Chan still opts to do most of his own fight scenes instead of a stunt double or special effects, noting, 'Whatever I can do, I do it myself. When I was young I could do a triple triple kick, double double kick; now, if I can do one kick, I do one kick. I think the audience knows we want to see Jackie do the real things.'
Karate Kid: Legends, which also stars Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Ming-Na Wen and Sadie Stanley, hits theaters on Friday.
Neha Joy contributed to this report.
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