Ralph Macchio believes new ‘Karate Kid' film is filled with ‘next level martial arts'
Ralph Macchio believes the latest instalment in The Karate Kid franchise is filled with 'next level martial arts'.
The 63-year-old actor, best known for originating the role of Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 film 'The Karate Kid', said the new film 'Karate Kid: Legends' takes inspiration from 'early Jackie Chan movie style' and 'a Hong Kong style' – and features a fresh tone.
He told People: 'The fight (scenes), the cameras are really wide lenses inside the fights.
'There's humour laced throughout and there was always humour in 'The Karate Kid' films, but the original films we made was kind of cinema magic, very romantic. Wide, long takes, dialogue scenes that breathe.'
He added: 'This is a quicker pace for this generation, but laced with humor, excitement, next level martial arts and Ben Wang is a rock star in the movie.'
'Karate Kid: Legends', the sixth film in the long-running martial arts franchise, stars 24-year-old Ben Wang as a Beijing-born student who trains under the guidance of characters played by Ralph and Jackie Chan, 70.
Jackie reprises his role from the 2010 remake of 'The Karate Kid'.
The new film follows the legacy of the original trilogy, as well as the spinoff series 'Cobra Kai', in which Ralph also returned to play Daniel.
Reflecting on his early days on the original 1984 set, Ralph said: 'From the original every day working with Pat Morita, it was a blessed partnership and it still resonates.
'And the reason I'm in this movie is to pay that legacy forward. Shedding a little piece of Miyagi forward. It's never the wrong thing to do in Daniel LaRusso's eyes and in Ralph Macchio's eyes.'
Ben also told People working alongside Ralph carried a sense of responsibility to the franchise.
He added: 'He's been this character for 40 years, and so coming into it, I felt an obligation to honour that legacy.
'But he had a call with me very early on where he said, this is your character and you should feel free to do with him what you'd like.
'That really freed me up to play, and I think that's one of the coolest things that any sort of star has ever done for me.'
'Karate Kid: Legends' also stars 45-year-old Joshua Jackson, 22-year-old Sadie Stanley, and 60-year-old Ming-Na Wen, with the film opening in cinemas on Friday. (30.05.25)
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