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Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Karate Kid: Legends' Star On Work With Ralph Macchio And Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, Ben Wang and Ralph Macchio in "Karate Kid Legends." Before Ben Wang embarked on a competition against his nemesis in the new Karate Kid franchise movie Karate Kid: Legends, he competed in another match — for the coveted lead role of Li Fong in the film — that was much bigger than he ever could have imagined. 'They told me that there were 10,000 other people who submitted in the first week of the open call,' Wang recalled in a recent Zoom conversation. 'The open call lasted for a month. I don't know how many people in total they were looking at for the part but it was a lot.' Wang — who was born in Shanghai and grew up in the small town of Northfield, Minn., before moving on to college at New York University — is still humbled by the thought of how many people auditioned for the role. 'The journey of my career is, every single step, something that I don't think I would have actually even imagined for myself when I was on the previous step,' Wang said. 'Studying theater in New York and going to NYU to study musical theater professionally was a whole audition process where there were 10,000 other kids were auditioning with me for 20-30 slots in the whole program, so, I didn't think I could do that. 'I also didn't think I could work professionally — it's still a long shot — and then and then I started but didn't think I would get a big movie or TV show but I kept looking," added Wang, who previously starred in 2024 musical version of Mean Girls and will next be featured in the film adaptation of Stephen King's The Long Walk. "There were opportunities that were presented to me at points in my life where I just so happened to have the preparation to match them. It's all really luck to me.' Ming-Na Wen, Wyatt Oleff, Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Jackie Chan and Sadie Stanley in ... More "Karate Kid Legends." Karate Kid: Legends, which is new on digital streaming on premium video on demand, begins in Beijing, with Wang's karate prodigy Li Fong studying under the tutelage of Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). Li Fong's mother, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen) is completely against her son's aspirations to compete in karate, however, despite being Mr. Han's niece. A year prior, Li and Dr. Fong suffered a family tragedy stemming from their family's interest in competitive karate, and in a bid for a fresh start, she and her son move to New York City for a new job at a hospital. Li, however, can't avoid karate altogether. When he befriends another teen, Mia Lipani (Sadie Stanley), her former boyfriend, NYC karate champion Conor Day (Aramis Knight) begins to bully Li. Incentivized by a chance to help save Mia's father's (Joshua Jackson) restaurant from financial ruin and face his bully at the same time, Li enters NYC's famed Five Boroughs Karate Tournament. To ready Li for the tournament, Mr. Han flies in from Beijing to train his former student and thanks to his ties to the late Mr. Miyagi (the late Pat Morita), he also enlists the help of the original Karate Kid, Daniel La Russo (Ralph Macchio). Below is an exclusive first look on Ben Wang's work on 'Karate Kid: Legends.' Ralph Macchio Encouraged Ben Wang To Make Li Fong His Own In 'Karate Kid: Legends' Given the enormous success of the Karate Kid franchise — from Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita's original movie series to Jackie Chan's 2010 film to Macchio and William Zabka's Cobra Kai series — Ben Wang, needless to say, felt quite a bit of pressure to deliver big when he was cast in Karate Kid: Legends. Luckily for Wang, Macchio helped alleviate his worries before either one of them stepped foot on set. 'Ralph gave me a call two weeks before going to set to talk me through the process,' recalled Wang. What was nice about that was he basically called to say, 'You know, you have permission to do whatever you want … This is a film about your character and his experiences, and I'm here to bring you aboard [and help you not worry about the] legacy of the franchise. Just focus on doing basically what you're good at and what you want with the character.' So, that was, that was really nice to have that permission from the man.' Of course, getting over his nerves on the set of Karate Kid: Legends wasn't instantaneous. In addition to working with such acting greats as Macchio and Ming-Na Wen, Wang needed to wrap his head around the idea of going toe-to-toe with the martial arts legend who just so happened to be his hero growing up. '[When I started work on the film], they were like, 'You have to do a kung-fu fight with Jackie Chan,' which is a ridiculous thing to ask anyone to do, really, let alone a kid from a small town in Minnesota,' Wang said with a laugh. 'He's a legend to people in general but to a young Chinese actor in Hollywood, he's the pinnacle of a genre. He's quite literally an icon. 'He represents action movies to me,' Wang added. 'Growing up in China, he represented acting. He represented the movies. By far he is one of if not the biggest star in my childhood, especially when I lived in China and wasn't that exposed to Hollywood and celebrities. Jackie Chan to me represented film.' Doing a fight scene with Chan was only one part of the equation, Wang noted. He also had to take the fight to another level with his movie hero during the sequence. 'I got to meet him and then kick him in the face,' said Wang, who is still in disbelief thinking about the idea. 'It's so ridiculous that it almost took away some of my nerves. It was so hard to wrap my head around that it was easier to not let it get to me. It's so removed from reality, like I was in a simulation or something.' Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, Karate Kid: Legends is new on digital streaming. Karate Kid: Legends will also be released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on Aug. 26.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ming-Na Wen Talks ‘Karate Kid: Legends,' New On Streaming
Ming-Na Wen at Sony's "Karate Kid: Legends" world premiere held at SVA Theatre on May 27, 2025 in ... More New York, New York. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images) After having her Star Wars dreams come true by playing fan-favorite Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian, Ming-Na Wen recently realized another exciting vision with a role in The Karate Kid franchise in the new film Karate Kid: Legends. Wen said discovered early on that she wasn't the only person on the production who dreamed of working on a Karate Kid project. In fact, it came as a big surprise to her that Karate Kid: Legends director Jonathan Entwistle was also a massive fan of the franchise, which she found amusing considering he's the director behind the dark Netflix comedy series The End of The F***ing World and I Am Not Okay with This. 'I was surprised that he was doing a film in this genre, but he's as huge a fan of the franchise as I am,' Wen said in a recent Zoom conversation. 'His other works are just so fun and hip and kind of out there, but I love the series he's done." Karate Kid: Legends, which brings Ralph Macchio from the original Karate Kid films and Cobra Kai series together with Jackie Chan from the 2010 remake, opened in theaters on May 30. The film arrives for purchase or rent on digital streaming via premium video on demand on Tuesday. Wen plays the pivotal role of Dr. Fong in Karate Kid Legends, the mother of the Li-Fong (Ben Wang), who are new residents of New York City after the two move from Beijing for a fresh start after a family tragedy a year before. A karate prodigy, Li-Fong goes against the wishes of his mother to compete against the best of the best in the famed 5 Boroughs Karate Tournament in New York City. Note: The next section includes a spoiler from "Karate Kid: Legends." Ming-Na Wen Believes Pat Morita Would Be So Proud Of Ralph Macchio Karate Kid: Legends is the sixth film in the action franchise, which kicked off, so to speak, with The Karate Kid in 1984 with Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita as Mr. Miyagi, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence and Martin Kove as John Kreese. After three Karate Kid sequels — the last of which was released in 1994 — the franchise was dormant for 24 years until it made a comeback with Cobra Kai in 2018. The series wrapped up in February after six seasons. Of course, missing from Cobra Kai was Morita, who died in 2005 at age 73. Macchio, however, ensured Mr. Miyagi's presence was felt not only in Cobra Kai, but in Karate Kid: Legends as well. The film begins with Morita in a flashback scene with Macchio, where he explains how his and Mr. Han's (Jackie Chan) families share the same martial arts lineage. Referring to Macchio's accomplishments in the Karate Kid films, Cobra Kai and now Karate Kid: Legends, Ming-Na Wen feels if the venerable actor were here, 'Pat Morita would just be patting him on the back and saying, 'Good job son.'' After all, without Pat Morita, The Karate Kid and everything that came after it would likely never have made the indelible impact that it's had on popular culture. 'I think [Ralph] knows that and that's why he is so protective of the image of who he is and what he represents,' Wen said. As Wen found out, Macchio is so protective of The Karate Kid franchise that even as a cast member, she wasn't privy to the big end credits cameo that concludes Karate Kid: Legends. "I didn't even know about William Zabka's cameo. That's how secretive they were. I was shocked when I saw it at the screening of the film and cheered,' Wen enthused. 'It was so good. It was so good because I'm a massive fan of Cobra Kai, too.' Rated PG-13, Karate Kid: Legends is available on several digital platforms, including Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube on Tuesday.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Karate Kid: Legends' Is Now Streaming—How To Watch The Sequel At Home
Jackie Chan (left), Ben Wang and Ralph Macchio in 'Karate Kid- Legends.' Karate Kid: Legends debuted in theaters in May and is now streaming on digital platforms starting Tuesday, July 8. If you want to see the latest installment in the long-running franchise, here's how to watch Karate Kid: Legends at home for your next movie night. Legends takes place three years after the series finale of Cobra Kai and brings together beloved Karate Kid stars like Jackie Chan as Mr. Han and Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso. It also introduces new faces, including Ben Wang as Li Fong, a martial arts phenom who enlists Mr. Han and LaRusso's help for high-stakes competition. 'After moving to New York City with his mother, kung fu prodigy Li Fong struggles to let go of the past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates," the official synopsis reads. "When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition – but his skills alone aren't enough. With help from Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, he soon learns to merge two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.' Karate Kid: Legends has received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. While the film holds a 59% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, fans have responded much more positively, giving it a whopping 91% rating from more than 2,500 verified reviews. In his review for The Washington Post, film critic Michael O'Sullivan praised the film for refreshing "a franchise with hybrid action that splices together pleasures from the 1984 original and its 2010 remake.' He also said, 'Karate Kid: Legends combines the best of all those sequels plus a 2010 remake to contribute a new and worthy chapter to the canon.' Whether you want to see the film again or missed it while it was in theaters, read on to find out how to watch Karate Kid: Legends from the comfort of your couch. Karate Kid: Legends How To Watch Karate Kid: Legends At Home Karate Kid: Legends is currently available to stream on video-on-demand platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Fandango At Home. You can purchase the film for $24.99 or rent the movie for $19.99. For rentals, you have 30 days to start watching the video and 48 hours to finish once started. The sequel will be released on Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD on August 26, 2025. Which Streaming Service Will Karate Kid: Legends Land On? LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 20: Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang and Jackie Chan attend a photocall for "Karate ... More Kid: Legends" at Trafalgar Square on May 20, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) Netflix holds the streaming rights to Karate Kid: Legends through a multi-year agreement with Sony made in 2021. The five-year deal grants Netflix exclusive U.S. rights to Sony's films after they leave theaters and premium video-on-demand platforms. Karate Kid: Legends is expected to arrive on Netflix approximately four months after its theatrical release, placing its streaming debut around late September or early October 2025. For comparison, 2024's Venom: The Last Dance and Bad Boys: Ride or Die were both added to Netflix exactly four months after premiering in theaters. Sony's Marvel flop Madame Web arrived even sooner — just three months after its theatrical debut. Stay tuned for the exact Netflix premiere date for Karate Kid: Legends. How To Watch The Karate Kid Movies In Chronological Order Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio in a scene from the film 'The Karate Kid', 1984. (Photo by Columbia ...) Before diving into Legends, you might want to revisit the earlier films in the hit martial arts franchise. Here's how to watch the Karate Kid movies in order. Check out the official trailer for Karate Kid: Legends below.
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
When does Karate Kid: Legends release on OTT? Date, time, and where to watch
Karate Kid: Legends is officially dropping on digital platforms Tuesday, July 8, confirms Decider. The film reunites Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio as Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, and introduces a new protagonist, Li Fong, played by Ben Wang. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Rob Lieber, the movie builds directly on the Cobra Kai universe - but with fresh twists. Though early reviews have been mixed, the film's arrival is still a major moment for fans who have followed the story since the original Karate Kid days. Jackie Chan and Ben Wang in a still from Karate Kid: Legends(X) But while it is available to buy or rent, many are already asking when it will show up on Netflix for free streaming. Where and when to watch Karate Kid: Legends online According to Decider, starting at midnight ET on July 8 (that's 9 p.m. PT on July 7), Karate Kid: Legends becomes available to rent or buy across digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home. Prices may vary, but on Amazon, expect to pay $19.99 to rent and $24.99 to buy. If you rent it, you will have 30 days to start the film, and once you hit play, 48 hours to finish it. When will it stream on Netflix? Right now, the movie isn't available on any major subscription-based service. But because of the ongoing Netflix-Sony deal, Karate Kid: Legends is expected to land on Netflix in the coming months. This deal gives Netflix first streaming rights to Sony movies shortly after their digital/home media release, known as the "Pay 1 window." Past Sony films like Kraven the Hunter took about three months to land on Netflix. Others arrived sooner - some in just over two months, a few after nearly four. It's been inconsistent. Since Karate Kid: Legends opened in theaters in May 2025, it's possible we'll see it on Netflix by late August or early September. That's just an estimate, though. If you're waiting for the Netflix release, your only option for now is renting or buying. Meanwhile, Cobra Kai is still streaming on Netflix. If you haven't watched it, or just want to catch up, it's a good time. This new movie brings in familiar faces but heads in a fresh direction. It's different from the earlier films, but longtime fans may enjoy the callbacks. Netflix hasn't said anything official yet, but if trends hold, it probably won't be a long wait. ALSO READ: Karate Kid Legends movie review: Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio's charm and bromance can't save this mid, predictable muck FAQs When does Karate Kid: Legends come out digitally? It's available to rent or buy starting July 8, 2025. Is Karate Kid: Legends streaming on Netflix yet? No, not yet. But it's expected to arrive by late August or early September. How much does it cost to rent or buy the movie? On Amazon Prime, it's $19.99 to rent and $24.99 to buy.
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Cobra Kai' Star Who Quit Hollywood Says She Lives ‘Like A Hermit' Now
Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso and Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in "Cobra Kai." Cobra Kai star Courtney Henggeler — who announced in March that she was quitting acting after 20 years, is giving a peek into her life now. Henggeler made the announcement about leaving Hollywood in a March 30 Substack post, which partially reads, 'After 20-plus years of fighting the good fight in the acting business, I hung up my gloves on Friday. I called my agents and told them I was tapping out. I no longer wanted to be a cog in the wheel of the machine.' Henggeler played Daniel LaRusso's (Ralph Macchio) wife and auto-dealership co-manager Amanda LaRusso in Cobra Kai, which completed its sixth and final season on Netflix in February. 'We survived off the crumbs,' Henggeler noted in her Substack post. 'We filled our cup with the possibility; our mugs with delusion. Our plates were empty, but a golden goose hung over our heads. Today might be the day. Today might be the day I reach the golden goose … 20 plus years of this … I'm hungry.' In addition to Cobra Kai, Henggeler's acting resume includes a guest role as Missy Cooper, Sheldon Cooper's (Jim Parsons) twin sister on CBS' The Big Bang Theory in Season 1, Episode 15 in 2008. Henggeler reprised the role in 2018 in Season 11, Episode 24. On Monday, two months to the day after her retirement announcement, Henggeler appeared on The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast to discuss the 2008 episode — titled The Pork Chop Indeterminacy — which she said marked her first major guest appearance in a TV show. After discussing and hearing clips from her 2008 appearance on The Big Bang Theory, podcast host Jessica Radloff eventually asked Henggeler about her life after Cobra Kai. 'I took myself off all the socials. So, I'm like a hermit,' Henggeler told Radloff. 'I bought a house in Connecticut and I live like a hermit in Connecticut. So, you can't know anything. I'm very secretive.' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 17: (L-R) Courtney Henggeler and Ralph Macchio attend the special ... More screening of Netflix's "Cobra Kai" Season 6, Part 1 at Autry Museum at Griffith Park on July 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Courtney Henggeler Credits 'Cobra Kai' For Providing The Means To Quit Acting Courtney Henggeler played Amanda LaRusso from the very beginning of Cobra Kai, which ran for two seasons from 2018-2019 on the now-defunct YouTube Red streaming service before it was purchased by Netflix in 2021. The series ran for four more seasons, through 2025. Now, Henggeler is happy to be living in Connecticut and she credits her work on Cobra Kai with giving her the ability to do so. 'It's very beautiful. It's breathtaking [living in] the house that Cobra Kai built,' Henggeler told Jessica Radloff on The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast. 'Thank God for that show because I would not be living my Connecticut dream if not.' And best of all, Henggeler doesn't miss being plugged into what's going on all the time online. 'I don't mess with social media anymore. I think I'm a happier person because of it. But I also don't know what's going on in the world. I feel very deaf to things right now,' Henggeler told Radloff. 'So you can't follow me. But if you can find where I live in Connecticut, can, like, look in my windows, I guess.' Fans who miss seeing Henggeler on Cobra Kai can stream all six seasons of the series on Netflix.
