Summary

• The new Karate Kid movie is coming in 2024 and will include legacy actors like Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan.
• The release date has been shifted to May 30, 2025, due to strikes; the plot involves a teen from China studying under a mentor.
• Ben Wang has been cast in the lead role, with Joshua Jackson also appearing in a mystery role; events might not connect to the original franchise.

The first Karate Kid movie was released in June 1984, and 40 years later the franchise is still going strong with the Cobra Kai series on Netflix and new Karate Kid movie news on the way. The original movies followed Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) as he trained in karate and overcame those bullying him. Another Karate Kid movie in 2010 saw Jaden Smith play a similar character, though he studied kung fu instead of karate. Now, after over a decade, a new Karate Kid movie is releasing in 2024.

Sony has announced a new Karate Kid movie on the way, though it’s still not clear how it will tie into the existing movies. Sony promises a “return to the original Karate Kid franchise” with the Karate Kid 2024 movie, although there is also some sense that it will be a soft reboot. This is somewhat unsurprising too, since the direct story of the original Karate Kid has been continued significantly by Cobra Kai — which has itself led to speculation on how the Karate Kid movie may tie into the show. Thanks to the success of Cobra Kai on Netflix, the new Karate Kid movie news is eagerly anticipated.

Most Recent Karate Kid 2024 News

The Release Date Is Delayed

Though news was trending in the right direction for the '80s reboot, the latest update sees the release date for Karate Kid pushed by 5 months. Originally slated to arrive in June 2024, the release date was first delayed to December where it stayed for some time. Unfortunately, due to strike-related delays which sidetracked the filming of Cobra Kai season 6, Karate Kid will now be released on May 30, 2025. This move reveals that both the final season of Cobra Kai and the upcoming reboot are intricately linked. Kraven the Hunter will now take the December 2024 release slot.

Karate Kid 2024 Release Date

The New Karate Kid Arrives In May 2025

Karate Kid 2024 originally had a release date of June 7, 2024. That would have put it releasing during the 40th anniversary month of the first Karate Kid’s movie release. With Sony shifting its release schedule over the next year because of the Hollywood strikes, the Karate Kid reboot’s release date was pushed back to December 2024. Now, Karate Kid has been pushed once again, and will now be released on May 30, 2025.

The WGA strike was resolved on September 27th, 2023, and the SAG/AFTRA strike was resolved on November 9th, 2023.

Karate Kid 2024 Cast

Characters From All Generations Of The Karate Kid Franchise Will Appear

The first major casting came when it was announced that Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan would both appear in the film, reprising their previous roles. Macchio will be back in his familiar role as Daniel from The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, and Jackie Chan will be back as Mr. Han from the 2010 Karate Kid remake. This move confirms that all eras of the Karate Kid franchise are not only canon but will be represented in the new movie as well.

This move confirms that all eras of the Karate Kid franchise are not only canon but will be represented in the new movie as well

The duo of Macchio and Chan appeared in an official video from Sony Pictures in which they announced a worldwide casting call for the role of the titular Karate Kid. Just a few months later, the search concluded with American Born Chinese star Ben Wang being tapped to appear as the lead character. Other names have since been added to the cast such as Ming-Na Wen, whose role is still undisclosed. Also, Sadie Stanley will play the romantic interest of Ben Wang's title character, while Dawson's Creek alum Joshua Jackson will play her father.

A list of known cast members includes:

Karate Kid 2024 Story

A New Karate Kid Will Rise

Though full details haven't been revealed yet, it is known that the 2024 Karate Kid movie will follow a teen from China who studies under a tough but fair mentor, presumably Chan's Mr. Han. This will relocate the events from the West Coast of the United States to the East Coast, but it is unclear how things will connect to the original franchise. The revelation that Ralph Macchio will return as Daniel does seem to confirm that the reboot and original film continuities are one, but only time will tell exactly how the original Karate Kid ties in.

• 

  Karate Kid (2024)

  Release Date:

  2024-12-13

  Director:

  Jonathan Entwistle

  Rating:

  Not Yet Rated

  Genres:

  Action, Drama, Martial Arts

  Writers:

  Rob Lieber, Anthony Tambakis

  Studio(s):

  Columbia Pictures, Jerry Weintraub Productions, Overbrook Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment

  Distributor(s):

  Sony Pictures Entertainment

  Franchise(s):

  The Karate Kid