The Karate Kid Reboot: Release Date, Cast, Story & Everything We Know (2024)

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 2025.

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 new Karate Kid 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.

The Most Recent Karate Kid Reboot News

Filming Wraps On The New Karate Kid Movie

A few months after the movie's release date was significantly delayed, the latest news confirms that the Karate Kid reboot has wrapped filming. Posted on his official Instagram page on June 22, 2024, Ralph Macchio honored the original release of The Karate Kid in 1984 by commemorating its 40th anniversary and revealing that the reboot had finished shooting. This announcement comes about three months after the film began shooting earlier in 2024. Macchio also revealed he had finished shooting the final season of Cobra Kai, calling 2024 "one of the most exciting years yet!"

The Karate Kid Reboot 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 Karate Kid Reboot 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.

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:

Actor	Karate Kid Role
Jackie Chan	Mr. Han
Ralph Macchio	Daniel LaRusso
Ben Wang	Unknown Title Role
Sadie Stanley	Unknown
Ming-Na Wen	Unknown
Joshua Jackson	Unknown
Wyatt Oleff	Unknown
Aramis Knight	Unknown

The Karate Kid Reboot Story

A New Karate Kid Will Rise

Though full details haven't been revealed yet, it is known that the new 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)

Not Yet Rated

Action

Drama

Martial Arts

Karate Kid is a 2025 movie based on the original Karate Kid franchise of films directed by Jonathan Entwistle. Plot details currently remain unknown, but it is expected to be a new rendition of the story of a youth finding the courage to stand up for themselves under the tutelage of a former martial artist.

Director

Jonathan Entwistle

Release Date

May 30, 2025

Studio(s)

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

Distributor(s)

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Writers

Rob Lieber , Anthony Tambakis

Franchise(s)

The Karate Kid