The stars of Sony's "Karate Kid: Legends" graced CinemaCon with the martial arts franchise's latest cinematic offering. The elaborate spectacle commenced with a lively ensemble of onstage dancers, percussionists, and lantern-bearers, setting the tone for an unforgettable experience.
On Monday, at the Las Vegas event, the spotlight fell on Ralph Macchio, the iconic first "Karate Kid" star, who reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso in both Columbia's 1984 original masterpiece and the Netflix reboot series "Cobra Kai." Joining him was the fresh face of the franchise, Ben Wang, who portrays Li Fong, a martial arts aspirant under the mentorship of Daniel and Jackie Chan's character, Mr. Han.
Before unveiling new footage, Wang playfully accused Macchio of roping him into chores like waxing his car, quipping, "Ralph, I've been doing your bidding all week! I thought you were teaching me some secret Miyagi techniques." Macchio laughed it off, revealing it was all part of the ritual hazing of the newcomer.
The newly unveiled scenes were nothing short of heartfelt and thrilling. One emotional sequence featured Chan's Mr. Han paying homage to the late Mr. Miyagi while forging a bond with Daniel LaRusso. "I want Li to learn Miyagi karate," Chan declared passionately. Another clip, shown at CinemaCon, was packed with action-packed excitement.
Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, "Karate Kid: Legends" is geared up for a theatrical release on May 30, continuing the story three years after the events of the fifth and final season of "Cobra Kai," which debuted on Netflix last month.
The action-packed franchise embarked on its journey in 1984 with the release of "The Karate Kid," where Macchio's character sought to become a champion under the guidance of the late Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi. Three sequels followed, two starring Macchio, before the 2010 remake led by Chan and Jaden Smith.
"Karate Kid: Legends" marks the historic first collaboration between Chan and Macchio within the series. The franchise has witnessed a resurgence in popularity thanks to "Cobra Kai," which premiered on YouTube Red in May 2018 before making its way to Netflix.
CinemaCon, presented by Cinema United (formerly the National Association of Theater Owners), is the annual event where exhibitors and Hollywood studios converge, running this year from March 31 to April 3.
