A Karate Kid Remake Starring Will Smith’s Son?
If you grew up in the 80’s, you probably are aware that Hollywood is currently mining your childhood for nostalgia to repackage and sell back to you. Personally, I’m all for nostalgia, but it kind of loses the appeal when they take something old and try to make it new again by modernizing it. Which brings us to the latest and greatest hare-brained Hollywood remake scheme, one that involves that pinnacle of 80’s filmmaking, The Karate Kid. It turns out the film’s original producer Jerry Weintraub is reportedly teaming up with Will Smith for a new version of this classic story.
Details are scarce at the moment, but apparently their plan is to make the new Karate Kid a vehicle for Will Smith’s son, Jaden, who you may remember made his big screen debut across from his dad in The Pursuit of Happyness. While I hear the kid was fantastic in that movie, the fact of the matter is, he’s only 9 years old at the moment. The Karate Kid has always been a teenage coming-of-age story, so I don’t see how he can possibly be right for the role until at least a few years from now. The other thing is, The Karate Kid is just one of those movies that was a product of its time, and I don’t think it would work nowadays. Even the 90’s sequel The Next Karate Kid starring Hilary Swank wasn’t particularly successful. Assuming the rumour is true, I just don’t see any reason to attach The Karate Kid name to the project. Why not come up with something original instead?
Comments (7)
Why try to remake something that people like? If the general consensus is that something sucked, then go and remake it and try to make it better. There’s no reason to remake The Karate Kid. It’s not old enough to warrant an update and the original is good. I don’t like this idea.
Posted by Rian on September 28th, 2007leave this movie alone, why make a remake of a classic. i mean Rob Zombie already ruined Halloween, now they want the Fresh Prince of Bel Air Junior to ruin this one. has anyone seen Karate Kid 3 and the Next Karate Kid, absolutely shite.
Posted by Chopper on September 28th, 2007If they remake this film who will play Mr. Miyagi? I think if they get Jackie Chan to play the role it would be worth watching. As for Will Smith’s son Jayden, why didn’t they choose his older son Trey? He would be closer to the age of what we would like to see in Karate Kid.
Posted by Beth on October 1st, 2007I think the remake is a great idea but not with a nine year old i love will smith and jackey chan this just makes them better in my and many others eyes but I rember the first two fights danyal got the crud beat out of him and that is just not a thing to show happeing to a nine year old but besides that I think the remake is a great idea there really smart for doing it. keep up the good work
Posted by patrick on October 21st, 2008Patrick its fools like you that hollywood r making remakes.
Leave well enough alone.
Posted by sal on November 14th, 2008I can not believe that Jaden smith will be playing the lead role, how in the world did they pick him (oh yeah his dad is involved in the making of it…some how I feel like this movie is going to suck big time…
Posted by melodie on December 29th, 2008This remake will suck. The casting is completely wrong. Has Will forgotten the Wild West film of his that bombed?
Posted by Allen on November 2nd, 2009Leave a Reply