Karate Kid: Legends - Release Date, Cast, Story & Everything We Know (2025)

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 the film, Karate Kid: Legends, coming soon. 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 Karate Kid: Legends is 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 Karate Kid: Legends 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: Legends News

The Movie's Full Title Is Revealed

With filming wrapped and anticipation building for more information, the latest news confirms the full title for the upcoming Karate Kid movie. As revealed by the official X (formerly Twitter) account for the film, it is now known that the reboot is called Karate Kid: Legends. Perhaps alluding to the various generations of the franchise being represented in the movie, the title was revealed alongside a sleek new logo for the movie. The post also advertised the movie's panel at the 2024 New York City Comic Con which takes place on October 18, 2024.

Karate Kid: Legends Release Date

The New Karate Kid Arrives In May 2025

Karate Kid: Legends 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 movie's 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: Legends has been pushed once again, and will now be released on May 30, 2025.

Karate Kid: Legends 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

Karate Kid: Legends Story

A New Karate Kid Will Rise

Though full details haven't been revealed yet, it is known that Karate Kid: Legends 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 everything will connect in Karate Kid: Legends.

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