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FIRST LOOK

First Official Look: Jaden Smith & Jackie Chan in The Karate Kid

by Alex Billington
November 30, 2009
Source: People

Although we already featured the logo artwork (seen above) and a shot of Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan doing some fight training together on set a few months ago, this is the first official photo from Sony's The Karate Kid remake. This shot comes from People mag with a little blurb and some quotes from both Smith and Chan. "I trained every day for four months with Master Wu [the film's fight coordinator]," Jaden said. "We did a lot of stretching." Chan, who plays Mr. Han, the Mr. Miyagi-like character, also adds: "He took the training very seriously. I was very impressed with him." You can see the rather uninteresting photos below.

Update: We were just sent a few more new photos in high def straight from Sony, which you can see below!

Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan in The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid, or The Kung Fu Kid (as it's supposedly going to be called), stars Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, and Taraji P. Henson. Smith plays Dre, a skateboarding video game buff who moves to China after his single mother is forced to go there for work. Unable to speak Chinese, Dre finds it hard to settle in, and gets beat up by the local bully. Chan plays Mr. Han, a maintenance man who spots his black-eye and offers to teach him both martial arts and Chinese, so he can defend against the students at the nearby school of kung-fu. I know it's just one photo so far, but is anyone starting to warm up to this remake? Or is everyone still upset?

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Related categories: First Look, Opinions, Photos

Antioch

wow, this is going to be horrendous
bassbin

jackie should teach him roulette or some other gambling game instead
Cmurder

meh....i'll keep an open mind....for now
http://Teamxbox.com Unseen

They couldn't have picked a worse kid for this role. He is not that good.
tazz

i remember when Will Smith was in UK he had an interview and he mention this movie but he said it will be called The Kung Fu Kid instead of The Karate Kid
Said

i prefer the firsts ones made
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#5 - I heard that too, but I think they're keeping Karate Kid because it's a more recognizable name in pop culture... Not sure really, but for now it's just The Karate Kid.
samuel j

why beat a dead horse?
proverb

Don't hate..Jaden looks great!!! Way to go Jaden!!!
jebb

Awwwww. hell no.
Chris H

Karate Kid certainly is more recognizable, but Chan is Chinese and the great wall in the background suggests a purely Chinese approach. Though Chinese certainly are entitled to learn Karate, Karate is a Japanese martial art. Kung Fu would make more sense but I guess hollywood considers the difference between Kung Fu and Karate as trivial... as I'm sure the average moviegoers would agree.
Blackstar

I heard they are keeping the Karate Kid title... if so you have to wonder: Is Will Smith going to attach the title of a childhood classic film to his own project who's sole reason for being is to generate exposure for his kid and generate money for himself and his family because it's more 'recognizable' even though it has little to nothing to do with his story? O.o So lets break down the changes we know he's made so far: Mr. Miyagi is now Mr. Han. The teacher is no longer Japanese he's Chinese. The kid is moving to China not California. He's being taught Kung Fu not Karate. The kid is now 11 instead of a teenager in high school. The kid is now black instead of white. And now being 11 years old, I think it's safe to say the romantic subplot and car scenes will be gone too. But he's going to call it 'The Karate Kid' even though he's not being taught... Karate..... O.o ... so far I find no similarities other than a young person in a single parent family being taught a martial art by an older person. Why not make up your own title Will and not try to rip off/wagon-hitch someone else's film? Better yet, after this one you can remake Citizen Kane with an 11 year old black kid and call it Citizen Dre? How about that? Or maybe Will could try something rarely heard of in Hollywood lately. Being original. You want to make a break out film for your kid, fine; more power to ya. But don't trample on the memories of movie goer's childhood films to do it. Dare to be different Will. Make up your own name for it.
tazz

#7 Alex you forget to put up another pic of Jaden with his girlfriend in the movie Slashfilm got the pic of him and his girlfriend. anyway they better change the name asap to The Kung Fu Kid cause this movie will be f-ing stupid having it set in China and Jaden learns Kung Fu instead of Karate.
Quanah

I'm feelin' a lot of what #12 is saying: Originality goes a long way. Pat Morita got an Oscar nomination in the original. To try and retell that story with Jackie Chan feels like a Hollywood no, no. I get the desire to capitalize on the original success, but with younger audiences? Come on! The original focused less on the Karate, and more on the art of friendship. Sure, Karate played a part, but from what I can tell, this film seems to focus more on the martial arts (Even if by nature the title is getting the martial art demonstrated wrong). It also appears like it'll be more of a kid's film, which Mr. Chan seems to be heading in that career direction. Personally, I think this is going to be a disaster. It's going to be brutally compared to the original and those in the world of martial arts are going to laugh at a kid doing Kung Fu in a movie with Karate in the title. Seriously Mr. Will Smith: Is this the best vehicle for your son's movie career? What I'm hoping is that it is a more refined drama and less of a kid oriented film. It should have moments of true life mentoring between Han and Dre and not a bunch of funny scenes with kicking Han's ball accidently, or back-fisting Dre's mom in the face. Sigh. I'm sure it'll have that stupid stuff in it in the end.
danny

will they give a special thanks to DC Comics. since Karate Kid is actually from DC Comic character. DC Comics granted Columbia Pictures permission to use the "Karate Kid" name for a series of successful movies starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. However, these films did not bear any significant resemblance to the comics version of the character. There is a thank you to DC Comics for allowing the use of the name at the end of the credits. Interestingly, although in reality Val Armorr was the first character to bear the name, the Legion's 31st century setting means that the movies were released a good thousand years before his birth, leading to "present-day" characters tending to reference the films when confronted with Val and his codename.
Rolando

Dreadful!
Lazarus from Sparta...DETHKLOK RULES!!!!!

Ladies and Gents...Fanboys and Gamerchicks...boys and girls of all ages...The train wreck of 2010 has arrived! God bless LaLawood...never seems a dull day there...
Quanah

#17 Hahaha. Solid. There isn't a dull day there. Well, that's what a friend of an ex-roommate of mine told a guy at a party I was at who knew a chick who dated this other dude who's brother's nephew worked for a guy who one day who was asked to bring donuts to the set of "The Animal" with Rob Schneider...Or was it Ed Asner? So, I think you're right...
http://rhptkfgs.blogspot.com ramez

Two words... Goddammit Jackie.
zeldaprimed

I like the Drunken Kid better...
Chris

Jackie Chan is a great action star. But were talking about replacing Mr. Miyagi for God's sake. The only exceptable way that this could be a good movie is if Pat Morita was still alive, which he unfortunately isnt
laurel

Dare I say it, I'm a little impressed with the kick we see here "...a lot of stretching" indeed. At the very least, got to be better than "The Next Karate Kid" - lets not forget that sorta-remake. I mean, I get where the hate is coming from - remaking a classic while having the nerve to trade on the original's title without retaining much else is pretty crap- on the other hand they're adding to an already imperfect franchise (I don't even remember KK3). Maybe all these diversions from the first KK will keep it from being just a rehash of what we've already seen and result in the movie being original in it's own way. (maybe I'm delusional) And hey, the cast is awesome. Jackie Chan continues to be charming in every horrible movie he graces with his presence. And Taraji P. Henson is another solidly consistent and awesome performer. I'm gonna reserve judgment till the trailer.
Victor

Ralph Machio was more like The Karate Teen, jaden looks like the real Karate Kid.
Jaco

No no no no no.... Next we'll see Jean Claude van Damme & Dakota Fanning do: The Next Karate Kid?!
Buzz

To everyone who says they shouldn't steal the original's title: If they really did that, and pretended like it was a new movie, you'd all be pissed that the movie wasn't original and was just a rip off of KK. There's a fine line, and not sure where I stand, but I find it interesting nonetheless
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf Shero

Jackie Chan himself call it Kung Fu Kid in his blog July 11, 2009 : http://www.jackiechan.com/blog/722082--The-Start-of-Filming I think it is Karate Kid for now just to not make a big deal of it ... and when it come the real time for release then they will change it to Kung Fu Kid ... Remember Jackie trained Kung Fu not Karate ...
darkside

Ralph Macchio gave his blessing for the movie anyway he support the reimaginig of the movie also he even said The Karate Kid can be retold. heres the interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXUeBGF8QbI heres another interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZpwYagnALI also on Jackie Chan website its called Kung Fu Kid
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2408/blackbabyjesus.gif Crapola

They should remake Lucky Seven. Trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmGErvwmOAk - I don't even really have an opinion on the Kungfu/Karate Kid, just more rubbish not to watch.
Leave my childhood memories alone

screw this movie. screw this kid (and his dad) why is it SO hard for hollywood to come up with new movies, i'm dead sick of all these F'N remakes.
Sam-Graeme

still upset... it was a classic and they may be great actors but no matter how good it is it will never beat the classic...
Dan

Another fucking remake!!! Hollywood go fuck your self!
JC

I'm for it. As if Ralph Macchios skinny white ass was more believable as an martial artist than this black kid. KK I was boring, but KK2 was a fucked up Mighty Whitey crapfest. Karate Kid also ruined Pat Morita's career by typecasting him as a FOB when he speaks perfect English (actually, Hollywood has been butt-fucking Asian American actors since day one). I hold no love for the Karate Kid, so this remake can only make it better. With Jackie Chan involved I'm sure it will be an entertaining film with authentic Kung Fu action. You see that kick Jaden did there? YOU TRY TO DO IT. At least it's not another baby-face white nerd being the hero, so I'll give it a chance.
Magnolia Fan

That little bitch ruined The Day the Earth Stood Still. I'll never watch another movie with him in it because he just plain sucks at acting. And no I'm not kidding. Should have given the role to someone new and who's dad didn't have anything to do with him breaking into acting. Plain and simple: HE SUCKS!
darkside

#33 The Day the Earth Stood Still was crap anyway with or without Jaden get over yourself
proverb

You tell them #34!!!...#32 you make some very good points.
captain subtext

looks like crap.
The One

When will they do a remake of Gigli?
I am Ron Burgundy?

This looks like an afterschool special. I prey my kids don't hear about this or want to see this on DVD!! Oh the plot will be riviting, What kind of bad kids will he fight ......Maybe a spiked red head named O'Doyle, o'doyle rules!
Magnolia Fan

#34 I can't get over myself. I'm just too cool. Keanu is still and always will be the man and you know it. Now you better leave or you'll be late to see New Moon.
ian

All the karate kid movies sucked because the martial arts were lousy. With Wu and Jackie CHan behind this, you caN BET it will be good movie overall.
darkside

#39 first of i hate the whole The Twilight crap so dont put me in that same link to that movie "OK". Keanu was boring in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" the whole movie was crap. anyway at least Jaden in the pic can do a kick like that i bet you cant even do that to save your life.
Magnolia Fan

Oh my god you're a genious. One picture of a kick and you're sold. That's why hollywood makes crap movies because people like you pay for them.
Goku

My head hurts just thinkin about this movie. The karate kid trilogy is an eighties classic and untouchable, and this film is a cancerous mole to its legacy. P.S. Will smiths son cant act for poos. The day the earth stood still anyone?
darkangel2

Hell no!! thats like making a movie about Soccer; staring Michael Jordon, who teaches a kid how to play soccer and it is set in Chicago: Will Smith wouldn't like that would he. No respect at all..
Shawn

I have just seen the trailer. Now, I agree, it looks really well made, and the acting is great. But seeing Jaden fancying a Chinese girl...no doubt at the end, she will become his gf...it just ain't right. Black people, as a rule, are not that well liked in China. We seem to meet a lot of resistance, especially when it comes to relationships. It's meant to be a realistic portrayal, but..well, talking from my own experiences, he would not be accepted by her family. It should have been another story. Good luck though Jaden.
What'stheProblem

I have viewed many negative comments on this film and no one has seen it yet. I hope it is just because everyone loved the actors of the original film and not some underlying racial play. I never liked the first Karate Kid because I thought the guy who played the "Kid" was a poor actor, too skinny and his movements did not look authentic.
Onlyone

you people are retarded!!!!! it's just film making!!! listne it's not important what they do with the remake they're making it more up to date and using kung-fu is just what's popular in film making these days so shut up and stop worrying about the original and new comparison. it's RETARDED!!!!! i love those movies too but you really need to grow up poeple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kurath

The outlook looks great for those that dont know the orgins of karate derives from china ,all of the basics of all martial arts comes from china, this dates back to the japanese occupation of china , alot of the moves are in fact different but the basics are the same so the Title of the movie being the karate kid or the kung fu kid it should not matter , the moral of both stories will come out to be the same, i myself study hapkido , which is taught in korea but has orgins from china and japan,i grew up with the first karate kid series but to me the story lost its translation after the first two , so a remake is good in my opinion
http://www.thepinoybigblogger.com/ Pinoy Big Blogger

I'm waiting for this movie....:-)
someone

Fnnaly a movie that will give the black race a better outlook. The movies played these days make black people into some crazy racist assholes, but this movie might change some of them. they've never improved as a race, even after slavery and segregation they're still one of the most uncivilized race
http://facebook.com uragon_09

there somebody knows whats the name of the asian girl??.. ^_^
Brady

Ralph Macchio was 22 when he made the Karate Kid, playing a 16 year old.
Jada

this is a funny and cute movie i loved it!!!! Jaden jackie taraji p henson you guys are the best!!!!! i hope to see new movies from you guys!!!
Connie

Well I guess the haters and sickos loved the movie because they haven't been back to say I told you so. In fact, Will, Jada and Jaden told them so. wink, wink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!