Jaden Smith Confirmed for The Karate Kid!? Posted by The ODI at Tuesday, November 11, 2008 0 comments Labels: The Karate Kid

For some reason once again the current trend in Hollywood is to remake old movies. Yes, I know this is not something new, but a prime example of a remake that probably is not needed to be made is The Karate Kid. However, today we learned that Will Smith's son Jaden has been cast to play The Karate Kid.

Here is the story:

Columbia Pictures is back in the dojo with a new version of the 1984 hit "The Karate Kid," which has been refashioned as a star vehicle for Jaden Smith.

The film will be produced by Jerry Weintraub (who launched the original franchise) and Overbrook Entertainment's James Lassiter, Will Smith and Ken Stovitz. Will Smith, who is the 10-year-old actor's father, co-starred alongside Jaden in his feature debut, "The Pursuit of Happyness," which Overbrook and Escape Artists produced for Columbia.

The script is being written by Chris Murphy, and the film will shoot next year in Beijing and other cities. While the new film will be set in that exotic locale, it will borrow elements of the original plot, wherein a bullied youth learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor.

China Film Group Corp. will co-produce in China.

Source: Variety