Jackie Chan: ‘They call it The Kung Fu Kid’

While speaking to a reporter for New Zealand’s 3 News in Hong Kong, Jackie Chan confirmed that he will star in producer Will Smith’s upcoming remake of THE KARATE KID and that shooting will begin after he finishes working on Chinese historical epic BIG SOLDIER, SMALL GENERAL. He also had something to say about the title.

“They don’t want to call it KARATE KID any more,” said Chan. “They want to call it THE KUNG FU KID.”

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Let’s see. This remake is being set in China, stars kung fu movie legend Jackie Chan as the martial arts mentor. And now they want to change the title to THE KUNG FU KID?

Now add to this the fact that Smith’s 10-year-old son Jaden Smith is standing in for Ralph Macchio’s character, originally an Italian-American high schooler from New Jersey.

Seriously, it’s time to drop the pretense and call it what it is, another Jackie Chan movie that has little to do with THE KARATE KID apart from being co-produced by Jerry Weintraub and possessing a cross-culture, master-student relationship. Granted, this plot hook is somewhat rare but even that could change.

For all we know, by the time the movie starts shooting Chan could end up being a drunken immortal/spy/supercop/detective/Qing Dynasty agent reluctantly teaming up with his new partner, a fast-talking, 11-year-old undercover police officer/cowboy/secret agent from L.A. as they travel through time to stop the Triad/yakuza/mafia from trafficking drugs/ancient relics/cheap labor either in or out of China. They could call it THE LEGEND OF THE SHANGHAI RUSH HOUR KID with the tagline, “You thought this was a remake of THE KARATE KID and you were wrong, dead wrong.”

In related news, Chan is still talking about his desire to be taken seriously as an actor and he’s hoping that his latest film, SHINJUKU INCIDENT, will help in that regard.