Karate Kid: Legendsis bringing together Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan, but this creates a complicated plot hole. While it’s certainly exciting that these iconic martial arts figures will be brought together on screen, the newKarate Kidmovie is a strange way to do it. After all, Chan’s 2010The Karate Kidmovie duplicated the formula of Macchio’s 1984 classic to the point that placing these movies in the same universe is a bit of an odd stretch. Still, 2025’sKarate Kid:Legendsmight find a way to keep this from feeling like a plot hole.
Karate Kid: Legends, which will hit theaters August 24, 2025, will see Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso join forces with Chan’s Mr. Han to teach a new student (played by Ben Wang) karate. This follows the success of theKarate Kidspinoff series,Cobra Kai, with a returned focus on the original movie franchise. Aside from this, little else is definitively known about the movie’s plot. It’s unclear precisely howDaniel and Mr. Han will meet, but this is the least of the upcoming film’s problems. Perhapsthe most significant challenge will be effectively justifying the strange similarities between these characters' stories.
The Karate Kid (2010) Closely Followed The Original Movie’s Premise
Jackie Chan & Jaden Smith’s Movie Was Set Up As A Reboot
The Karate Kid(2010) was treated more like a reboot than a sequel. Sure, Chan’s Mr. Han didn’t have the same name as Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi, but the former was clearly based on the latter. Mr. Han protected a kid (Dre) from bullying and then agreed to teach the kid martial arts so that he could face his abusers in a tournament.This is the exact formula of 1984’sThe Karate Kid, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with this at the time. Reboots are nothing new, andKarate Kid(2010) introduced enough changes within the story and characters to keep it fresh and unique.
Karate Kid: Legendshits theaters on August 10, 2025.
It’s for precisely this reason thatChan’sKarate Kidand Macchio’s 1984 moviewere considered to be in separate universes. It’s strange that any characters within a single continuity would have such similar stories. However, 2025’sKarate Kid: Legendsis doing precisely this by bringing Macchio and Chan together. While the idea that these two will star together is exciting,the upcoming movie will have quite the job explaining why Daniel LaRusso and Dre have the exact same story.
Karate Kid: Legends Can’t Possibly Explain The Massive Similarities Between Daniel LaRusso & Dre
There Are Too Many Similarities To Be Organic
Daniel moved to California from the East Coast in 1984’sThe Karate Kidand was immediately met with bullying. It took a friendship with Mr. Miyagi for things to turn around for him, and a triumphant underdog win at theAll-Valley Tournamentmade it all the better. In 2010’sThe Karate Kid, Dre (Jaden Smith) moved to China with his single mom, was met by bullying, and was only improved by his unlikely friendship with Mr. Han, a teacher with a rather unique teaching style.These stories are essentially identical—both Daniel and Dre even got into their respective pickles because of their feelings for a girl.
While people can coincidentally have backgrounds that line up with one another, Daniel and Dre take this to an entirely different level.
Karate Kid: Legendswill have a hard time explaining away these similarities. While people can coincidentally have backgrounds that line up with one another, Daniel and Dre take this to an entirely different level. Unless the upcoming movie comes up with an effective way to make this make sense,it may be difficult to take the newKarate Kidstory seriously.
How Karate Kid: Legends Can Work The Reboot Coincidences Into Its Plot
The New Karate Kid Movie Will Have To Create Some Hidden Connections
More likely than not, Mr. Miyagi will be the key toKarate Kid: Legendsexplaining away the similarities between the 2010 and 1984The Karate Kidmovies. Daniel’s sensei and Mr. Han have similar training styles, which utilize practical exercises (like waxing a car or hanging up a jacket) to teach martial arts. It’s certainly possible that their own histories in karate and kung fu have the same roots. This would make some sense since Miyagi-Do notably evolved from a style Mr. Miyagi’s ancestors learned in China. However,Daniel and Dre’s stories will be much harder to explain.
Daniel may remind Mr. Han of Dre, and Mr. Han may remind Daniel of Mr. Miyagi. This would be the foundation of their relationship, and this itselfmay be enough to distract audiences from the fact that these stories being so close is a bit of a stretch. A better alternative may be some reveal in theupcomingKarate Kid: Legendsthat Mr. Miyagi wrote to Mr. Han and told him all about his young student and friend before the events of 2010’sThe Karate Kid, thus inspiring the man to take Dre under his wing. In the end, audiences might just have to accept it—though an adequate explanation would be preferred.
Karate Kid: Legends
Cast
Karate Kid: Legends is a sequel to Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film sees Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles, continuing the legacy of martial arts mentorship and rivalry in a new era of challenges and apprentices.
