Jaden Smith To Star In "Karate Kid" Remake

Will Smith's kids have been following in his footsteps, appearing in films and working red carpets, and now younger son Jaden is starring in a movie being made just for him: a remake of "Karate Kid."
Variety reports:

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.

The younger Smith, who next stars in "The Day the Earth Stood Still," is a martial arts practitioner.

Smith has three children: son Trey for a first marriage and daughter Willow and Jaden with wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Jaden, who turned 10 in July, wore his sunglasses at night this summer at premiere for "Kit Kittredge" and at "Hancock."

With sister Willow at "Hancock":

Comments

[rockyersocksoff]

I think it's a great idea.

Originality is over-rated.

Isn't it about time for a remake of "Titanic?"

[commonsenselives]

The Karate Kid doesn't need to be re-made.

Why aren't there more creative people working at these studios? Isn't there other stories to tell for pete's sake?

[Hefner]

Hey, Will Smith...believe me when I say that no one appreciates how self-aggrandizing
and ego-maniacal you and your kid are...a remake of the Karate Kid...Please!!...it was done to perfection first time around...why don't you take your ego and over the top ambition
and put it where the sun doesn't shine...YOU and junior STINK, A LOT...

[lisajenn1012]

i am amazed at some of the grown folks speak. regarding this post.. and then they have the nerve to be salty at the Smith's cause they're kids get opportunties. most of the folk on here sound like what one would call a "hater", jealous and mean spirited. it makes one wonder the capacity of sense that is within some of the grown men/women on here - spouting hateful rhetoric. most of the narrative sounds like it comes from the lips of people in the 6th grade.

[Swerinjer2]

tldr. but i can say is that theres nuthin uglier than bald ego. this kid is gonna be a bigtime mess like jason patric or steven seagull.

[twokidsonecat]

The arrogance is unappealing. I knew a very wealthy family whose humbleness and appreciativeness or their position was very admirable.

[Swerinjer2]

they put up a good front but all rich people are inferior human beings on the inside.

[twokidsonecat]

I don't agree

[Aegis72]

This movie does not need a remake. Nothing against the kid.

[Swerinjer2]

i dont have a problem with a remake but i got a big problem with this kid. he's ugly.

[DosaHut]

lol

[Swerinjer2]

They'll have a politically correct one-legged black lesbian as the Pat Morita character, and all the bad guys will be conspicuously white, thus inculcating our sick society into the cognitive distortion two wrongs make a right.

[hilaritee]

so what does it say that the villains were all white the first time around? You might want to work through your anti PC analysis a bit more; its still a bit rough around the edges.

[jgsuperpants]

Incorrect. One of the Cobra Kai was black.

Plus it was in the San Fernando Valley. They needed more Latinos.

[jdiva]

I think Will and Jada will handle Jaden. There's a lot of jealousy on this post. Damn!

[hilaritee]

they are haters....some people are not used to seeing black kids who are wealthy and entitled...it makes them uncomfortable and sometimes angry. sad.

[gifu]

Way to play "russian roulette" with your kid's psyche. So many childhood actors/actresses, much less the ones of celebrity parents, just wind up tweaked by the time they are adults. Just because you CAN does not mean you SHOULD.

[ramal]

More junk from Hollywood? Please, let's just not and say that we did.

[gd7277467]

Cadillac Escalade and da-posse !

[dct1999]

Come on huffposters, why is this thread so full of hate, calls for physical punishment and name calling? Disagreeing with the parents decision (as I do) is one thing, but hating on a baby is another.

We're talking about a 10 year old here.

Seriously, what is wrong with some of you?

[DosaHut]

spoiled brat. getting gigsl because of dad. Think if he auditioned for a role, that he'd get it? no way. He's the new Tori Spelling of Hollywood. Good luck with your future reality show!

[pokemon]

If I was rich and famous I would also do things like that for my kids, instead I am middle-class and a college education must instead suffice. Your bitching is similar to people complaining that the ultra rich send their kids to school around the world which makes them snotty.

[LynndaMaree]

Stop hating, you're just jealous. Get over it and get a life. How many movies have you made lately? Oops, I forgot, you can't act, can you.

[jgsuperpants]

Give the kid some credit - he was really good in Pursuit of Happyness(sic). I just don't think this classic needs a remake.

SWEEP THE LEG!

[dct1999]

Dayum, a lot of vitriol directed at a baby. What's wrong with you people? I don't agree with his parents' decision but he's just a little boy and none of you know him.

Stop with the namecalling.

[dct1999]

Will and Jada need to stop pimpingthekids!

[RobertaInCT]

And the kid should be a kid and lose the shades.................looks like a young th-ug.

[dct1999]

What?

I disagree with his parents but he's just a little boy. Since did shades and a pose = a t h u g?

[westphilly726]

Amen.One thing if he decided to act when he's an adult but I think he should be a kid and do kid things.You're boycotting black movies because of Prop 8?That is the dumbest thing I've heard in a while.You must be having a Palin moment.I guess you're planning on boycotting Jackie Chan movies also because 49% of Asians voted.I guess you won't be going to see Rush Hour 4 because of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker (a black &an asian).I may have to boycott Rush Hour 4 also but for a different reason 3 was really bad.

[dct1999]

I'm not boycotting anything, you're responding in the wrong place.