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

[piquet]

I'm sorry but at $9 a movie I would rather spend my money on natural talent. Than a system that rewards those lucky enough to be born into fame. Personally I don't think the kid is a good actor. He shows no emotion and comes off a little smug.
I love Will Smith. But come on man...stop pushing your cocky brat in our face. He hasn't EARNED it.

[sean m king]

totally agree...i was thinking the same thing as i read the news. Will Smith has got rich and successful using a trademark cocky attitude: music, TV shows, blockbuster movies....it's taken him pretty far, which is fine enough. It's entertaining for 2hrs at a time or a 30min rerun of Fresh Prince....but i dont want to have to this little pip-squeak using the same bag of tricks, the same cocky attitude, and getting the world handed to him on a silver platter AGAIN. it's just too much.

With so many people out there these days losing everything in the markets, in their retirement accounts, in their homes, in their jobs--despite working their butts off for years--i cant stand to
watch ANOTHER star , who's got nothing more than a smirk and a team of publisists, keep falling ass backwards into success and money--yeah i'm looking at you Olson Twins, and you too Paula Abdul.

[NOBamaCant08]

With this remake, it is painfully obvious that Hollywood has lost it's magic. Not only is a 10yr old in a Karate Kid movie a total slap in the face to the franchise, but having it be Jaden Smith in the lead is even worse. This is one of MANY remakes that are insulting to the original, and real fans of the series will avoid this flick at all costs. You'd think Will Smith would offer his son better advice than "star in a remake that no one wants to see, and that no one asked for". Other insulting remakes on the horizon: The Last Dragon, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Warriors, Poltergeist, Red Sonjah, Robocop, Rock n Roll High, Red Dawn, Valley Girl, Short Circuit, Footloose, Hellraiser, Clash of the Titans, CHiPs, Summer School, etc - none of these ever needed to be remade, and do not deserve to make any money at all. Get an original idea for once!

[provgrays]

The original wasn't exactly Citizen Kane.

[jay33son]

Now they want to ruin the Last Dragon as well?? Is nothing Sacred!??!

[HelloooCanada]

hahahahaha, this is the funniest post ever!

Someone needs to contact the Society for the Preservation of CHiPs so they can take legal action to put an end to this sacrilege!

[leetz]

I didn't know they were making a Last Dragon remake. That one might actually be pretty cool if they do it right. But yeah, Karate Kid should be left alone, as should Robocop, Warriors, Nightmare, and Poltergeist (didn't know they were making remakes of those either)

[phantom5551]

what is the point of remaking a movie that sucked the first time?

money, guess

[Passenger57]

It's one of the perks of being a rich H'wood big wheel :
"Dad - I REALLY like karate!"
"Hmmm..."

[pokeyoakey]

Nepotism and lack of originality. You could make a hundred "Junos" for what this one will cost and employ a thousand out of work actors who don't have famous relatives.

[Swerinjer2]

4 million dollars says all the bad guys have white skin.

[Wolfgang]

Yep and the lead villain will be be blond and may have a German surname. A five year old could write the script.

[jdiva]

Like "Wolfgang"?

[westphilly726]

The bad guys in the original did.Did you have a problem with that?

[Swerinjer2]

yes. if the bad guys were all in black it would be more realistic.

[CreoleInDC]

Jaden Smith is going to be trouble. I can just feel it.

[AlligatorShuz]

I agree with you 100% because I saw how he acted on Oprah show last week. His parents needs to get those kids 1000 miles away from that horrible atmosphere of Hollywood.

[dollyblue]

What if his parents are the part of the "horrible atmosphere"?

[Quotidien]

Hollywood makes me sick with it's lack of creativity.

The Karate Kid is a classic.

It's not as if it was made in black and white or the story would benefit from newer special effects - it's a human story. Leave it alone!

[Ihaveadream]

Why does it need to be remade? ..... except to showcase the Smith kid duh

[drsmc41]

Willow is so cute, but there's just something about Jaden....

[jazzartkitty]

Jaden = Big Ego already. The little girl looks sweet.

[geha714]

As Jon Stewart might say: WHY?

[smitallica]

Remaking "The Karate Kid."

The rape of our childhood continues...

[Swerinjer2]

Pat Morita is rolling in his grave.

[dagdavid]

Let your effing kid be an effing kid, dude!

[queotic]

Wow, you can tell Willow is the daughter of Will and Jada lol. She has her daddy's ears and facial structure, but she has Jada's face. Too cute!