Karate Kid Remake Lands Director, New Miyagi

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Harold Zwart (The Pink Panther 2) will direct the upcoming Karate Kid remake which is set to star Jaden Smith. EW has also revealed that Jackie Chan is in talks to play Mr. Miyagi, the character made famous by Pat Morita.

Set in an exotic Asian locale, the new film will borrow elements of the original plot, wherein a bullied youth (Smith) learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor (Chan).

Will Smith, James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz’s Overbrook Entertainment is producing along with the original film’s producer Jerry Weintraub. The setting will be relocated from the U.S. to China.

Chris Murphy is on board to pen the screenplay. Shooting is being eyed for this year in Beijing.

Morita earned an Oscar nomination for his role in the original Karate Kid.