Jaden Smith to play new Karate Kid

Columbia Pictures has been looking to revive the 1984 hit The Karate Kid, and it looks like they are now prepping the remake as a star vehicle for Will Smith’s son Jaden, according to Variety. Ocean’s 11 producer Jerry Weintraub, who also guided the original film, along with Will Smith’s company Overbrook Entertainment, will produce the new movie.

The script is being prepped by Chris Murphy, and shooting will commence next year in Beijing and other cities. According to reports, although the new film is set overseas, it will borrow elements of the original, wherein a bullied youth learns to stand up for himself with the help of a mentor.

Jaden Smith, who next stars in another remake, the sci-fi epic The Day the Earth Stood Still, is a martial arts practitioner, according to reports.

Film Fetish Trivia: At 10 years old, Jaden Smith is currently about 12 years younger than original Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio, who was then an unbelievable age 22, and was chosen for his boyish good looks for the role.

Below is a trailer for the original 1984 film, The Karate Kid.