[Ale]

Columbia taps Chris Murphy to write script

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.

Columbia presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach said they had been trying to find a way to bring back the series, which began with three films that featured Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. A subsequent film launched the career of Hilary Swank.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111799561...yid=13&cs=1

[KevTastic]

Too soon for a remake of this. Plus Jaden is about 10 years younger than Ralph Macchio was when he made this film. Gonna be waay to much of a kiddy film rather than the edgy slightly dark family movie the original was.

[MissAshley]

oh geez he was serious about this?
I think Will's got a real case of the "mini me's", yet another Overbrook production starring Jaden. (Newton's Law, Amulet, Karate Kid) seems like overkill. I just hope they get a reign on his little ego before they let him do anymore movies.

[Turntable]

KevTastic, on Nov 11 2008, 07:12 AM, said:

the edgy slightly dark family movie

*falls of the chair* :lolsign:

[KevTastic]

Don't front, you know where i'm coming from. Thats the closest description you'll get from me. Karate Kid was classic.

[Hero1]

I can't see this gfrom being anything but awful. No need to remake a classic like that.

[TopDawg14]

Hero1, on Nov 11 2008, 03:10 PM, said:

I can't see this gfrom being anything but awful. No need to remake a classic like that.

I gotta agree with Tim on this one. The Karate Kid(both 1 &2) were really good movies. This movie is going to be a popcorn kiddie flick.... and it will be bad. I don't see this recapturing the magic of the original Karate Kid.

This post has been edited by TopDawg14: 11 November 2008 - 03:20 PM

[Radewart]

After the remake of "Oldboy" and now this, I can't make excuses for the Fresh Prince anymore. These are just awful ideas....

[JusticeKnight]

I think it will be good!!! With Jerry Weintraub and Will producing it can't be bad. I wouldn't be surprised if this makes a lot of money. But don't be surprised if this turns into a classic in it's own right.

This post has been edited by JusticeKnight: 12 November 2008 - 06:17 AM

[Turntable]

KevTastic, on Nov 11 2008, 02:37 PM, said:

Don't front, you know where i'm coming from. Thats the closest description you'll get from me. Karate Kid was classic.

It just sounded so hilarious man

[Typhoon20]

Did he audition ?

[Hero1]

Typhoon20, on Nov 12 2008, 10:52 AM, said:

Did he audition ?

:muahaha: :muahaha: :muahaha:

[Da Brakes]

He was born! Thats the only audition he'll ever have to do

[FreshPrincess]

Da Brakes, on Nov 12 2008, 08:37 PM, said:

He was born! Thats the only audition he'll ever have to do

:lolsign: haha, that's funny!!

[JumpinJack AJ]

I have not watched the original in YEARS. I remember loving it as a kid. I don't see a reason 2 make a new version of it but i can see them doing an okay job with it. I'm not gonna lock them in2 a pre-opinion of it sucking horribly. It makes me wonder about auditioning tho.' Typically they do make u audition even if u basically have the part. Let's be real, Jaden was awesome The Pursuit of Happyness. He was much more than a cute kid delivering cute lines. Unless the trailor looks amazing, i doubt i'll see this...unless FP has a 1 second cameo...ha ha. All i can say is "Good luck! Don't mess it up!!"

[Hero1]

This whole movie was created as a "star vehicle" for Jaden.. I'm sure he lives nothing but a normal life. Still at 10 the idea of hanging around a set for 6 months, waiting in trailers, shooting a movie just wouldn't appeal to me.

[Ale]

Columbia Pictures, Will Smith team with Weintraub for Karate Kids remake

Mumbai: Columbia Pictures, Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment and Jerry Weintraub Productions will remake the 1984 hit The Karate Kid with Smith's 10-year-old son Jaden Smith starring in the lead role.

The announcement was made by Columbia Pictures presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach. The film will be produced by Jerry Weintraub, James Lassiter, Will Smith, and Ken Stovitz. Chris Murphy is writing the screenplay adaptation.

The new film will be set in China and shot on location next year in Beijing and other cities. China Film Group Corporation and Xinhua Media Entertainment, a subsidiary of XFMedia will co-produce the movie in China according to applicable Chinese co-production requirements.

Belgrad said, "Karate Kid is one of the studio's prized franchises and we had been talking about how we could re-invigorate it for some time. So it was very exciting when Overbrook approached us with the idea of building a remake around Jaden and setting the new film in China. Jaden's performance in The Pursuit of Happyness blew us away and we later found out that he's a serious martial arts student. The fit couldn't be more perfect. We're honored to have the opportunity to shoot the new version of this film in China and we can't wait to get underway next year."

Lassiter added, "The original Karate Kid tapped into a universal theme: that you can become a great fighter outside, but it means nothing without training the mind inside. Those lessons are just as relevant and true today as they were in 1984, and we look forward to bringing this story to a new generation."

Weintraub said, "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to continue this series. The Karate Kid remains close to my heart and I couldn't be more overjoyed by the opportunity to work with Jaden, James and Will. I believe we have a terrific new story to explore and one that will completely surprise and delight fans who are familiar with these films."

Jaden Smith is the 10 year-old son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. He made his feature film debut co-starring with his father in The Pursuit of Happyness. He will next be seen in The Day the Earth Stood Still.

http://www.businesso...hp?newsid=10876

This post has been edited by Ale: 22 November 2008 - 11:17 AM

[Ale]

Will Smith’s Search For Mr. Miyagi Continues As ‘Karate Kid’ Remake Moves To China

Will Smith normally appears in action films that feature aliens and big explosions, but with his son Jaden’s forthcoming starring role in a remake of the ‘Karate Kid’, the whole family may soon become synonymous with martial arts as well.

Though Smith Jr. is locked in for the Ralph Macchio role, a key character is yet to be cast, that of Daniel’s wise sensei. “We don’t have a Mr. Miyagi yet,” Smith told MTV News. “There’s a couple of people that we’re really intrigued by, but I don’t want to say any names because I’ll be in trouble.”

Interestingly, though the original movie was set in the United States, the new version will take place in China, and that means key characters will change with it. “We’re making it with the China Film Group, so it’ll be based in Beijing. Mr. Miyagi was originally Japanese, so there’ll be a Chinese adaptation to it.”

But wait, isn’t karate a Japanese martial art in the first place?

“Fortunately, karate is originally a Chinese art form, so that’s the area we’re playing around in.” (Ed. Note: Though karate was developed in Japan, it is based upon Kenpō, a Chinese fighting style.)

So readers, who do you think would make for a good Miyagi? Jet Li? Jackie Chan? Chow Yun-Fat? Or perhaps someone a bit less obvious, like Tony Leung? Or maybe flip the gender, and go for Lucy Lui or Michelle Yeoh? Let us know!

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/12/12/will-...moves-to-china/

[MaxFly]

You know... I have a funny feeling that this is going to be a pretty good movie. I don't know why, and I'm as ready as anyone else to bash it, but I'm just getting the feeling that it's going to be good.