Karate Kid Remake Retitled The Kung Fu Kid

Remember when we warned you that Will Smith’s son Jaden Smith was gearing up to ruin The Karate Kid in a remake featuring Jackie Chan as Mr. Miyagi? We even pleaded with Columbia Pictures to drop the project entirely, or else they will riskangering an entire generation of moviewatchers. Well it seems like the studio is aware of the potential backlash, and according to a comment made by Jackie Chan, discovered by FirstShowing, have decided to change the title of the film.

“They don’t want to call it Karate Kid any more,” Chan said. “They want to call it The Kung Fu Kid.”

The title change appeases my anger over the idea of a remake or reimagining, possibly because it might not be seen as such with a title like “The Kung Fu Kid”. I was only concerned that the new film would ruin the legacy of the original, which many people forget, earned Pat Morita an Academy Award nomination. And yes, people forget this because the film’s legacy has already suffered from the sequels and remake The Next Karate Kid.

The film will be set in an exotic locale, with a shoot planned in Beijing. Chris Murphy’s screenplay is said to “borrow elements” from the original film, and is not a strict remake. Last we heard, Pink Panther 2 helmer Harold Zwart was in line to direct the film. Jaden, an avid practitioner of karate, made his big screen debut as Will Smith’s son (big stretch) in Pursuit of Happyness. His performance in The Day the Earth Stood Still was highly criticized.

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  • Don't be ignorant....Be real
    Changing the name to Kung Fu Kid is a smart thing to do, because this whole movie has altered the the whole concept in to a different martial art. Karate is from Japan, and Kung Fu is from China. It would be kind of ignorant of them if they didn't change the title. Sorta like if you were going to a Black Panther meeting and walked into a room full of idiots with white pointy hooded gowns on.
  • Johhny
    I call horse shiiit on this whole movie. Negros do not move to china, they are not welcomed there at all. why must they always remake movies with neggersand then when they bomb they just can't figure the real cause of the problem and keep doing over and over. will smith should have learned that from the wild wild west. Leave the movies to white people
  • Jay
    Beijing is in China! Kung Fu is from China. Jackie Chan is from China! Karate is from Japan! Of course it has to be called Kung Fu kid.
  • facebook me
    look like mo one knew this but the The Karate Kid, was called the kung fu kid, weeks befor it came out they change the name look it up. and jakie chan will do grate in this movie. dont take shit if you dont know what your taking about
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  • shaolin
    comon I like the idea but Jaden is not the correct person .Mr.chan is too young.
  • tnt
    But Jackie Chan is in this movie ...
    I doubt he'd agree on something, that had choreography level of Karate Kid I.

    I assume we'll see something good.
    Something you might have seen in documentaries on Shaolin Temple (children are trained hardcore there too)
  • esterdiakow
    The film will be a huge hit, not only do we have a real karate master; Jackie Chan, we have a great young actor; Jaden Smith who plays the young boy 'DRE' who moves from America to China with his mother played by Taraji P. Henson , plus Jackie Chan plays the very funny character 'Wong Tong' from the young adult novel 'Fledgling Jason Steed'

    'Dre' is bullied and seeks help from Jackie Chan, the film may have the same theme, but its better made and acted. The director of 'Agent Cody Banks' 'Harald Zwart'
    steps in as director. Watch out for a box office hit and the best 'G' rated movie for the fall of 2010. The book 'Fledgling Jason Steed' is released at the same time by Sourcebooks Inc.

    Expect to see a little romance between Mom (Taraji P. Henson) and Jackie Chan.
  • rickat1964
    I don 't think this will be bad at all, as long as the script is totally different and original and have some great acting.Stephen Chow should have a hand in this also.
  • mandyj
    listen there is other movies where they use different actors and actresses. so leave jackie chan alone and will smithes son. cause jackie chan is the best of the rest and i like him so im being friendly to you, get a life and if you dont like it dont watch it. nothing was said when dirty dancing 2 came out and the first one had a famous actor patrick swayze. and the halloween and friday the 13th films used different actors. so you people who said it would ruin the film need to get a life. i would like you sad people do jackie chans own stunts. so f... o..
  • Ian Summers
    Karate came from Fujian through Okinawa.
  • ITHoTMK
    The film just started shooting this past Saturday.

    http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/14610/smith-s-...

    I can't wait for the day when Will Smith's kid claims that he did it on his own and had no help from his old man. That pic that's posted is so dead on. They are gonna' ruin one of our favorite movies from our childhood.
  • It's going to be an expensive, but still pale imitation of Chinese Martial arts films.


    Kid gets bullied.
    Mentor saves kid from bulies
    Mentor trains kid
    Kid beats bullies.

    We also have to believe that this kid will be able to beat up other kids that may have been leaning Wushu since they were six years old.
  • Links
    It is appropriate to call the new film Kung Fu Kid since, Jackie Chan is chinese and Kung Fu originates in China. One day someone will make a movie called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kid with someone from the Gracie family playing the Miyagi role.
  • Somebody should sweep Jaden's leg and hopefully he cant make this movie... To quote the lovable little guys on South Park "Stop raping MY CHILDHOOD"
  • Wasabi Steak
    People are making a big deal about this remake. So what if its a remake or a loose adaptation? Sure it may suck, but I doubt its gonna "ruin the legacy"of the Karate Kid. Grown ass men need to let go of there nostalgia and move on
  • Chris
    You know, with Jackie Chan in it, they're probably going to include some drunken boxing. It might be kind of funny seeing little inebriated Jaden try to fight off some bullies. Of course all the underage drinking might not go down so well with people.

    In all seriousness, this is most likely going to be a terrible, crappy film.
  • tnt
    I recall Drunken Master II to be funny and so damn hypocrite :D

    Jackie's like - I gonan drunk and kick everyone's ass.
    Jackies Father's like - You have dishonoured my school
    Jackie's like - ok, I never drink again!
    Bad dudes - let's kick his ass
    Jackies's like- [drinks] and kicks ass
    And so the alcohol saves the day once again :)
  • Hag
    I forgot. Commenting jackasses are always right about everything;)
  • My eyes burn!!
  • Underdog does good. Hardly original Weyland. It is what it is. (Don't know what I mean with that last point).
  • Weyland_Yutani
    I meant original only in the loosest sense. I'm not a fan of the film by any means, so it's not anything I'm beholden to. It's just the principle of it - kind of like if they decided to reimagine Roadhouse, but place it in an inner-city club. It doesn't really detract from the original, but it's still scummy.
  • Getoverit
    The Karate Kid 2...sucked.
    The Karate Kid 3...sucked.
    The Next Karate Kid...sucked.

    The legacy of The Karate Kid was tarnished more than a decade ago.
  • Ah, hell no.

    Karate Kid 1: 9.5/10
    Karate Kid 2: 8/10
    Karate Kid 3: 6/10
    Next Karate Kid: 2/10 (points for Swankness)

    Kung-fu Panda Kid likely score: 0/10

    The second was good, and third was okay, if not fully derivative of the first.
  • Getoverit
    I'm not going to tell you your opinion is wrong.
  • THOMPSON_FAN
    Kenan Thompson is funny. I don't know how well he'd fare in an ID remake, but he sure is a funny guy.
  • Joe
    Would someone please tell why this movie would ruin the original? Its not like they are going to the original movie and re-editing it or something. If you loved the first one then watch that when this new one comes out and I bet you, you will have a better appreciation for it, so if anything this new version should help you like the original even more. not ruin it.
  • Renaissance_Man
    A remake tarnishes the original because, as it was previously, it would have usurped its name and created a new generation of people who believe that the rest of the series is as full of shit as the new film is likely to be.

    Imagine somebody having your same exact name: this person is a complete idiot; a criminal; a no-good miscreant. If people only knew this person instead of you, you would be judged because they carried your name. (Not the best analogy, I know, but I'm tired and it's Monday).
  • Wasabi Steak
    Man let it go lol Karate Kid is so well known I doubt people are gonna have a new percpetion of the franchise from a new movie.

    The truth is its just sad 30 year olds who romanticized the original film and cant let go of there childhood from 20 years ago for a flick that wasnt very good to begin with.
    Why does it matter what a new generation think of a movie about a kid doing Karate? Its doesnt.

    Move on people lol.
  • Weyland_Yutani
    I don't get it. It seems that for some of you, changing a title absolves this film from being a hack, rip-off of an original film. huh?

    Oh, and Will Smith's kid should not be in movies. He made Keanu look like an acting Jedi.
  • And finally, with this news, we no longer need to give a shit about this movie.
  • Branden
    I hate you Columbia Pictures, almost more than Fox.
  • Clever_Nickname
    I just can't stand to watch this kid.

    The reason being that if he wasn't Will Smith's son, we wouldn't be watching him.
  • Wax on Wax Off....
  • B33
    In an ideal world, it would be...
  • Kraaken
    No one even mentons the fact that Jaden Smith is a spoiled little shit who unlikable and that Will has definitely lost the humbleness that made him appealing in his earlier days. His kids obviously have never been said "no" to.
  • jamie
    they never should have called it a remake, just made it another sequel like the hillary swank movie that no one cares about
  • Although I am still annoyed, I am glad they decided to change the title for sake of authencity. Much better.
  • it's a good movie, yes.
  • can't wait for the back to the future remake...:@
  • lol @ Keenan Thompson.
  • sadly, it's not.
  • RPK
    I bloody hate remakes. Come up with an original concept! It shouldn't be that hard to make an original concept from the starting point of a young karate student.
  • Perhaps it hasn't aged well, but the film is preciously important to many of us. It has wonderful characters, an engaging story and a theatrical ending that was just absolutely amazing when I was a boy. And, unlike this upcoming Kung Fu Kid, Karate Kid was/is generally regarded as a family film. People of all ages went to see it in cinemas and got it on video - it was absolutely huge because it was grounded and compelling in its storytelling. Parents chose to come watch The Karate Kid, while parents will likely be reluctantly dragged to see Kung Fu Kid.
  • Peter! You just made my monday! I love that hilsrious line - we are gong to ruin... LOL

    So True - what a mess things are turning out to be. Can only get better! LOL

    Boo on kung fu... they should abandon this project completely - and burn all eveidence of its existence.
  • joshi38
    This is actually kind of better. By changing the name, it's now easier to imagine that this film isn't a remake, but simply a movie attempting to cash in on a long dead franchise by having the premise be similar and a name that alludes to it.

    Thus, I can go into this movie with an open mind... who knows, it may be good (it probably won't, but if I go in thinking that without having even seen a trailer, then I'm bound to hate it no matter what).
  • Karate Kid is a Classic, good to hear they are not keeping the name..
    [youtube 4W_QFCQYac8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W_QFCQYac8 youtube]
  • Here's the next speech bubble in that sequence:

    "No, no you aren't. You are simply going to remake it, and that can't ruin it in anyway. I don't know why people get any more upset about a bad remake than they do about a bad original film - they're both just bad films after all."
  • I guess I'm happy it's not directly linked to the original films. I still don't plan on watching whatever comes of this new stuff because it already sounds like it's going to be crap.
  • mark
    I don't know how old are ppl on this blog but, dude "karate kid" was a "kid flick" not a good movie!!!

    If you really love a flick, it doesn't make it very good.

    Like music where they stop having good bands in 80

    the movie industry build up a set of template to choose from and a computer could write the hole movie for you. just change the names, the subject, and there you go!

    hollywood cannot create a good movie because it always follow that template, that has been studied and decided on when to do what.

    they have it all mapped out [3rd min] (second actor entrance) [9th min](event)...etc

    so how to decide on a good film... well first start watching movies that have been made by ppl not hollywood.

    Notice: i love hollywood movies, i love pretty much all styles but when i went and watch GI-joe i knew i wanst watching Gi-joe but a bunch of FX and no story. and to be frank i think if it's a film and not a movie... the dumb general public would just not enjoy it as much.... it would be a like a life without terrorist(why do you think the governement is blowing up their own building?)
  • john
    Yep that's So very true. I happen to have one of these computer at home.

    it's call A.W.E.S.O.M.-O

    and it's from Japan, that's actually the one they use to write "karate kid"
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