New Karate Kid movie: Release date, cast, plot, all you need to know

Sony Pictures has announced the return of the original Karate Kid franchise to the big screen by releasing a new Karate Kid film. 

The movie, which premiered in 1984, spawned three sequels as well as a 2010 reboot starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. The franchise has recently gained popularity thanks to Cobra Kai, a Netflix original series starring original stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka alongside younger actors.

Here’s all you need to know about the upcoming film: 

Karate Kid release date

The upcoming movie is set to release on June 7, 2024.

Karate Kid cast

There is no additional information about the cast, crew, or plot, but Sony has stated that the new instalment will continue the original franchise.

The original franchise began in 1984, with Ralph Macchio starring as Daniel LaRusso. The first film introduced audiences to the titular character, a scrawny adolescent who is relentlessly bullied by his classmate Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and his gang. As a result, Daniel seeks the help of karate master Mr. Miyagi (the late Pat Morita), whose unconventional methods soon give Daniel a fighting chance against Johnny and the rest of Cobra Kai.

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Following the first film, three more were released, all set within what is now known as the Miyagi-verse. In The Karate Kid II, Daniel and Mr. Miyagi travel to Okinawa, where Daniel faces a new adversary: Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto). Macchio and Morita reunited for The Karate Kid III. However, in the third instalment, Daniel donned a Cobra Kai gi after the alluring promises of Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) strained his relationship with Mr. Miyagi. Finally, in 1994, The Next Karate Kid was released. In it, Mr. Miyagi takes in a new student named Julie (Hilary Swank).

Hilary Swank starred as Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid in 1994, and she recently remained tight-lipped when asked if she would appear on Cobra Kai in the future.

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Karate Kid plot

As no information about the new Karate Kid film has been revealed, it is currently unknown who will appear in the film or what the plot may be. One thing’s for sure is that it’ll be a continuation of the original Karate Kid universe, which included four films and the sequel series Cobra Kai. Some Cobra Kai cast members have hinted that the show will soon be fleshed out into more of a cinematic universe, and this new film could be a part of that.

The fifth season of Cobra Kai is now available on Netflix, and it features the return of several key characters from the Karate Kid film franchise. The show, of course, stars franchise mainstays Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso) and William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence), but there is another big name from the films who fans want to see return.