This article is part ofScreenRant’s Exclusive 2025 Movie Preview. Keep an eye out for the full feature later this week!
A new image fromKarate Kid: Legendsbrings together two iconic figures from the franchise. The 2025 sequel will unite two major characters from for the first time when the 2010 reboot’s Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) seeks the help of longtime original character Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) to train his protégé Li Fong (Ben Wang). TheupcomingKarate Kid: Legendswas directed by Jonathan Entwistle (I Am Not Okay With This) and also stars Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek), Sadie Stanley (The Goldbergs), Aramis Knight (Ms. Marvel), Qyatt Oleff (It), and Ming-Na Wen (Mulan,The Book of Boba Fett).
ScreenRantcan now sharean exclusive first-look image fromKarate Kid: Legends. The image shows Daniel sparring with Li Fong while Mr. Han looks on in the background. Their training session is taking place on a rooftop overlooking the city, and it seems to be a cold day as all three are wearing various types of sweatshirts or jackets. See the full-size image below:
Karate Kid: Legends Is An Unprecedented Crossover
The Movie’s Core Cast Is A First For The Franchise
On top of this image offering further insight into Li Fong’s training process, the fact that it gathers the coreKarate Kid: Legendscasttogether in a single framehighlights what an unprecedented event the movie truly is. This isn’t simply because of the presence of legacy characters, as the Netflix seriesCobra Kaihas reunited many iconic stars from the original movies while following the continued stories of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka).
OtherKarate Kidcharacters who returned inCobra Kaiinclude John Kreese (Martin Kove), Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue), Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto), and Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita).
What makesLegendsso special is the fact that theCobra Kaicasthas never featured any characters from the 2010 reboot, which took place in Beijing and followed Mr. Han training 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith). The reboot also never received a sequel, even though it grossed $359.1 million against its $40 million budget and earned a Fresh score of 67% on rotten Tomatoes. Thus, this is the first time that Jackie Chan has ever returned to the franchise, as well asthe first time the wider franchise has folded the reboot into its universe in a major way.
Karate Kid: Legends Holds The Key To The Franchise’s Future
Sequels Could Bring In Even More Characters
WhileKarate Kid: Legendsis not yet set to feature any other returning characters fromCobra Kai, if it becomes a success, a sequel could be greenlit that allows for more legacy character reprisals.This would cause the entire franchise to truly cohere into one universe, something that seems entirely within the realm of possibility considering the fact that the movie could harness nostalgia for its current crop of legacy characters to become a major hit. This may prove to be the best thing for the franchise, asCobra Kaiis set to end on July 03, 2025.
Karate Kid: Legends
Cast
Karate Kid: Legends is a sequel to Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film sees Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles, continuing the legacy of martial arts mentorship and rivalry in a new era of challenges and apprentices.
