The Karate Kid 2010 Reboot Is Back On Netflix - But What Happened To Its Sequel?
On July 1, one of the more notable titles to join Netflix's ranks was 2010's "The Karate Kid," starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith and directed by Harald Zwart. The story follows Dre Parker (Smith), who starts a new life in China thanks to his mother, Sherry's (Taraji P. Henson), new job. He soon befriends Mr. Han (Chan), who guides him to become a martial arts prodigy. Though it may not rekindle the magic of the original films, it's a pretty solid drama, made a decent chunk of change at the box office, and developed a following of its own.
Thus, it's a bit odd that "The Karate Kid" never got a proper sequel. After it crane-kicked its way into theaters, Sony announced that a second movie was on its way down the production pipeline. In fact, as reported by Deadline back in 2014, Smith, Chan, and Henson were all set to return as their respective characters, with Breck Eisner taking over for Zwart in the director's chair. Sadly, the film didn't gain much momentum from here, with several writer shake-ups and Eisner departing a mere few months after news broke of his hiring.
Now almost a decade beyond all of this news coming to light, "The Karate Kid 2" remains in limbo, likely never to see the light of day. But could fans see Dre and Mr. Han make a comeback?
Will Dre Parker and Mr. Han return to the spotlight someday?
In the years since the "Karate Kid" sequel was announced by Sony, the original "Karate Kid" continuity has been revitalized via the YouTube Red original turned Netflix sensation "Cobra Kai," which carries on the stories of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) decades after their teenage rivalry began while highlighting a new generation of Miyagi-do and Cobra Kai students. As the series has gained traction, Macchio himself has addressed the likelihood of Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan joining "Cobra Kai" – and it's not high.
Therefore, it seems that Dre Parker and Mr. Han's story begins and ends with "The Karate Kid" — or does it? Even as "Cobra Kai" has carried on the legacy of the "Karate Kid" saga, Sony has announced that a new "Karate Kid" movie is on its way to the big screen. The feature has been described as a return to the original series' roots, but rumors have swirled that Chan's inclusion has been discussed. While he could play a different character entirely, it would be interesting to see Mr. Han join the fabled Miyagi-verse.
The "Karate Kid" from 2010 had a lot of potential, boldly reimagining a beloved 1980s property for a new generation of moviegoers. Perhaps with it now streaming on Netflix, it will find a resurgence in popularity that will push Sony to get the long-gestating sequel sorted out.