I wonder what the modern-day, Jackie Chan equivalent of "wax on, wax off" will be. I'm sure it will in some way involve comic tumbling on the level of slapstick.

Variety reports that Jackie Chan has joined the cast of the upcoming "Karate Kid" remake/reboot/return/recall/re-whatever. The project, titled "Kung Fu Kid," is an update of the Ralph Macchio/Pat Morita-led 80s classic set in modern-day Beijing. Already confirmed to be stepping into the youthful starring role once occupied by Macchio is Jaden Smith, son of Hollywood stars Will and Jada Pinkett. Chan will play Morita's wizened sensei, who teaches his pupil the ancient art of self-defense through everyday activities. Read more...

We keep hearing sudden bursts of news about Will Smith’s remake of “The Karate Kid,” then the project seems to quiet down for awhile. Now, a new actor has signed on to star alongside Smith’s son and she’s a red-hot Oscar nominee coming off “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”

“I’m off to Beijing [soon] to work on a film,” actress Taraji P. Henson revealed to us Sunday afternoon on the red carpet of the MTV Movie Awards. “They’re remaking ‘The Karate Kid.’” Read more...

Recently at Sundance, we bumped into Eighties icon Ralph Macchio and brought you his first thoughts on Will Smith's upcoming “Karate Kid” remake. But while we played in the snow with the original Daniel-san, we were also eager to get his thoughts on the recent news that Mr. Miyagi is going to be played by…Jackie Chan?

“I don’t know,” sighed the now 47-year-old star, in town to promote his Slamdance flick “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead." “I think Jackie Chan, we all assumed that’s where they were going to go - unless they were thinking of just casting an unknown.” Read more...

You have to hand it to the producers remaking "The Karate Kid." If there's a way to replace the gentle, iconic Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, it's to cast bigger and more manic -- and that's just what they've done. According to Variety, "Rush Hour" star Jackie Chan is in final negotiations to train Jaden Smith in the delicate art of the crane kick.

They've also hired a director. Harald Zwart ("The Pink Panther 2’) will direct the film. The film will begin shooting early this summer in Beijing, and will obviously keep the original character names as well as the storyline. Read more...