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Ralph Macchio, known for his role in the Karate Kid films, returns to the franchise following a 36-year hiatus. The latest film, Karate Kid: Legends, in which Macchio stars alongside Jackie Chan and Ben Wang, had its New York premiere on May 27, 2025.
Macchio was a part of the first, second, and third installments of the Karate Kid films. He also acted in Cobra Kai, a sequel to the first three films of Karate Kid.
At the premiere, Ralph Macchio spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, whose correspondent asked what made him want to return to the franchise despite not being part of the last two films. He said:
“Well, it was, you know, it took a while to and numerous discussions with the studio. I understood the concept. I was in the middle of Cobra Kai and we were still finishing that story so I wanted to know where it was landing in Daniel LaRusso's narrative and his evolution.”
Ralph Macchio went on:
“Once we figured out, it was three years later and we landed him in the series, kind of the best version of himself, through his little midlife crisis of Cobra Kai soap opera. There's an element of him being sort of more Miyagi in his way and paying that legacy forward to a kid who needs his help and then connecting the stories that all karate comes from China and how Miyagi would know Mr. Han became intriguing.”
Ralph Macchio on working with Jackie Chan in Karate Kid: Legends
Ralph Macchio said working with Jackie Chan on Karate Kid: Legends had been an incredible experience. He felt they managed to do it in a way that stayed true to the franchise's legacy while bringing something new to the table.
He believed the team handled it with care, and he made sure to protect his character throughout the process, as he always tried to do. Reflecting on how it was working with Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio said:
“I was a bit nervous stepping on the stage and doing those sparring scenes with him and Ben Wang. Incidentally, Ben Wang is so wonderful in this movie.”
He went on:
“My favorite moment is when he actually threw his shoulder out slightly and I saw he winced in a little bit of pain and I don't wish pain on anybody but it made me relax a little bit that even Jackie Chan can feel it a little bit at our ages.”
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Ralph Macchio shared that Jackie Chan brought a lot of energy and joy to the set, comparing him to a kid in a candy store. He said Jackie’s love for humor and positivity came through in the film, which made it enjoyable for families.
Macchio also mentioned that as long as the story stayed true to the characters, he was always open to continuing, especially if it helped the next generation experience the same kind of joy the franchise had brought in the past.
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