Steven Conrad To Update ‘Karate Kid’ Script

Source: Risky Biz Blog

Columbia Pictures has brought aboard Steven Conrad (The Pursuit Of Happyness, The Weather Man) to work on the script for their upcoming remake of The Karate Kid. The script was previously penned by newcome Chris Murphy, but Conrad has a working relationship with two of the film’s producers, James Lassiter and Will Smith. The pic moves from Japanese themes and a California setting to Beijing where, according to reports, Jaden Smith’s character has just moved with his single mother and finds himself the target of bullies before turning to Jackie Chan’s character as a mentor. Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) has been confirmed as playing Smith’s mother which we reported here two weeks ago in the film directed by Harald Zwart (Agent Cody Banks, The Pink Panther 2). Think of it this way; it’ll suck so bad it’ll never tarnish the original.

Taraji P. Henson To Mother ‘Karate Kid’

Source: MTV Movies Blog

Taraji P. Henson (Baby Boy, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) revealed to MTV exclusively at last week’s MTV Movie Awards that she had recently signed on to a remake of The Karate Kid. “I’m off to Beijing [soon] to work on a film,” she told MTV. “They’re remaking ‘The Karate Kid.’”

Henson will play Sherry, a single mother who is forced to move with her son to China in order to keep her job. Will Smith’s son, Jaden Smith, will be playing Dre (the Daniel Larusso character) while Jackie Chan plays Mr. Han (the Mr. Miyagi character).  The film has been toying with the title Kung-Fu Kid, but nothing concrete has been determined. Henson is currently filming a comedy titled Date Night with Steve Carrell and Tina Fey, and will fly to Beijing afterwards to start work on the remake/reboot.

I’m not at all sure about this. Remakes are a given at this point so complaining would be pointless, but there is absolutely no one I know that likes Jaden Smith as an actor. And forget the whole “he’s a kid” thing. He single-handedly crippled The Day The Earth Stood Still remake, not like it was hard to begin with, but everything about him just exuded a “I’d rather see him laid to waste by Klaatu” vibe.