Jackie Chan to Paint the Fence as Miyagi in Karate Kid Remake

I’m pretty sure Will Smith is a great guy and all that, but you gotta figure that his kid Jaden Smith will grow up and go either of two ways: so industry-savvy that he’ll do just as well as Dad, or so effed up because he’s never had to work for a thing in his life, including fame and fortune, that he’ll end up the male version of Paris Hilton. Only worst. Like, about twenty times worst. Drew Barrymore worst, minus the strange lisping. Either way, that won’t stop Smith from casting his son yet again, this time as the lead in his remake of “The Karate Kid”. To help the little squirt learn how to paint the fence and wax on and wax off, Smith has recruited none other than Jackie Chan to play the reincarnated Mister Miyagi.

Says Variety:

Jackie Chan is in final negotiations to join the Columbia Pictures remake of “The Karate Kid.”

Harald Zwart will helm the pic, which has been revamped as a starring vehicle for Jaden Smith.

Set in an exotic Asian locale, the new film will borrow elements of the original plot, wherein a bullied youth (Smith) learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor (Chan). Chris Murphy penned the screenplay.

“Karate Kid” will shoot early this summer in Beijing.

Note the last two paragraphs. “Set in an exotic Asian locale” … “…shoot early this summer in Beijing.” Really? Is Beijing that “exotic”, Variety? Maybe they know something we don’t, like hidden massage parlors and the like. Anyhoo.

So, yes, after a ton of denials, Will Smith is actually remaking “The Karate Kid” with his son Jaden Smith. Basically, the kid’s audition process involved showing his ID. Hey, beats sleeping with the casting agent! I’m still chafing after the last one…

Below: “My daddy’s a big time movie star who puts me in all his movies. What does your daddy do?”