Ralph Macchio reflects on Karate Kid legacy in new film
Ralph Macchio wanted to "honour the legacy" of the franchise in Karate Kid: Legends.
The 63-year-old actor reprises his role as Daniel LaRusso on the big screen in the martial arts franchise for the first time in 36 years and is grateful that the new flick pays homage to the past through the connection between Jackie Chan's character Mr Han and karate master Mr. Miyagi, played by the late Pat Morita.
"(It) feels authentic and honours the legacy of the entire franchise, and I think we do that," Macchio told The Hollywood Reporter.
"It's another ecosystem in the grand universe. This franchise doesn't know how to not do it right when we care, and I try to always take great care and protect my character, and I like to believe I've done that again."
Macchio's appearance in Karate Kid: Legends comes after he returned to the role of Daniel in the TV series Cobra Kai, and he revealed he had lots of conversations with the studio before committing to the movie.
"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," he said.
"And once we figured out it was three years later and we landed him in the series (as) kind of the best version of himself through his little midlife crisis of the Cobra Kai soap opera, there's an element of him being more Miyagi in his way and paying that legacy forward to a kid who needs his help."
Macchio believes that there is scope for more stories in the Karate Kid franchise, provided the plots remain "truthful" to the characters.
Chan returns in the role of Mr Han, a role he first played in the 2010 remake, and explained he still opts to do the majority of his own stunts at the age of 71.
"Whatever I can do, I do it myself," the movie legend said.
"When I was young I could do a triple triple kick, double double kick; now, if I can do one kick, I do one kick. I think the audience knows we want to see Jackie do the real things."
Chan recently expressed concern that the use of CGI trickery in stunts is making viewers "numb" to the danger of action movies.
The Rush Hour star told Haute Living: "In the old days, the only (choice we had) was to be there and jump; that's it.
"Today, with computers, actors can do anything, but there's always a sense of reality that you feel is missing."
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