I am – Hercules!!


Jackie Chan will play the Mr. Miyagi equivilant in the Asia-set remake of “The Karate Kid,” the one with Will Smith’s son Jaden in the title role.

I have at least two thoughts.

1) My Jackie Chan fanatacism, once pegged to about a 10 around the time I saw “Armor of God II,” now nestles at about a two. I can barely sit though any of his English-language films, and I hold in particular disdain Brett Ratner, who managed to irreparably diminish Chan's comedic credibility with the feculent “Rush Hour” movies.

2) I suspect Jackie Chan might make for a rather more authentic martial arts master than the guy who played Arnold on “Happy Days.” So in this regard I consider the casting something of a masterstroke.

Harold Zwart ("One Night at McCools," "The Pink Panther 2") directs from a screenplay by somebody named Chris Murphy. I believe I'd feel better about the project if Sony had selected Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer," "Kung Fu Hustle," "CJ7") to write and direct. But that's me.

Find all of Variety’s story on the matter here.