Ben Wang's casting as the lead in "Karate Kid: Legends" marks a significant milestone for the franchise. The 25-year-old actor steps into the role of Li Fong, a kung fu prodigy who moves from Beijing to New York City, becoming the first Asian American to lead a "Karate Kid" film. This casting decision reflects a growing recognition of the importance of Asian and Asian American representation in media. Wang himself didn't initially realize the significance of his role, telling the Associated Press that it "feels like a very cool and actually privileged position that I get to be in." He expresses optimism that his casting signifies "a world where that's normal enough."
"Karate Kid: Legends," which is now playing in theaters after premiering in several South American countries on May 8, 2025, unites Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan's Mr. Han, bridging the original "Karate Kid" storyline with the 2010 reimagining. The film follows Li Fong as he navigates his new life in New York, encountering a local karate champion and ultimately seeking guidance from Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso to compete in a high-stakes karate tournament. According to IMDb, Li Fong finds solace with a new friendship with a classmate and her father after relocating to New York City. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso, Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.
Wang's background makes him well-suited for the role. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and proficient in various martial arts, including karate, kenpo, kung fu (primarily wing chun), kumdo, and taekwondo. This expertise allows him to bring authenticity and skill to the action-packed sequences in the film. Prior to "Karate Kid: Legends," Wang gained recognition for his roles in the Disney+ series "American Born Chinese," where he played the lead role of Jin Wang, and the Disney+ film "Chang Can Dunk."
The film's focus on a Chinese teen finding his way in America resonates with Wang's own experiences growing up as an Asian American in a small town in Minnesota. In an interview with Timid Magazine, Wang discussed how "American Born Chinese" allowed him to embody his specific experiences of growing up as one of the only Asian American kids in town, something he hadn't seen represented in media before.
"Karate Kid: Legends" not only provides representation on screen, but also addresses the historical lack of Asian American characters in the franchise. Jeff Yang, author of "The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America," noted that even the recent "Cobra Kai" series had a dearth of young Asian American main characters. He added that Asians in the franchise were often relegated to "either sidekicks or villains."
Jackie Chan also shared that he was very depressed until he saw the first Karate Kid movie, which gave him confidence to keep training. Macchio emphasized the importance of representation to the Karate Kid franchise, stating that starting with Pat Morita, that the movie is more than just a popcorn franchise.
With "Karate Kid: Legends," Ben Wang hopes to inspire young Asian American children to see themselves as heroes. He considers it a "point of pride" and a "privilege" to be in a position where he can serve as a benchmark for representation. "What I love about this series is... there's this idea anyone can be the 'Karate Kid'," Wang said to the Associated Press.
