One Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence debate remains unresolved after all these years, but it looks like Karate Kid: Legends is cleverly avoiding it.

Jackie Chan, Ben Wang and Ralph Macchio in Columbia Pictures 'Karate Kid: Legends' (2025). He added, “To me, this was just about carrying the honesty and truth of Daniel LaRusso and what Miyagi ...

When Daniel LaRusso met Mr. Han!Karate Kid: Legends brings together both the Karate Kid films of the '80s and the 2010 reboot -- which at one time was not meant to be in the same timeline ...

A popular Karate Kid theory postulates that Ralph Macchio's Daniel is the movie's real villain, not Johnny — but could that really be true?

Legends’ delivers likable blast from the past ...

That also extends to the dynamic between original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), kung fu master Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and the franchise's newest protagonist, Li Fong (Ben Wang).

Ralph Macchio stars as Daniel LaRusso, the original karate kid himself, while Jackie Chan returns as Mr. Han, the Mr. Miyagi-esque figure from the 2010 film.

Karate Kid: Legends might bring Cobra Kai into the movie but it does not respect Daniel's character development from the show at all.

The Karate Kid franchise is being introduced to a new generation. He added, “To me, this was just about carrying the honesty and truth of Daniel LaRusso and what Miyagi, his mentor, meant to him ...