Chan returns as Han in “Karate Kid: Legends,” the latest installment in the film franchise.
This time around, he’s in China mentoring his young nephew, Li (Ben Wang). When Li is forced to move to New York City, he finds himself tussling with a bully at school, and winds up in the Five Boroughs Tournament. Han comes along to train Li in martial arts, while Danny LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), the original Karate Kid, arrives from California to teach Li karate.
Chan, who first joined the franchise in the 2010 “Karate Kid” starring Jaden Smith, says he didn’t need any training for this new entry. The 71-year-old says, “I don’t need to anymore. I’ve been training every day for 64 years. I’ve been fighting, fighting, fighting.”
Chan has been acting since the 1960s and is a legend of fight choreography. He performs all of his own stunts “Karate Kid: Legends.” But he’s slowed down with age. Chan laughs, “I’m not liked I used to be when I was 20, and could do a triple kick in the sky. Now, I do one kick.” But, it’s still all him.
