The CAA-repped screenwriter also penned the Nicolas Cage family tale “The Weather Man” and is attached to write the Scott Rudin-produced drama “Aloft” and the celebrity look-alike dramedy “Chad Schmidt,” the latter also with Sony.
Production will begin next month on the new “Karate,” which Harald Zwart is directing. Jaden Smith occupies the role played by Ralph Macchio in the 1984 film, while Jackie Chan takes on the Pat Mortia part.
The pic moves from Japanese themes and a California setting to Beijing where, according to reports, Smith’s character has just moved with his single mother and finds himself the target of bullies before turning to Chan’s character as a mentor.
Last time I checked, Karate was a Japanese martial art, not a Chinese one. Will they rename it The Kung-Fu Kid? It'll never happen. They have to rely on the name Karate Kid to sell any tickets. A bummer because this monstrosity of a remake is going to stain the name of the Macchio/Morita film for forever. Am I being a bit immature and petty over a story I don't even know will be any good? Yes. Yes, I am. 
