Jackie Chan, being in the film industry for almost 40 years now, has made friends with popular celebrities, but working with one’s son was something even more surprising for him.
He once appeared on Jonathan Ross’ show – Friday Night With Jonathan Ross to promote his 2010 film The Karate Kid. He told that he dedicated himself to mixed martial arts training since he was six years old and he learned things the hard way.
Jaden Smith, being a rich kid, didn’t initially give Jackie Chan the impression that he had the skill set for a martial arts film with him.
Coming from a bleak financial background, Chan hustled his way into stardom and based his entire success on his martial arts skills. He thought Will Smith would have made his son lazy, given his $350 million wealth.
Jackie Chan Didn’t Initially Train Jaden Smith
Unlike how we got to see in the film, Jackie Chan didn’t train Jaden Smith off-camera at first. He sent one of his stunt team professionals instead to see what the boy could do. Jonathan Ross, while introducing Jaden Smith to the audience, asked Jackie Chan about his experience.
“He’s a terrific young actor. What about the martial arts skills, how did you deal with that?” – asked Ross.
“Before… I thought, ‘How good you would be?’ I sent one of my best guys from my Jackie Chan stunt team to train him for three months. The son of Will Smith… I don’t know,” replied Chan.
After his training was done, as Chan recalled, Jaden Smith was showing signs of being a full-blown martial artist and he was stunned to see him.
Jaden Smith Blew Jackie Chan With His Skills
Jackie Chan proudly became the new-age version of Mr. Miyagi to Jaden Smith in the $351 million film when he got the call from the professional he sent. When Jaden Smith returned from training, Chan was blown away by him pulling the moves just a little prior to the rehearsals.
“After three months, my students called me… ‘He’s very good.’ Then after I see him before the rehearsal, he showed me all the things, wow! I just didn’t believe it. Then after that, I trained him during the movie for four months.”
Jonathan Ross and Jackie Chan even joked about the iconic “wax on – wax off” from The Karate Kid (1984) and how he replaced it with “jacket on – jacket off.”
Jackie Chan, according to Screen Rant in a recent speculative piece, could reprise his role as Mr. Han in next year’s The Karate Kid. The film is expected to release on December 13, 2024. There is no update on Jaden Smith’s involvement yet.
Source: Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
