Karate Kid Legends stars Ben Wang and Ralph Macchio sit down with Melissa Nathoo to discuss Mr Miyagi's legacy and what's next for the Karate Kid franchise. Report by Nathoom. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00I'll take it. There are worse things to be called.
00:02It's like a lot more than getting the part to make me look cool.
00:04You look amazing, I think.
00:06You play this part, and you just look young for your reasons.
00:08Right.
00:09Guys, from that very opening scene to the very end,
00:12and you, Ben, kicking ass throughout the whole thing,
00:14I could not stop smiling.
00:15Could not stop smiling.
00:17But Ben, you were so young.
00:18How old were you when you saw the first Karate Kid film?
00:20I watched the original films when I was in high school,
00:24early high school.
00:25But I saw the 2010, the Jackie Chan one,
00:28that came out when I was like eight.
00:29So I saw that in the theater.
00:31Oh, my God. Yeah, you weren't even born when those first ones.
00:34No, unfortunately.
00:35No, no.
00:36He'd be 41 right now.
00:39You look amazing, I think.
00:41As do you.
00:42Look at you, Ralph.
00:44You play this part, and you just look young for your reasons.
00:47Exactly.
00:48That's a great way to spell Karate.
00:50I loved, again, seeing Mr. Miyagi in here.
00:53What do you think Ralph Pat would make of you
00:57carrying his legacy throughout this whole franchise like you have?
01:01Well, I'd like to believe he would be proud of that and happy.
01:05And I think he is, or would be.
01:09Well, let's say he is.
01:10Yes.
01:11Looking down.
01:12Because I believe maybe a little bit of this magic dust that's sprinkled over this franchise.
01:17It has something to do with the soulful magic that was Mr. Miyagi.
01:22The human Yoda for a young kid going through a tough time, you know?
01:28And those themes resonate throughout.
01:32And in Karate Kid Legends, be it with Mr. Han or Daniel LaRusso coming in as reinforcement,
01:38it's part of the thematic legacy of the franchise.
01:46Yeah.
01:47And I think that that's opening up.
01:49There's a shortage of that in stories today, in family films that aren't just animated or CGI'd.
01:54So it's nice to be a part of that in a world that, you know, some would argue could use more of it.
02:02Absolutely.
02:03Ben, throughout the film we see Jackie's character giving your character a lot of, like, words of wisdom.
02:09Like, both good and bad.
02:11Right.
02:12But did Ralph or Jackie themselves give you any, like, words of wisdom during this filming which have stuck with you?
02:18I have such a terrible memory when it comes to, like, things people have said to me.
02:21I'm serious.
02:22Don't worry, I'm sorry.
02:23But, I mean, I really did learn so much from both of them, partially just through watching.
02:30The way that they approach the work.
02:32Like, that's how, every time I get to work with a legend and it's happened happily a couple of times in my life, you know,
02:40it's just, like, all you have to do is, the reason that they are where they are is, it's pretty apparent.
02:47You just need to watch, right?
02:48It's a two-way street of inspiration.
02:50I'll throw that into this.
02:52Because when you see a young actor or someone take it so seriously and care so much.
03:00I've spoken about this probably to you before about the young cast on Cobra Kai.
03:04They would not take it for granted.
03:06They felt that they were walking on hallowed ground and they wanted to uphold that legacy.
03:13And Ben did that in, you know, times a thousand, you know.
03:18So, it drives us to work to see someone that cares as much.
03:23It's not just, hey, I got the part, I'm the cool kid now.
03:25You are the cool kid now, though.
03:27You are the cool kid now.
03:28Well, that's due to his talent in his work.
03:30It's going to take a lot more than getting the part to make me look cool.
03:33Is it weird, though, Ralph, hearing people refer to you as a legend?
03:37Um, yes.
03:38Because around my house, I don't hear it too often.
03:41But, yeah, I mean, you know, I'll take it.
03:46There are worse things to be called.
03:47You absolutely are.
03:48And, listen, I know when I've spoken to you before for Cobra Kai, we had this film coming.
03:53But now, like, where is it going?
03:55Like, what does it mean for the franchise?
03:58Like, what have I got to look forward to next, Ralph?
04:00Because, obviously, we're going to see Ben in the new Hunger Games, of course, but you, like...
04:04I know, every time, every day, there's more news.
04:06Yeah, exactly, right?
04:07But you, where...
04:09Um, for me, a little bit of maybe, you know, a little bit of downtime over the summer.
04:15It's been a grind, but for all the right reasons.
04:20And I don't take that for granted, either.
04:22Different areas behind the camera, in front of the camera.
04:25Uh, a lot of, a lot of things in various stages of maybe.
04:30Yeah.
04:31So, let's see, you know, get everyone out to see Legends in the movie theater, and that'll create more opportunity.
04:37Well, you created something in this whole universe very special.
04:41So, I hope in the future, Ben, the Cobra Kai kids, everyone all together.
04:46Yeah.
04:47That would make me so happy.
04:48Let's do that.
04:49Let's do that.
04:50Thank you!
04:50So nice to finally meet you in person.
04:52Yes, you too!
04:53And you, Ben, as well.
04:54Yes, you too!