Karate Kid: Legends' Shock Connection Between Mr. Miyagi & Jackie Chan's Mr. Han Resolves A Problem With The New Movie

The connection between Mr. Han and Mr. Miyagi helps to remedy one of the major concerns heading intoKarate Kid: Legends. Pat Morita played Mr. Miyagi in the first fourKarate Kidmovies. The relationship between Mr. Miyagi and Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso was one of the main focuses of the first three movies in the franchise. Therefore, when rebooting theKarate Kidfranchise in 2010, there needed to be a Mr. Miyagi-like teacher. This led to Jackie Chan playing Mr. Han in the 2010Karate Kidmovie.

Unlike the original movies in the series, the 2010Karate Kidreboot did not have any direct sequels. For a long time, it was simply viewed as a standalone movie in the franchise. However, 14 years after last appearing as Mr. Han, Chan will be reprising his role in theupcomingKarate Kid: Legends. The story ofKarate Kid: Legendswill seeMr. Han team up with Daniel LaRussoto train a new student, Li Fong. Anticipation is even higher forKarate Kid: Legendsnow thatit has been revealed that Mr. Han knew Mr. Miyagi.

Mr. Miyagi & Mr. Han Being Connected In-Universe Can Explain Why They’re Very Similar Characters

Mr. Miyagi & Mr. Han Somehow Knew Each Other

For years, it was believed that the 2010Karate Kidmovie was separate from all the other films in the series. However,the announcement that Jackie Chan would be appearing inKarate Kid: Legendsalongside Ralph Macchio confirmed that all theKarate Kidmovies take place in the same universe. While it was exciting to learn that Chan and Macchio would be sharing the screen together, the reboot’s connection to the rest of theKarate Kidfilms created a problem for the long-awaited sixth movie.

Since Chan’s Mr. Han was heavily inspired by Mr. Miyagi, and was in many ways meant to be a new version of Morita’s iconic character, there was concern that the two teachers were too similar now that they existed in the same continuity.Mr. Han is basically a copy of Mr. Miyagi, which could be very distracting for Daniel inKarate Kid: Legends. However, the confirmation that Mr. Han knew Mr. Miyagi presents a solution, since experiences they may have shared together can explain why they have very similar personalities.

Mr. Han’s Connection To Mr. Miyagi Makes The 2010 Karate Kid Reboot Movie More Intriguing

The Reveal Of How Mr. Han Knew Mr. Miyagi Will Be Exciting In Karate Kid: Legends

After no newKarate Kidmovies were made for well over a decade,the announcement that both Chan and Macchio would be appearing inKarate Kid: Legendsrightfully worried some longtime fans of the franchise. There was concern that Chan and Macchio were only starring together inKarate Kid: Legendsbecause they are two of the biggest names in the series. Since they previously starred in movies from different eras of the franchise, bringing them together for a newKarate Kidmovie seemed forced.

Bringing Mr. Han and Daniel together through Mr. Miyagi is a smart way to honor the franchise’s past while also paving a way for the future.

It initially seemed like the writers ofKarate Kid: Legendswere breaking canon just to include both of the stars. However,Mr. Han knowing Mr. Miyagi justifies Chan’s inclusion in the upcoming sequel. It makes the plot of the 2010 reboot more interesting, in addition to makingKarate Kid: Legendsmore exciting, since Mr. Han and Daniel will likely form a close connection through the impact Mr. Miyagi had on them. Bringing Mr. Han and Daniel together through Mr. Miyagi is a smart way to honor the franchise’s past while also paving a way for the future.

How Mr. Han Might Be Connected To Mr. Miyagi

The Han & Miyagi Families Have History

While it is currently unclear exactlyhow Mr. Han knew Mr. Miyagi, the former can be seen staring at a picture of the legendary karate teacher in the trailer forKarate Kid: Legends. In the trailer, Daniel asks Mr. Han whether he knew Mr. Miyagi, to which he replies, “I did not come looking for Sensei Miyagi. I came looking for you.“The fact that Mr. Han didn’t deny knowing Mr. Miyagi seems to confirm that he knew him. However, it seems like exactly how they knew each other is a plot thread that is being saved for the actual movie.

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In addition to Mr. Han and Daniel’s interaction in the trailer, Jonathan Entwistle, the director ofKarate Kid: Legends, confirmed that the Han and Miyagi families go back generations. SinceMr. Han is from Beijing, China and Mr. Miyagi is originally from the Japanese island of Okinawa, it will be interesting to discover how their families are connected inKarate Kid: Legends.