Sadie Stanley, known for her role in Freeform's Cruel Summer, has been announced as part of the cast for the upcoming Karate Kid installment by Sony Pictures. She will star alongside Ben Wang, who was selected after a global search to play the lead role. The film will also feature returning stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, reprising their iconic characters to expand on the franchise's cinematic universe. Joining the cast is Joshua Jackson.
The plot of the new Karate Kid movie is being kept under wraps, but it is confirmed that the story will shift to the East Coast and center around a teenager from China, played by Wang, who discovers strength and guidance through martial arts and the mentorship of wise individuals. Stanley's character is revealed to be the daughter of Jackson's character.
Jonathan Entwistle, known for his work on teen dramas like I'm Not Okay With This and The End of the F***ing World, is set to direct the film. The script was penned by Rob Lieber, known for his work on Peter Rabbit and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day. Karen Rosenfelt is producing the feature, which is scheduled for release on December 13.
Stanley, a rising star in the industry, has built an impressive resume since her debut as the lead in the 2019 live-action Kim Possible TV movie. She recently appeared in Romano's directorial debut, Somewhere in Queens, alongside Ray Romano and Laurie Metcalf. Additionally, she played a prominent role in the second season of Cruel Summer, a teen mystery drama anthology on Freeform that premiered in 2023.
Her other credits include recurring roles on ABC's The Goldbergs, appearances on Netflix's Dead To Me, and the Duplass Brothers' anthology series Room 104 on HBO. Stanley is represented by Gersh, Thruline Entertainment, and Goodman Genow.
