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Jaden Smith named as star of Karate Kid remake

11/11/2008

Jaden Smith has signed up to star in a new version of classic 80s film The Karate Kid, it has emerged.

The 10-year-old actor, son of Will Smith, only made his acting debut in 2007's The Pursuit of Happyness.

He has a role in upcoming thriller The Day the Earth Stood Still and as a martial acts practitioner has been earmarked as the perfect young star to star in a Karate Kid remake.

The 1984 original starred Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, a high school student who learns to defend himself in the face of bullying after taking karate classes from eccentric mentor Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita).

According to Variety, the new version will "borrow" elements of the original plot and is to shoot in Beijing in 2009.

Jaden Smith is notably younger than Macchio when he first starred as LaRusso in the mid-80s while the industry newspaper has made no mention of any further casting.

Will Smith is to produce alongside James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and Jerry Weintraub, who produced the original Karate Kid franchise.