'The Pursuit of Happyness' scribe Steven Conrad reportedly has been hired to do some rewrite of Chris Murphy's draft for the reboot project of the 1980s film.
- Jun 16, 2009
AceShowbiz - Production is only weeks away from being kicked off, but words are coming out that Columbia Pictures have hired screenwriter Steven Conrad to work on Chris Murphy's script for the remake of 1980s "The Karate Kid". The news has been brought into attention by Steven Zeitchik at The Hollywood Reporter's Risky Biz Blog.
While Murphy who is originally picked up to pen the screenplay is relatively a newcomer in the business, Conrad has had a history with the reboot project's two producers, James Lassiter and Will Smith. In 2006, the three of them have collaborated in the awards-winning "The Pursuit of Happyness". Conrad is also known for his works in "The Weather Man" and "The Promotion".
Zeitchik additionally reported that Columbia have just confirmed the casting of Taraji P. Henson as the mother of Jaden Smith's character. Prior to the announcement, the Academy Award-nominated actress has told MTV on the red carpet of the network's 2009 Movie Awards show about her involvement in the project. "I'm off to Beijing [soon] to work on a film," she said at the time. "They're remaking 'The Karate Kid'."
The remake of "The Karate Kid", "Untitled Karate Kid Remake", has set Jaden Smith as the new Daniel LaRusso. Jaden's father, Will, will serve as the project's producer, while the movie will be filmed in Beijing, China. The movie will deal with the same plot elements, a bullied teenager learning to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor. Mr. Miyagi role had reportedly been changed to the name of Mr. Han and Jackie Chan is set to star.
