Ben Wang carries on a legacy in 'Karate Kid: Legends'

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A global search led filmmakers to Ben Wang, who takes on the mantle of a new generation's Karate Kid in "Karate Kid: Legends."

"It's always like threading a needle when you're looking for the center of a film. I couldn't be happier with Ben. He's exactly what I saw in my mind. I think he's the Marty McFly of our generation," Producer Karen Rosenfelt shared.

Ben Wang plays Li Fong, a young kung-fu fighter who moves from Beijing to New York City. PHOTOS FROM COLUMBIA PICTURES

Wang plays Li Fong, a young kung-fu fighter from Beijing who relocates to New York City with his mother, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen), to start over.

Struggling to adapt to his new life and clashing with a local martial arts group, Li finds guidance from his uncle and mentor Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who seeks help from none other than Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), the original Karate Kid. Together, the two masters blend the teachings of kung-fu and karate to prepare Li for the ultimate showdown.

For Wang, the role hits close to home. "It gets me emotional, this idea of going somewhere completely new and having to start over and finding people who help you along the way," he says. "That's what these movies are really about. Behind the kung-fu and the karate and all that cool stuff, it's about finding your way, learning to fit in, and finding good teachers."

Wang also had the full support of Macchio, who immediately saw the young actor's potential. "His work ethic, his preparedness, his not taking anything for granted — he will be this generation's Karate Kid."

"He's in almost every frame of the movie, like I was. I didn't have to speak another language, though, like he does — so he's already ahead of me there," Macchio added.

Behind Li Fong (Wang, center) are key allies (from left): his mom, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen); his SAT tutor, Alan (Wyatt Oleff); Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio); Victor Lipani (Joshua Jackson); Li Fong’s mentor, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan); and his friend, Mia Lipani (Sadie Stanley).

At the heart of "Karate Kid: Legends" is not just the martial arts legacy, but also the relationships Li builds along the way. The first to welcome him in New York is Mia Lipani (Sadie Stanley), a headstrong, sarcastic teen who runs her dad's pizza shop.

"She's grown up working in New York, and Sadie was perfect — she has a little vulnerability and a lot of backbone — she's a very, very strong person," director Jonathan Entwistle said.

Helping to anchor Fong further is Mia's father, Victor (Joshua Jackson), a retired boxer who sees something of himself in the young fighter.

"It takes everybody to raise kids," Jackson said. "Victor becomes a trusted older male in Li's life — someone who's been through pain and knows how to guide someone else through it."

Meanwhile, Ming-Na Wen embraced the opportunity to portray Dr. Fong, Li's mother, and join the legacy of the Karate Kid franchise.

"To be part of this world, being an Asian American — it's just different," she said. "Even though Miyagi is Japanese and I'm Chinese, we have a shared Asian-American experience. It had such an impact on my life growing up."

She's excited to see the fans react to Ben Wang, as she felt such a connection with a young actor while playing his mother. "I told Ben, 'You're the perfect son.' He's so courteous and soft spoken. And yet there's like this little wicked sense of humor. I think that the fans are going to fall in love with him."

Packed with heart, humor, and high-flying martial arts, "Karate Kid: Legends" merges tradition and transformation for a new era. Catch it in Philippine cinemas beginning today, May 28.

"Karate Kid: Legends" is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, the local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.