Speculation: Is Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming film the recently announced Karate Kid instalment?

Submitted by MoonMan997 t3_z8szfz in movies

A couple of months back, Sony announced a new Karate Kid film that seemingly has no ties to the original films nor the ongoing Cobra Kai series. Ralph Macchio apparently had no idea about it so, unless he’s lying, it seems unlikely to be connected to the original continuity.

Yesterday, it was reported that PTA’s new film is eying a Summer 2023 shoot and casting calls are looking for “a 15-to-16-year-old female of mixed ethnicity who is “physically athletic and excels at Martial Arts.” With the new Karate Kid currently slated for June 2024, that timeline seriously lines up along with a potential star who is proficient in martial arts.

Now, the biggest question is naturally why would PTA want to direct a studio franchise film aimed at a younger audience? Doesn’t seem like the thing he would do at all, even in a “one for me, one for you” scenario. Well, stranger things have happened. Barry Jenkins is a doing an origin film about Mufasa right now for example and it’s not out of the question for adult-oriented filmmakers to suddenly dip their toes into family pictures like Scorsese did with Hugo a decade ago.

Furthermore, if PTA were hypothetically to go to Sony in the hopes of getting another project off the ground and said he could only do it if he took on a pre-existing Sony IP…a coming of age teen movie set in LA isn’t exactly unconventional for a PTA film, especially if it is a fun project co-written with his daughter. That being said, would PTA more likely pick a Men in Black film since he’s on the record regarding his love for MiB3 ^/s.

Just wondering what people think. I still consider it a long shot, but it’s far from impossible and I haven’t seen anyone else suggest the idea.

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Col_Irving_Lambert t1_iyd3waf wrote

Lol no way. But I would definitely watch it if that was a thing.

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iDuddits_ t1_iyd7s3q wrote

Hahah it would be so dark. I just think of the stressed kid from magnolia

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d00ns t1_iyd3wqa wrote

>Doesn't seem like a thing he would do at all

Totally agree.

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The_Starter_Captain t1_iydm0rb wrote

His next film is a period piece about the Jazz era. Possibly Denzel is attached. Your speculation is absurd.

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atriskteen420 t1_iyd3zfy wrote

He hasn't worked on a franchise film before for some reason, he seems to like doing his own thing more. I don't see him doing it.

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HEHEHO2022 t1_iydr9fu wrote

Yeah for SOME REASON he likes to work on his own original stuff. beats me why he does

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MoonMan997 OP t1_iyd519m wrote

I agree, but in a current era where even Spielberg is struggling to have a film land in theatres, could he be ready to adapt?

Because PTA has never been commercially successful and he’s always kept working. I think a film like this is where opportunity and interest would align enough, I don’t think he’d ever be interested in doing a $150m CBM for example but this is incredibly smaller scale even for a franchise entry. If he was ever to do one, it would be this basically.

I also think Sony are sitting on an IP that they’re at a loss of what to do with theatrically despite the massive success of Cobra Kai. If they could an auteur, who is frankly on the record as fairly non-cynical to a lot of recent blockbuster fare, that might be an avenue.

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doctorslices t1_iyd9ood wrote

Spielberg is not struggling to have a film land in theaters and neither is PTA. Small release films exist.

You're ignoring the main factor which is the lack of control for PTA. Why would he choose this over doing his own movies? He still gets funding to make the character based dramas he's always made. Why blemish his filmography with a Karate Kid movie? Why would he randomly swerve into this lane for no apparent benefit?

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doctorslices t1_iyd416o wrote

No it's not. Your evidence is a Ralph Macchio quote and that casting call info? Think about it for a second. Say it out loud and listen to yourself.

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undergroundmetalhoe t1_iydksn3 wrote

Yeah OP jumping hoops lol

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MoonMan997 OP t1_iydqfad wrote

I know which is why putting it out into the universe in the (very) small chance I’m right.

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HEHEHO2022 t1_iydrfp4 wrote

why would you WANT to be right.

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MoonMan997 OP t1_iydsqyc wrote

You’re presuming I want to be right, I gain bragging rights over losing a non-franchise PTA film. I’d prefer the latter by a considerable margin.

But it was just by chance that I was looking at 2024 releases this morning and noticed the Karate Kid film after yesterday’s news. Got me thinking about the possibility, wondered what others might think. I didn’t expect it to ever be a popular suggestion lol.

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Infamous_Yogurt2858 t1_iyf0oog wrote

I would love that, but I doubt it. As great of a director as PTA is, he seems about the last guy a studio would tap to helm a major franchise picture.

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apeinej t1_iydbva0 wrote

Maybe he's doing a sequel to Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan's movie - The Karate Kid, which was Kung fu all the time?

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DoopSlayer t1_iydaus6 wrote

maybe he wants to make a movie his kids can watch, great sleuthing I would love this to be true

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HEHEHO2022 t1_iydrltv wrote

why would you want him to do a franchise film?

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DoopSlayer t1_iyds0on wrote

If he and his daughter are writing and have creative control then I dont really care what the title is

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HEHEHO2022 t1_iyelcnt wrote

here is ZERO proof hes writing anything woth his daughter again just rumours same with the jazz and denzel rumours

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DoopSlayer t1_iyelrg2 wrote

it's a fun hypothetical/possibility, are you alright?

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