Jackie Chan, Will Smith and Jaden Smith in Shanghai for The Karate Kid. (Photo: Global Times)
By Mao Renjie in Shanghai
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhuanet) -- With The Karate Kid set to open in cinemas across the country tomorrow riding on a wave of first-week box office success in the US, producer Will Smith has pledged more Sino-US co-productions in the future.
"We shall return," promised Smith during the film's press conference in Shanghai Friday afternoon. The Karate Kid, a Sino-US co-production, stars his son Jaden Smith and martial-arts legend Jackie Chan.
Smith revealed that two potential co-productions are under discussion, again partnering with Chan.
"I believe our collaboration and accomplishment will be far beyond only a movie, but between two generations," Smith said, adding that he could not wait to do more projects with Chan.
He recalled spending four months exploring China and enjoying some of the most beautiful places on earth and expressed his disappointment in only staying in Shanghai for one day and not having enough time to see the city when he visited for the first time.
Smith said he was very proud of his son's performance in The Karate Kid.
"Jaden did a brilliant job. He is a fantastic young actor," Smith said, adding that he was happy that Jaden was "disciplined and hardworking."
The Karate Kid centers on a 12-year-old boy (Jaden Smith) from Detroit who learns self-defense kung fu from an aging maintenance man (Jackie Chan) in China. The film scored more than $56 million in its first week since premiering in the US last Friday. The Karate Kid in English with Chinese subtitles is scheduled to hit local cinemas tomorrow.
(Source: Global Times)
