It didn't occur to Ben Wang right away that in taking on “ Karate Kid: Legends,” he'd be the franchise's first Asian American “Kid.” And that gives him a lot of optimism.

Karate Kid: Legends brings a rumble to the Bronx (and Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island). Ben Wang stars in Columbia Pictures' "Karate Kid: Legends." Credit: Jonathan Wenk / Sony Pictures ...

Like Macchio in 1984’s first “Karate Kid,” Ben Wang is ripe for "next big thing" status playing Li Fong, a teen who moves from Beijing to Brooklyn for a fresh start with his mom (Ming-Na Wen ...

It didn't occur to Ben Wang right away that in taking on “ Karate Kid: Legends,” he'd be the franchise's first Asian American “Kid.” And that gives him a lot of optimism.

It didn't occur to Ben Wang right away that in taking on " Karate Kid: Legends," he'd be the franchise's first Asian American "Kid." And that gives him a lot of optimism.

“Karate Kid: Legends,” which opens Friday, unites OG Ralph Macchio's Daniel and Jackie Chan's Mr. Han from the 2010 movie to help Wang's Li Fong win a New York City karate competition.

“Karate Kid: Legends,” which opens Friday, unites OG Ralph Macchio’s Daniel and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 movie to help Wang’s Li Fong win a New York City karate competition.

It didn't occur to Ben Wang right away that in taking on “ Karate Kid: Legends,” he'd be the franchise's first Asian American “Kid.” And that gives him a lot of optimism. “At first I didn' ...

“Karate Kid: Legends,” which opens Friday, unites OG Ralph Macchio’s Daniel and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 movie to help Wang’s Li Fong win a New York City karate competition.