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Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio Join Martial Arts Forces in 'Karate Kid: Legends' 

Jackie Chan speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, in Santa Monica, California, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters) 
Jackie Chan speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, in Santa Monica, California, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters) 
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Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio Join Martial Arts Forces in 'Karate Kid: Legends' 

Jackie Chan speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, in Santa Monica, California, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters) 
Jackie Chan speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, in Santa Monica, California, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters) 

Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio blend fighting techniques to train a new karate kid in the latest instalment of the martial arts movie franchise.

"Karate Kid: Legends", released this week, stars Ben Wang as Beijing kung fu whizz Li Fong who moves with his mother to New York, where he befriends pizza restaurant owner and retired boxer Victor and his daughter Mia.

When that friendship irks a local karate champion, Li enters a karate tournament and begins training with his old kung fu teacher Mr. Han, played by Chan, and Macchio's Daniel LaRusso, the protagonist of the original 1984 film "The Karate Kid" who learned karate from mentor Mr. Miyagi.

"They presented the concept to me ... connecting the Miyagi to the Han family and how that made sense ... I was like 'That's kind of clever. Okay, so how do we maintain this connective tissue into Li Fong's story that is organic and truthful'," Macchio told Reuters in a joint interview with Chan and Wang.

"That was the challenge at first and figuring that out. Working with Jackie was like, 'Woohoo sign me up - when, where?' And then who's the kid? If we don't love this kid, then you have no movie. So all those, like it happens with 'The Karate Kid' universe, is magic dust that comes down and somehow it continues to resonate. So I'm excited for the next generation version."

The movie is Macchio's fourth "Karate Kid" film playing LaRusso, a character he also portrayed in the "Cobra Kai" television series.

Chan reprises the role of Mr. Han, a character he first played in the 2010 film "The Karate Kid" opposite Jaden Smith.

"Now we've both become a Miyagi," Chan said, referring to both his and Macchio's characters becoming mentors.

"I remember when I saw the first one. Why him (Macchio)? Why not me? ... I want to be 'The Karate Kid'. (Now) We work together."

Wang, 25, said Chan's 2010 film introduced him to the franchise.

"Stepping into it, it's a terrifying thing in a certain way because it's a beloved franchise and ... the fans love it so much, so I want to do right by them," he said. "But it's also a great honor because a lot of people auditioned for this part, so I know how special and lucky it is that I get to do this with the two of them."

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Entertainment

Taylor Swift Surprises with Performance at ‘Toy Story 5’ Premiere in Hollywood

13 November 2022, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: American singer Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (dpa)
13 November 2022, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: American singer Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (dpa)
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Taylor Swift Surprises with Performance at ‘Toy Story 5’ Premiere in Hollywood

13 November 2022, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: American singer Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (dpa)
13 November 2022, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: American singer Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (dpa)

Pop superstar Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance in Hollywood on Tuesday at the premiere of animated movie "Toy Story 5."

Swift sat at a piano in a full-length gown on stage at the Dolby Theatre and sang "I Knew ‌It, I Knew ‌You," the song ‌she wrote ⁠for the new "Toy ⁠Story" installment. The singer said she has been a longtime fan of the movie franchise.

"It means the world to me to be ⁠a small part of ‌these films," ‌she said.

Swift then introduced another unexpected ‌guest - Randy Newman, composer of ‌the musical scores and many of the breakout songs from the "Toy Story" movies. The pair sang ‌a duet of "You've Got a Friend in Me," ⁠one ⁠of Newman's hits from the first "Toy Story" in 1995.

Earlier, Swift posed on the red carpet with Tom Hanks, Joan Cusack and other members of the "Toy Story" voice cast.

"Toy Story 5" will be released by Walt Disney's Pixar Animation Studios on June 19.

Entertainment

Hollywood Directors Reach Tentative 4-Year Deal with Studios and Streamers

Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
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Hollywood Directors Reach Tentative 4-Year Deal with Studios and Streamers

Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
Christopher Nolan arrives at the Oscars on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)

Hollywood directors on Tuesday reached a four-year tentative contract agreement with studios and streaming services.

The deal struck between the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers came four weeks after talks began.

The talks were the first under new DGA President Christopher Nolan, who took the job in September.

Along with similar four-year deals — longer than the industry three — ratified in recent weeks by unions representing writers and actors, the DGA agreement adds to the likelihood of long-term labor peace despite many other industry upheavals.

The collective bargaining agreement must still be approved by the guild’s national board, and no details on the terms will be released until then, the DGA said in a statement. It then must be ratified by the guild membership. But tentative agreements generally win approval at both stages.

The directors' previous contract had been set to expire June 30.

The AMPTP said in a statement that it was pleased to help achieve “a fair deal that helps advance a stable and successful entertainment industry.”

Entertainment

A New Generation of Elvis Tribute Artists Compete in the King’s Hometown

Elvis Presley in 1975. (Getty Images)
Elvis Presley in 1975. (Getty Images)
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A New Generation of Elvis Tribute Artists Compete in the King’s Hometown

Elvis Presley in 1975. (Getty Images)
Elvis Presley in 1975. (Getty Images)

Nearly 50 years after Elvis Presley's death, a gaggle of exuberant young boys and men shook up his hometown, intent on keeping the king's legacy alive for a new generation.

Ranging in age from seven to 17, some donning jeweled jumpsuits, they took the stage at the Tupelo Elvis Festival's youth tribute artist competition last week.

In contrast to their peers, some of whom may have never heard of Elvis, the competitors have dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy studying the king's voice, mannerisms and style.

They are careful to specify they are Elvis tribute artists. Unlike impersonators, who pretend to be Elvis and sometimes present a characterized version of the king, tribute artists strive for authenticity. Some wore costumes created by B&K Enterprises Costume Co., a company licensed to recreate Elvis' outfits and provide costumes for Elvis movies, musicals and TV shows.

“We're not trying to be him,” said Tucker Gladden, 17, from Madison, Mississippi. “We want to recreate the experience as much as we can for people that maybe didn't get to see Elvis in their lifetime.”

As for their fascination with a long-dead musician, several of the tribute artists credited the 2022 “Elvis” movie with sparking their interest. A couple said their admiration began after discovering they were distantly related to Elvis. Others said it was Elvis' faith and charity that inspired them. Some said they had been performing Elvis songs since they were 3 years old.

For 16-year-old Ayden Maloy from Logansport, Indiana, it was the way Elvis' music helped him during a difficult time in his life that helped motivate him to begin performing as an Elvis tribute artist three years ago.

In an afternoon of dazzling outfits and daring dance moves, the performers paid their tributes, getting the audience clapping, singing and swaying along to their Elvis covers. Ultimately, RJ Hursey, a 14-year-old from Bloomington, Illinois, won the competition.

“It means the world to me,” Hursey said.

Before the competition, the tribute artists toured the Elvis Presley Birthplace, a sprawling complex that includes the home where Elvis was born and the church where he was first exposed to Southern gospel music.

“It feels so surreal to pay tribute to Elvis in his hometown,” said 15-year-old Charles Session from Morrilton, Arkansas. “I hope that he’s looking down and smiling at all these young performers.”