Actor Will Smith sent birthday wishes and expressed gratitude to martial arts star Jackie Chan, who starred with his son in the movie ‘The Karate Kid’.
“Happy 70th birthday to my friend, Jackie Chan!”, Will Smith sent a message to the Chinese actor. “In addition to making some of my favorite movies of all time, creating some of the greatest moments on screen, thank you so much for helping me raise Jaden. Time in Beijing with you Making the movie Karrate Kid left an unforgettable mark on our entire family. My family wishes him the deepest love and revelation on his next journey.”
Will Smith’s post reviewed many emotional moments when working with Jackie Chan 14 years ago, including photos of the trio on set or photos of the action movie star lifting Jaden up high and teaching him martial arts.
Jackie Chan – who is about to return to the Karate Kid sequel with actor Ralph Macchio – and Jaden Smith were once a popular teacher-student duo in the martial arts movie filmed in Beijing. In an interview with George Lopez, Jackie Chan said that Will called his office to invite him to participate in this blockbuster film. “I replied: I agree, so who is the teacher?”, Jackie Chan laughed, recalling the conversation with Will. “I still think of myself as a kid. I forget how old I am. And he said: ‘No, I’ll play the teacher. My son is the Karate Kid’.”
The film, which had a production budget of 40 million USD, earned 359 million USD in worldwide box office revenue, received positive reviews and won many awards. Karate Kid is also considered Jaden Smith’s most successful film.
Jackie Chan celebrates his 70th birthday on April 7. On Instagram, the actor said he felt surprised to have reached the age of seventy. Jackie Chan wrote that “getting old is a blessing” and he feels grateful to still be able to act after 62 years in the entertainment industry.
