Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio Rate Ben Wang's Performance in 'Karate Kid: Legends'

You spent three months to learn everything from me

Yeah. Pay me. I saw the video that you guys put out, the big casting call looking for the new karate kid

And I wanted to ask Ben, like, what was the audition process like

How much did you have to show off your martial arts? Yeah, it was brutal and terrifying

And it took like a month and a half, like seven different tapes and, you know, meetings and meetings

but they were thorough because they were really specific about what they wanted

And so, you know, it's a long, hard process. And there was a martial arts section

But I'm really happy and I feel lucky that, you know, that what they wanted was me

Luckiest boy in the world. Yeah. Where were you when you found out that you got the part

I was at my home. I was at my abode. uh i think i i think i got the call when i was in the bathroom and then i and i shifted it to the

to somewhere with better lighting and then ralph and jackie were you involved at all in the casting process what were your thoughts when you found out that he got the part I got the tape of Ben screen test when they were but I think I don know if you knew at that point

It wasn't like, do you approve? It wasn't that. I was more supporting the filmmaker and his choice because he fought for Ben

I mean, there were a lot of, I'm sure, candidates, but it's the choice of one

When you see the movie, it is truly the choice of one. I saw that tape and then I watched a little bit of American Born Chinese, which was a series he was in

And you saw the pieces of his humor and sort of likability, you know

So it was just, but more so when working with him on the set, then everything came really up when I started seeing him

Yeah, I kept the video too. I saw the video, all the same

You know, they speak English, they do some martial arts. Why this guy

I just, oh, okay. They already choose for me. That's a Ben Wong, he will be a karate kid

I just wondering why him I don know But through my stunt team they call me wow the young guy is so clever Whatever we teach him he learns so fast Not as good as me but good

I'm really happy with that assessment. And did you guys give him any advice when you started since you guys have done these movies before

No, just be yourself. I mean, that's this character, you know, the protagonist in this universe of these Karate Kid films

I mean, it's it's the essence of of of genuine truth of character

So the more Ben is infused in Lee Fang, the more we believe him on this ride

And that's how I portrayed it back in the day in my version. and I see the same thing in him when you look in his eyes

when you're on the journey of this character, what he's going through

You're leaning forward because you're taking that ride with him. And that's the relatability of it all

Yeah, I think acting-wise, no doubt it. He's very good. I can tell

But only when the action sequence comes in just maybe a little trick little secret things I taught him But now he learned everything

I mean, he spent 20 years, he spent three months to learn everything from me

Pay me. And then I have a quick game of this or that

Which do you prefer, stuffed crust pizza or New York style pizza

New York. Yeah, I like a New York style pizza. I don't know

We both. New York City or Los Angeles? New York City. I'm a New York guy

Los Angeles. Taking the subway or riding a scooter? Subway. Scooter. I like a scooter, yeah

Training in a dojo or training on a rooftop? Dojo. Why not both, huh

I would say dojo. Yeah. I don't have to wear sunscreen and I could have air conditioning if I'd like

and then boxing or karate wow that's you could do both i gotta lean into karate it's been very

very good to me so stay with it yeah boxing boxing boxing