Will Smith Promote China-U.S. Collaboration Film

Will Smith, one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, has showed up at the Shanghai International Film Festival to promote a China-U.S. collaboration film – The Karate Kid.

The film stars Will's son Jaden Smith and Chinese superstar Jackie Chan. Will and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith both serve as producers of the film.

Liu Yan has more.

Reporter:

So far, the movie has been doing really well in the US, taking in more than 56 million USD in its first weekend and easily claiming the top spot on the box office chart in North America.

Director Harald Zwart said one of the major selling points for this movie was Jaden's kung fu skills.

"Yes, I am proud to tell you that there is no manipulation whatsoever. He trained for months and months. All the kung fu you see is exactly how it was done."
Jackie Chan echoed the director.

"So after the movie was finished, I was talking to Will, and I said, 'Don't waste your son's gift'. He's so naturally talented. Now he's still practicing Kung Fu every day at home in the U.S. He is so willing to learn."

Due to popular demand, Jaden showed his kung fu moves on the stage, with his father beat-boxing in the background.

With The Karate Kid doing so well at the box office, it was no surprise that Will Smith expressed his willingness to work with Chan again.

"I'm really looking forward to doing two, or three, or five, or seven more movies with Jackie. Right now, the two projects that we're considering are both Jackie projects, so… I mean, I just think that this was such a fantastic collaboration, not only for our nations, but for the two of us. And specifically at this point in our careers,. I think it's a great time for us to have met and worked together."

Will also said it was an honor to have been invited into Shanghai, China.

"I think, right now, we're only talking about a movie, but I believe that this collaboration and the accomplishment of this film is far beyond only a movie. I think it speaks volumes for the future of the artists of our two nations and the future of our two nations in general, so we are humbled, and proud, and honored, and thank you."

"The Karate Kid" will premiere in China on June 22.

For CRI, I'm Liu Yan in Shanghai.