Casting Young Mr. Miyagi For A Karate Kid Prequel Series

The success of Cobra Kai and the upcoming sequel Karate Kid: Legends has reignited The Karate Kid franchise and sparked rumors about a prequel series focused on Mr. Miyagi. The creative team behind Cobra Kai has even expressed interest in exploring Mr. Miyagi’s backstory (via Hollywood Reporter), although this would mean recasting the late Pat Morita, who powerfully portrayed this martial arts master across the film series and in archival footage in Cobra Kai. While Morita’s performance would be a tough act to follow, several notable actors could pull it off.

While The Karate Kid has had some amazing characters, the Miyagiverse revolves primarily around one man: Mr. Miyagi. For this reason, a Mr. Miyagi prequel series has the potential to expand upon the lore of the franchise and address the missing gaps and lingering questions of his backstory. Audiences will know of Mr. Miyagi’s tragic circumstances, such as the death of his wife and child in a U.S. Japanese internment camp, so the perfect Mr. Miyagi actor will have to be able to capture the humor and heartache of his life story.

8 Ken Jeong

Ken Jeong could play Mr. Miyagi just before he meets Daniel LaRusso

Over the past 20 years, Ken Jeong has proven himself one of the best comedic talents working today with acclaimed roles across film and television. From the over-the-top eccentricities of The Hangover franchise to his unhinged role in Community, Jeong is incredibly skilled at big performances and could imbue a Mr. Miyagi origin story with a real sense of energy. While Jeong is already a similar age to Pat Morita in the original The Karate Kid, a prequel set just before he came into contact with Daniel LaRusso could work very well.

As The Karate Kid Part II and Cobra Kai have already given viewers a lot of insight into Mr. Miyagi’s early life, a prequel series with a focus on his time as a handyman in Reseda, California, could be interesting. Jeong would give a great performance as Mr. Miyagi encounters home burglaries in his everyday work and heroically saves the day without expecting fame or glory. This prequel could focus on the everyday heroism of Mr. Miyagi and showcase the unknown details of what informed his decision to take Daniel under his wing in The Karate Kid.

7 Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun could capture the complex appeal of Mr. Miyagi

From his breakout role as Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead to the dark comedy of Beef, Steven Yeun has proved himself as an actor more than capable of capturing the essence of Mr. Miyagi’s character. With a career that’s been characterized by sheer variety, Yeun is an instantly recognizable actor who could also believably play the Miyagi-do master in a prequel series. Having showcased his survival skills in the post-apocalyptic zombified world of his AMC series, taking on new foes at the Sekai Taikai as a young Miyagi would be a breeze.

Yeun’s career has gone from strength to strength in recent years as he used his breakout success in The Walking Dead to transition into acclaimed film and TV roles. From the critical favorite that was Minari to his excellent voice work in Invincible, Yeun has proven he has what it takes to take on complex roles of already established characters. While it will be very hard for any actor to live up to Pat Morita’s excellent performance across The Karate Kid franchise, Yeun is one of the few actors up to the challenge.

6 Ian Chen

Ian Chen has what it takes to play a teenage Mr. Miyagi

The Karate Kid franchise has given a lot of insight into Mr. Miyagi’s life history as he left Okinawa, fought in World War II, and was left a widow after his family tragically died in an internment camp, but his teenage years still have plenty of mysteries. This is why Ian Chen would be the perfect choice to portray a young Mr. Miyagi as he trains under the guidance of his father. While The Karate Kid Part II already explained Miyagi’s rivalry with former best friend Sato, a prequel with Chen could further explore this aspect of his upbringing.

Chen has been working as an actor since he was a small child and has quickly made a name for himself as one of the most exciting up-and-coming Asian-American actors. With his breakout role in the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat and his notable part as Eugene Choi in the DC Extended Universe and Shazam movies, Chen has already shown he has what it takes to excel in major franchises. The role of Mr. Miyagi would be an excellent next step in his career as he continues to grow and develop as an actor.

5 Randall Park

Randall Park would make an excellent Mr. Miyagi

While Randall Park may have first gained widespread recognition playing “Asian Jim,” Jim Halpert’s prank replacement of himself in The Office, his status as a major comedy star has only grown in the years since. Park has appeared in everything from Curb Your Enthusiasm to WandaVision and has the comedic talent to live up to Pat Morita‘s acclaimed legacy if cast in the role of Mr. Miyagi. As the co-writer and star of the Netflix rom-com Always Be My Maybe, Park’s talent as a writer could also contribute to a Mr. Miyagi prequel series.

With a comedy career that’s included some of the biggest funny movies and TV shows in recent years, casting Park as Mr. Miyagi in a Karate Kid prequel feels like a no-brainer. As Jimmy Woo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Park has already shown his skills as a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent recruited by the FBI. If Park could repeat this blend of comedy and action movie stylings seen in the MCU, he just might reveal himself to the perfect young Mr. Miyagi.

4 Manny Jacinto

Manny Jacinto could step into leading roles by playing Mr. Miyagi

One actor who would be a good fit for Mr. Miyagi’s prequel series would be Manny Jacinto. As a performer best known for his role as Jason Mendoza on the NBC sitcom The Good Place, Jacinto’s character was first introduced as a wise Taiwanese Buddhist monk who took a vow of silence. While it was soon revealed that Jason was actually an amateur DJ and drug dealer from Florida, his ability to walk the fine line between these two personalities is the ideal blend for the playfulness and wise philosophy of Mr. Miyagi.

While Jacinto has had other minor roles outside of The Good Place, such as in Bad Times at the El Royale and Top Gun: Maverick, a major role in a prequel of The Karate Kid could be just what his career needs. Star Wars fans will also recognize Jacinto as Qimir in The Acolyte, so he’s no stranger to entering major franchises that have had an incredible impact on popular culture. Jacinto has been quietly carving out an acclaimed career, and the role of Mr. Miyagi would be an incredible next step for him.

3 Danny Chan Kwok-kwan

Danny Chan Kwok-kwan already played a legend whose status rivals Mr. Miyagi

The Hong Kong actor and martial artist Danny Chan Kwok-kwan bears a striking resemblance to the kung fu movie legend Bruce Lee and could imbue a young Mr. Miyagi with the same kind of enigmatic presence as that esteemed star. Chan has already portrayed Lee in The Legend of Bruce Lee TV series and the Ip Man franchise and could gain more recognition with Western audiences through a role in The Karate Kid prequel focused on Mr. Miyagi.

While this might be a more unusual choice, Chan certainly has the martial arts skills to back up this performance. While Mr. Miyagi’s fighting philosophy was a defense-based approach that avoided violence whenever possible, he also needed to have the skills to let loose when the situation required it. As a talented fighter who has already shown the ability to capture a true martial arts legend on screen, Chan has what it takes to play Mr. Miyagi.

2 Simu Liu

Simu Liu has shown the martial arts skills to play Mr. Miyagi

Simu Liu is a Canadian actor who got his start in the CBC Television sitcom Kim’s Convenience and gained widespread recognition for his role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. As an actor capable of effortlessly blending action and comedy with martial skills to back it up, Liu would be an ideal choice for a young Mr. Miyagi. Although Liu admitted he exaggerated his martial arts background to secure his spot in the MCU (via EW), he’s proved he’s more than up to the challenge.

With appearances in everything from the Taken prequel TV series to playing one of the many Kens in the Barbie movie, Simu has popped up in plenty of beloved franchise releases in recent years. These experiences have laid the groundwork for him to take up the role of Mr. Miyagi and give his take on a younger version of the character in a Karate Kid prequel. With an already impressive career that looks set to go from strength to strength, Liu’s next movie should be securing the part of Mr. Miyagi.

1 Jimmy O. Yang

Jimmy O. Yang has everything needed to play Mr. Miyagi

Jimmy O. Yang is one of the funniest and most unappreciated comedy actors working today and would be the ideal choice to play Mr. Miyagi in a Karate Kid prequel. While Yang gained prominence as Jian-Yang in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley, he’s popped in everything from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia to New Girl. With a talent for playing laid-back and deadpan characters, Yang’s unique onscreen charisma would lend itself well to the unassuming wisdom of Mr. Miyagi.

With an ability to get big laughs from audiences while still remaining relatively contained and calm, Yang has the perfect sensibilities to capture what made Mr. Miyagi such a beloved character in the first place. As an equally talented stand-up comedian, Yang has worked hard to build up an impressive career, and now is the perfect time for him to step into the spotlight with a major role in a Karate Kid prequel. While Pat Morita’s performance will be difficult to live up to, Yang has what it takes to capture the complexities and legacy of Mr. Miyagi.

Sources: Hollywood Reporter, EW