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Ben Wang’sKarate Kid: Legendsfilm has become quite anticipated. The film is set to follow the belovedKarate Kidfranchise and brings back the beloved Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. With the trailer having just been shown for the very first time at the New York Comic Con, it is not surprising that fans cannot stop talking about the new addition to the franchise.
While some might assume that this will be Wang’s big break, he has also starred in one series that could have completely changed his career. One that was canceled far too soon, its potential lost to bureaucracy.
American Born ChineseDeserved Better
In 2023,Ben Wangstarred in Disney’sAmerican Born Chinese, a series that had one of the most impressive cast lineups in a very long time. Although it brought the young actor as a newcomer, it also starred Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Chin Han in integral roles.
The premise of the series was also excellent, featuring a complex story about a boy trying to navigate the complexities of his social and home life. What made the series all the more interesting was the fact that its themes of identity and society were wrapped in a blanket of fantasy and magic.
Who is Ben Wang? – Meet the Next Karate Kid as Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio Find Their Heir to Restart the Franchise
The series was extremely well received, having a 94% rating onRotten Tomatoes. There was a lot of potential with the series, and it could have easily helped Disney establish a fantasy series outside of Marvel, something the franchise has struggled with since the release of Disney+.
However, the series did not get to prove its worth and was canceled after its first season.
A Marvelous Opportunity for Ben Wang
While there is no denying that the loss of a series as good asAmerican Born Chineseis a tragedy, starring in it could help Ben Wang establish a very big step for his career. The themes of the series are quite similar to the kind of shows that Marvel releases, having a perfect balance of teenage quips and serious themes.
While the franchise has struggled with making shows like these work in the past few years, Wang’s presence could seriously help with this. The casting of the series already had two Marvel stars at its forefront, with Michelle Yeoh having starred inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsand Ke Huy Quan having been a part ofLoki.
Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio Find Their Next Karate Kid Star in Ben Wang Straight Out of Canceled Disney+ Series Starring Michelle Yeoh
However, what is even more interesting is that one of the executive producers of the series was Destin Daniel Cretton, who directedShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Considering this, Wang could easily fit into the MCU.
American Born Chineseis available for streaming on Disney+.
Ananya Godboley
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2219
Ananya Godboley is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows, with over 2,000 articles published. She has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years. Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology from K.R. Mangalam University, Ananya also likes to fangirl as a full-time job. She covers news and analyses on anything from Rick and Morty to Hannibal and even Arcane. In between these lines, she also enjoys superheroes and Taylor Swift.A philosophy enthusiast, Ananya enjoys digging deeper into the media she consumes, trying to understand the root of her favorite characters' behavior.
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