Some of the most unforgettable lines and roles in Hollywood movies are made when actors go the extra mile. When you’re shortlisted for an iconic movie like Karate Kid, you have to do it right, and Joshua Jackson forced himself to pile on the pounds for the upcoming Karate Kid: Legends.
The Karate Kid has evolved since the classic martial arts movies, and if you really want to feel old, the first one came out in 1984. Every film in the original trilogy came out before 1990. The Next Karate Kid, starring Hilary Swank in 1994, didn’t do so well, shuttering the series until the reboot in 2010, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.
Likely due to the phenomenal success of Cobra Kai, Jackie Chan is back in the new movie, which also stars Joshua Jackson as a former boxer named Victor. In an interview on the Today show, Jackson explained how he had to bulk up for his role. He told hosts, “I walk around at 175. I was almost 195 for the film.” He explained that Victor is an ex-heavyweight boxer, which required an increase in mass.
How Many Calories Was Joshua Jackson Eating Per Day?
On top of a training regime, Joshua revealed he was scoffing down 4000 calories per day. “It was harder than I thought it was going to be,” he admitted. “The training part, it is, y’know, it’s the fun part of my job,” he explained. Jackson also described the impact of the Karate Kid movies on him, as it’s a series that has spanned multiple generations. “There’s something really beautiful about bringing it forward to the next generation where we get to share that with our children,” Jackson explained. “For me, it’s the biggest piece of joy from this film.”
Victor isn’t the only character Jackson has played who demanded a strict diet change. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the actor went from 160 to 190 pounds during his time in the 2021 show Dr Death. He also explained that a disc in his back exploded after the show, which knocked him off his feet for six weeks.
The new Karate Kid: Legends movie premieres on May 30.