Sadie Stanley is stepping into the martial arts world with confidence, and she’s loving the ride.
The 23-year-old actress stars in Karate Kid: Legends, the sixth film in the long-running franchise. Playing the daughter of Joshua Jackson’s character, Stanley says their on-screen connection came easily, largely because Jackson brings serious “dad energy” to the set.
“That process was very natural,” Stanley told ScreenRant. “We got lunch when we first arrived and hung out for a little bit and just got to know each other.”
Jackson, who shares a daughter named Juno with ex-wife Jodie Turner-Smith, made a strong impression on Stanley thanks to his real-life parenting experience. “He has a daughter of his own, Juno, who’s adorable, and he is such a dad. He talks about her constantly, gushes about her, shows pictures, talks about what she’s into these days and what she’s like,” she said. “He very clearly just has such dad energy.”
Stanley’s character, Mia, mirrors that close bond on screen. She’s protective of her father and their tight relationship is a core part of the film’s emotional heart. “Of course, Mia’s a little protective of her father,” Stanley shared. “She lost her mom when she was young, and that really forces you to grow up a lot when you’re that age. She just has her dad. It’s just them two against the world working in this pizza shop trying to make ends meet.”
The story takes a turn when Mia meets Li Fong, played by Ben Wang. Their connection adds a new layer to the dynamic, especially for her father. “I think when she meets Li, she really holds up a mirror to him and challenges him to be more honest with himself and with others,” Stanley explained. “She really sees his potential before he fully sees it in himself.”
Mia’s emotional insight becomes a grounding force in the film, both for Li and for her dad. “Just in general, Mia is a person who sees through the noise, and she’s very emotionally intuitive,” she added.
And as for legacy characters, Sadie Stanley is all in on bringing back The Next Karate Kid star Hilary Swank. “Absolutely. Great question. Please bring her back. She’s fantastic. I’m obsessed with her. That would be so cool. We can have all four of them train Mia.”
With a cast blending franchise veterans and rising stars, Karate Kid: Legends looks to honor the past while pushing the story forward, and Sadie Stanley seems ready to lead the charge.
