Biography Flash: Ben Wang's Rise from Minnesota to Karate Kid Stardom and Hollywood's Next Big Thing
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Biography Flash: Ben Wang's Rise from Minnesota to Karate Kid Stardom and Hollywood's Next Big Thing
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About this listen
Ben Wang is the talk of Hollywood right now as the brand-new face of The Karate Kid franchise, starring in Karate Kid: Legends, which just hit theaters late last week. From moviegoers to industry insiders, all eyes are on Wang, who is making waves not just for his acting chops but for the personal resonance he brings to the character of Li Fong. The buzz started to crescendo after Wang returned to his roots, appearing in person at a special screening in Northfield, Minnesota, where he spent much of his childhood after immigrating from Shanghai at age six. Local media such as KYMN Radio captured his homecoming, describing a heartfelt encounter with former teachers and community members—testament to Wang’s midwestern grounding even as he steps onto the global stage.
The interviews from Minnesota Monthly and Resonate Magazine this weekend dove deep into Wang’s rapid rise. Growing up, he aspired to filmmaking, idolizing franchises like Star Wars, but admits he never actually thought roles like this were possible for Asian-American kids. Wang shares that he poured his own experiences of relocation and resilience into Li Fong, whose journey from Beijing to New York after tragedy mirrors Wang’s. This vulnerability and authenticity, he says, were his way of paying homage to the legacy of both the franchise and Asian visibility in Hollywood.
On the business side, Wang won the coveted part after a worldwide open casting call—besting over 10,000 hopefuls—while training in martial arts and collaborating with legends like Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. Viewers and critics from FandomWire and Collider are already calling this a pivotal moment for Asian representation, highlighting Wang as part of a new wave of nuanced, non-stereotypical lead roles for Asian-Americans. Jacking up the hype even more is the fact that Wang will step into the next Hunger Games chapter, Sunrise on the Reaping, with his role already trending on social media and entertainment wires. There’s even swirling social buzz pondering if he could soon suit up for a Marvel gig—though nothing concrete, just high hopes from fans.
Recent headlines have also spotlighted Wang’s thoughtful takes on the pressure and privilege of representing the Asian community on a global scale. He’s said in multiple outlets that he wants to pay it forward by ensuring future generations of Asian actors have space to be seen for their humanity, not just a stereotype. With several more big projects teed up through next year, including Stephen King’s The Long Walk and plenty of hungry speculation about future blockbusters, Wang’s future feels limitless.
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