Joshua Jackson is set to star in the next Karate Kid chapter and has revealed that his daughter was behind his decision to take on his first feature film role in almost a decade. He mentioned that he wanted to make the movie so that he could potentially watch it with his 4-year-old daughter, whom he shares with ex-wife Jodie Turner-Smith. The film is slated for release in 2025 and will also feature other notable stars like Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight, Wyatt Oleff, Jackie Chan, and Ralph Macchio.
The actor split from Turner-Smith in October 2023 after almost four years of marriage but has rarely spoken publicly about his daughter. However, in 2022, he shared some insight into his evolution as a father and mentioned that his daughter is very hyper-verbal and opinionated. He expressed enjoyment in being able to have conversations with her and rediscover her as she evolves. Jackson is currently in a relationship with Lupita Nyong’o and recently spoiled her during her birthday celebration in Mexico. They confirmed their romance in December 2023.
A source revealed that Lupita was thrilled to be spending her birthday with Joshua, as he went out of his way to make her feel special. He treated her like a princess, surprising her with a spa day and romantic dinners at the resort. The couple seems to be in a happy and committed relationship, with Jackson showing his affection by pulling out all the stops for her birthday celebration. Their relationship began after Jackson’s split from Turner-Smith, with both parties citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their breakup. They both requested joint legal and physical custody of their daughter.
Overall, Joshua Jackson’s decision to return to feature films after almost 10 years was influenced by his desire to have a movie he could watch with his daughter. His relationship with Lupita Nyong’o seems to be going strong, with Jackson going above and beyond to make her birthday special. Despite his split from ex-wife Jodie Turner-Smith, Jackson remains focused on co-parenting their daughter, whom he describes as a constantly evolving and opinionated child. Jackson’s journey as a father and his blossoming relationship with Nyong’o are at the forefront of his personal life, alongside his upcoming role in the highly anticipated Karate Kid sequel.
