Will Smith contacts original 'Karate Kid'

Will Smith has contacted the original 'Karate Kid' for advice on his remake of the iconic film.

The 40-year-old star - whose 10-year-old son Jayden is set to star in the film - is a producer on the venture, and was keen to get some tips from Ralph Macchio.

Ralph, who played Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 film, said: "It was very cool.

He called and said, 'Would you mind getting on the phone with my son?' I felt like Yoda speaking to a young Luke Skywalker, you know, from the 'Star Wars' movies."

The 47-year-old actor was only too happy to impart his martial arts wisdom to the young star.

He told TV show 'E! News': "Jayden was adorable and completely respectful and excited. I just told him to have fun. That was my advice."

Ralph admits he overreacted when he first heard the cult film was being remade.

In January, he said he'd had nothing to do with the new movie and was not convinced Jackie Chan was the right choice to star as karate teacher Mr. Miyagi, who was originally played by the late Pat Morita.

Ralph admitted: "I spoke too candidly about that at first. Look, I will look at anything that crosses the desk on it. But I really think for the sake of the connection to those films and certainly the original film, I think that they're going to want to create their own version of it that is its own thing."