It’s tea time on Coffee Chats! The fifth episode of ScreenRant’s signature interview series features Karate Kid: Legends‘ тιтular star Ben Wang, who joins Bryce Dallas Howard in the Coffee Chats club of non-coffee drinkers. Wang shares an energetic exchange with host Liam Crowley over some cascara tea as the two chronicle his journey to becoming the new Karate Kid, being mentored by Jackie Chan and more all at Gumption Coffee in New York City’s Flatiron District.

Wang follows previous Coffee Chats guests Noah Centineo, Jack Quaid, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Gabriel Luna. The young actor was best known for his roles in Chang Can Dunk and American Born Chinese before donning the hachimaki in the Miyagi-Verse. Following Karate Kid: Legends, Wang will star in The Long Walk and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

In this episode of Coffee Chats, Wang opens up about his preparation for his role of Li Fong in Karate Kid: Legends, what it was like to learn from Chan and the original Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio, and his love for The Karate Kid (2010).

Coffee Chats no.5 w/ Ben Wang

Wang Reveals Why He Opts For Tea Over Coffee

When it comes to his morning beverages, Wang leans towards minimal caffeine, which is part of the reason why tea takes precedence for him over coffee.

“It’s my blood, man (laughs). I mean, I grew up drinking tea, so I’m used to it. I think I like that it’s light and easy. I like that it’s warm. It also doesn’t feel like it’s as caffeinated as coffee. I don’t like too much caffeine. It kind of makes me bounce off walls.”

Wang’s Martial Arts Evolution Over The Course Of Production

Karate Kid’s Stunt Team Said He Started As An Actor, Ended As A Fighter

Wang went into Karate Kid: Legends pre-production with some experience in martial arts, but by the time cameras got rolling, he was a full-blown fighter. Supervising stunt coordinator Peng Zhang described that “when Ben first started, he was an actor, and now he’s a fighter. You can see that turn in his eyes.’”

“That’s his nice way of saying I was a wimp (laughs). ‘At the end, he was decent,’ which is true. I started out pretty wimpy, but mostly it’s just building confidence. At the end of the day, we have a really good team. They’re not going to let me out of the room until we have something that looks good. That’s all that I care about as an actor. I knew the team and I knew that I could trust them, so I wasn’t that worried about it. They got me to a place where I trusted them, and they also trusted me, and so we actually flew through most of that pretty smoothly.”

Jackie Chan Mentored Wang On And Off Camera

“He shows up to set sometimes two hours early…”

When Sony Pictures sought out its new Karate Kid, they wanted him to check three boxes: be bilingual in English and Mandarin, know martial arts (or be a quick study), and be able to hold his own against major movie stars.

“That was the first time I met someone where I was like, I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. What do you say to Jackie Chan? The meeting is nerve-wracking, but once you’ve met, it gets very easy. He was giving everybody feedback. He was like, ‘Move that light.’ He was directing extra. He’s all over the set. He loves making movies. He shows up to set sometimes two hours early, just because he is like, ‘I got bored at the H๏τel. I want to come make a movie.’ Anything he sees that he can change for the better, he’ll do it.”

More About ScreenRant’s Coffee Chats

Coffee Chats operates as a mixture of personal discussion through the lens of coffee as well as a dive into the guest’s latest project. Along the way, we’ll hit a Cold Brew Open, give our First Sip Synopsis, discuss our personal Coffee Callbacks, share our dream Desert Island Drinks and more.

“I pride myself on being a conversationalist, and there’s no better setting to chat it up with someone than a cafe,” ScreenRant Reporter, Host Liam Crowley said. “Back when I attended Syracuse University, I used to make ‘coffee review’ videos with my friends on my social media. To essentially expand that 60-second concept into a full-blown production and be accompanied by some of the biggest names in Hollywood is a true ‘pinch me’ moment.“

“From the moment I reached out to Liam about joining ScreenRant’s New York team, we envisioned expanding our content offerings with engaging, in-depth interviews, including an original series,” ScreenRant Editorial, Branding, and PR Director Rob Keyes said. “Liam already had an idea for this, and Coffee Chats perfectly embodies this vision, offering a unique format that connects audiences with leading industry talent while supporting local businesses. We are thrilled to launch this series and collaborate with local establishments on this exciting initiative.”

“Over the past 21 years, ScreenRant has interviewed every star in Hollywood several times,” ScreenRant Content Director Alex Leadbeater said. “Across press junkets, red carpets, convention panels and beyond, we’ve been a constant presence in the entertainment industry. Coffee Chats builds upon this success to create a more intimate backdrop for a more personal, longer-form style of interview.“

Coffee Chats is created by Crowley, Keyes, and Leadbeater and is produced by Tiffany Loving, Laura Watson, Jacques Reeder, John Aljets, Leah Nucum, and Cesar Garcia.

Check out our other Coffee Chats episodes with…

• Noah Centineo
• Jack Quaid
• Bryce Dallas Howard
• Gabriel Luna