Joshua Jackson said he regretted bringing his 5-year-old daughter, Juno, to the set of Karate Kid: Legends during a day when he was filming a major fight scene. Speaking at the film’s premiere on May 27, Jackson told PEOPLE that the visit was a mistake because his daughter had to watch him get “beat up” on camera. He joked that she will likely have to wait a few years before watching the movie in full.
Jackson said Juno’s reaction made the experience especially memorable, though not in the way he expected. The actor, who plays Victor in the film, described the moment as one of those on-set parenting decisions that seemed harmless at first but turned out to be difficult for a young child to see. He also said his daughter is about to graduate from Transitional Kindergarten, and that the family already has summer camp plans lined up as the school year ends.
Beyond the family anecdote, Jackson talked about the physical demands of preparing for the role. To play Victor, a former boxing champion and pizzeria owner, he gained nearly 20 pounds and brought his weight close to 195 pounds. He said the process required him to eat about 4,000 calories a day, which proved far more challenging than he expected. Although gaining weight for a role might sound easy or even enjoyable, Jackson said it was actually difficult and exhausting.
The actor’s comments highlighted both the personal and professional sides of making the film. On one hand, he was navigating the realities of parenting and trying to balance work with family life. On the other, he was undergoing a major transformation to fit the character and deliver a convincing performance. His remarks suggest that the role demanded discipline, commitment, and a willingness to push through discomfort for the sake of authenticity.
Karate Kid: Legends is set to arrive in theaters on May 30, adding a new chapter to the long-running franchise. Jackson’s role as Victor places him in the center of the film’s action, and the premiere gave him a chance to reflect on both the physical training and the unexpected family moment that came with the production.
His story also reflects a broader reality for actors who bring children to set: while it can create special memories, it can also lead to awkward or emotional situations when young kids witness intense scenes without fully understanding what they are seeing. In Jackson’s case, a simple visit turned into a lesson about timing, sensitivity, and the challenges of mixing family life with movie production.
