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Two branches, one tree. _SPOILERS BELOW FOR “KARATE KID: LEGENDS.”_ The newest “Karate Kid” film follows kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) as he moves from Beijing to New York City with his
mother, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen). But while “Karate Kid: Legends” is mainly set in NYC, it was filmed almost one hundred percent in Quebec, Canada. In an exclusive interview with The Post,
the movie’s production designer, Maya Sigel, revealed how she and her crew recreated Manhattan on a soundstage in Montreal – and how they were able to make it as close as possible to the
real thing. “First, I always start with lots of research and reference photos, even when it’s something I’m familiar with, like NYC,” she explained. “I go through lots of old books, the
internet, and, in this case, Google Street View.” EXPLORE MORE “Then, along the way, different crew members will do additional research on certain elements and then bring them to me, and
we’ll add some of them to the mix,” Sigel continued. “There were certain buildings that I specifically called out, and the set designers modified them for our space constraints.” Even more
impressive was the fact that Sigel used some of her own experiences living and working in NYC as personal references for the latest “Karate Kid” film’s production design. “I have lived in
NYC and have made movies and TV shows there, so it’s very much ingrained in my consciousness and design vocabulary,” she told The Post. “When designing Li’s Apartment set, for example, I’m
thinking about apartments I’ve lived in or friends’ places and location scouting that I’ve done in NYC in the past.” “It also helped when I was looking for locations in Montreal with the
location manager, knowing what looks right and where it might fit geographically in NYC,” Sigel continued. “There are certain locations that I imagined designing and building from the first
time I read the script because of either the page count there, the importance of the geography to the story, the fight sequences, or other practical constraints.” Plus, Sigel and the film’s
director, Jonathan Entwistle, talked about certain NYC locations “right away” and ultimately settled on a few specific landmarks that one could easily believe were filmed there on location.
“The alley was one of these sets, and it was inspired by Cortlandt Alley in NYC and modified for our story and needs, including the stunts,” she explained. “Another was the rooftop set for
the final Five Boroughs Tournament fight.” The Five Boroughs Tournament serves as the climax of the film, when Wang’s character must fight his rival, Connor Day (Aramis Knight), with the
help of shifu Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and sensei Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio). “It was written as the rooftop of a skyscraper in Manhattan, and we – the art department, director,
cinematographer, production, VFX and stunts – all worked together for months figuring out what the best way to achieve this would be, and in the end we landed on the Volume,” Sigel said. “We
built the rooftop set on stage, had hundreds of extras, and the Volume work turned out looking good,” she added. Sigel later described the production design for “Legends” as a “love letter
to New York” and the “old-school kind of New York nostalgia.” One set that captures those ideas the best is Victory Pizza, the pizzeria owned by the family of Li Fong’s love interest, Mia
Lipani (Sadie Stanley). “I wanted it to have this old-school New York feeling, a place that is both familiar and charming but also unique,” Sigel explained. “The slice shop on your block
that is cozy and family-owned, with the grit and sweat and history that comes along with that.” “There are family photos on the wall along with NYC memorabilia, Mets gear, and Victor’s old
boxing photos and awards,” she continued. “It’s a cozy place that’s welcoming and makes you feel grounded and at home.” By the end of the film, and with the help of Sigel and her crew’s
production design, the audience witnesses Li Fong’s true journey from his old home in Beijing to his new one in NYC. “The Karate Kid is, at its essence, a story of a kid being thrown into a
new environment, struggling, and eventually building strong relationships, finding his center, and returning home to himself,” Sigel said. “I wanted to show New York as it can be at its
best,” she concluded, “a beautiful mish-mash of people and cultures, a place of possibility and vibrance, and a wild and warm place to call home.” As for why the movie was filmed in Montreal
despite being set predominantly in Manhattan, Sigel said that the decision was already made when she joined the project. Still, she advocates for a boost in tax incentives and credits to
bring productions back to the US – especially as more studios are ditching NYC and Hollywood for other countries to save on production costs.