Joshua Jackson: ‘Childhood Dream Come True’ to Be in ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ (Exclusive)

Joshua Jackson is especially grateful for his role in Karate Kid: Legends.

Speaking with PEOPLE at the film’s premiere on Tuesday, May 27, the actor, 46, shared pride in “being a part of this legacy” that is the Karate Kid franchise, describing it as a “childhood dream come true.”

The Doctor Odyssey actor added that starring in the film was a full-circle moment, as he remembers watching 1984’s Karate Kid when he was young.

“As [Ben Wang] said very wisely, he’s going to be the Karate Kid for my daughter and I just think that that’s awesome that I get to be a part of the movie that like pays that forward to the next generation,” Jackson said.

Karate Kid: Legends finds Jackson playing Victor, a former boxing champ and pizzeria owner. The actor shared with PEOPLE how he brought his 5-year-old daughter, Juno, whom he shares with ex Jodie Turner-Smith, on set.

“She came out to visit Montreal for five, six days because my brother lives up there, it was a family trip and I brought her on set the day that we were doing the fight scene,” he said, which turned out to be a “really stupid thing” to do.

“That was really dumb,” Jackson said. “She did not like seeing her dad get beat up. So I don’t think I’ll watch it with her in the theatrical run, but within a couple years I think we’ll be okay.”

Jackson’s role was particularly challenging as he had to gain 20 lbs. to embody his character Victor. “I walk around at 175,” he explained on the Tuesday, May 27, episode of the Today show. “I was almost 195 for the film.”

The actor admitted he was surprised to learn bulking up was not so easy. “It was harder than I thought it was going to be,” he said. “I was eating 4,000 calories a day.”

Nonetheless, Jackson welcomed the challenges because for him, “the training part is the fun part of my job.”

“Every time you pick up a new job, you’ve gotta pick up a new skill. But the training hits different at 45, 46 than it did when I was in my 20s,” Jackson shared.

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Karate Kids: Legends is now playing in theaters.