Netflix Knows Exactly When Cobra Kai Should End, And Here’s Why

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Key Takeaways

  • Netflix’s Cobra Kai will end its six-season run in Feb 2025, setting the stage for the Karate Kid: Legends film.
  • Karate Kid: Legends will not directly follow Cobra Kai but bridge the Miyagi-verse timelines.
  • Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso character may return in Karate Kid: Legends alongside Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han.

As a die-hard fan of the Karate Kid franchise and having grown up with Daniel LaRusso as my idol, I must say that the upcoming events are nothing short of exhilarating! The finale of Cobra Kai and the release of Karate Kid: Legends promise to be a rollercoaster ride for us fans, reminiscent of the high kicks and heart-pounding moments we’ve come to love.

With the forthcoming “Karate Kid: Legends” movie set to broaden the Miyagi-verse, it seems Netflix has chosen an opportune moment to conclude its popular series, “Cobra Kai”. Typically, a six-season run is standard for television shows, but the finale of this martial arts comedy-drama arrives at a time that not only serves its own interests, but also sets the stage for the 2025 crossover film.

Karate Kid: Legends is planned as a continuation of the original ’80s Karate Kid trilogy and its 2010 remake. Contrary to expectation, it won’t be a direct follow-up to Cobra Kai, despite taking place in the same universe post-Cobra Kai events. Interestingly, the Netflix series is set to conclude its sixth season in February 2025, which perfectly aligns with the scheduled release of the film on May 30, 2025.

Cobra Kai’s Finale Is Coming At The Perfect Time

Daniel LaRusso Bids Goodbye To Cobra Kai

Ralph Macchio persists in his renowned portrayal of Daniel LaRusso, from the initial Karate Kid movies to the current Cobra Kai series, which is approaching its conclusion. His role also includes the upcoming Karate Kid: Legends movie, set three years after the events of Cobra Kai. This new film will bring Daniel LaRusso into contact with Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the recent remake, bridging two generations. In a conversation with Variety, the 63-year-old actor discussed why the end of Cobra Kai seems fitting and offers a chance to wrap things up effectively.

As a devoted fan, I didn’t arrive at this decision lightly. It was about safeguarding the Daniel LaRusso character and understanding his trajectory at that particular juncture, ensuring the continuity of the entire Miyagi-verse. Once we managed to align these elements, it became clear how the ‘Cobra Kai’ narrative could smoothly transition into the upcoming film – though they operate in distinct story realms, it all fell into place for me logically.

Cobra Kai Will Not Continue Into Karate Kid: Legends

It appears that the tale of Cobra Kai, initially revolving around Johnny Lawrence and Miguel Diaz, is set to conclude with Season 6, and won’t extend into The Karate Kid: Legends movie as an immediate series continuation. Nevertheless, there might be hints of spin-offs or prequels, like a Miyagi-focused narrative, in the near or distant future, according to the show’s creators, John Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg.

As the final five episodes of Cobra Kai‘s Season 6 approach, it’s evident that the upcoming movie, titled Karate Kid: Legends, intends to reconcile the storyline from the 2010 Karate Kid reboot with the continuity of the Miyagi-verse. It’s intriguing to note that only three years have transpired within the series, despite the show taking approximately eight years to be fully produced due to factors such as the pandemic, a shift from YouTube to Netflix, and a writers’ strike.

Film Title Karate Kid: Legends
Director Jonathan Entwistle
Cast
  • Jackie Chan
  • Ben Wang
  • Ralph Macchio
  • Joshua Jackson
  • Sadie Stanley
  • Ming-Na Wen
  • Danny McBride
  • Wyatt Oleff
Release Date May 30, 2025
Producers
  • Karen Rosenfelt
  • Will Smith
  • Jada Pinkett Smith
Writer Rob Lieber
Based On The Karate Kid by Robert Mark Kamen
Cinematographer Justin Brown

Daniel LaRusso’s Future In The Miyagi-Verse

Cobra Kai Finale Will Wrap Up Important Storylines

From a passionate fan’s viewpoint: I ponder over the destinies of the Cobra Kai characters, particularly Daniel LaRusso. His deep-rooted bond with Karate is being scrutinized due to his wife Amanda’s perspective on its impact on their lives. The possibility arises that he might take a step back from Karate, given the college-bound youngsters like Sam and Miguel. This could signify a return to managing LaRusso Auto for him. Yet, the upcoming movie with Jackie Chan suggests that his lead role may not mean retirement completely. A fresh saga of The Karate Kid Legends might unfold as a consequence.

How Will Daniel LaRusso Join Mr. Han?

In essence, it seems that an upcoming film might see Jackie Chan’s character Mr. Han persuading Daniel LaRusso to come out of retirement and train a new pupil, who is likely to be portrayed by Ben Wang. This scenario mirrors Johnny Lawrence’s hesitant resumption of Karate teaching in “Cobra Kai”. The movie appears to be rich with nostalgic references and Easter eggs, such as the All-Valley tournaments, and it will also tie together the rest of the “Cobra Kai” and “Karate Kid” series.

More Cobra Kai In Or After Karate Kid: Legends?

Johnny, Daniel, & Miguel Might Meet For The Last Time

So far, details about the new movie are scarce, with no clear insights into the plot or characters. However, we can count on Daniel LaRusso’s character to remain consistent with his portrayal across the series. The creative team behind this film is different from the one that brought us “Cobra Kai”, which means while continuity is likely, the extent of it remains uncertain. Even successful TV shows often face the risk of overstaying their welcome and delivering an unsatisfactory conclusion. Given this, it seems like the right moment for “Cobra Kai” to conclude the stories of Johnny, Daniel, and Miguel, paving the way for a fresh beginning in the upcoming movie while preserving some iconic franchise elements.

Proper Break Between Karate Kid: Legends & Cobra Kai

From a marketing perspective, it’s a smart decision for the creators to release the last five episodes of Cobra Kai on Netflix by February 2025. This timeline ensures a three-month gap before the premiere of Karate Kid: Legends. This interval appears to be just right – not too prolonged that the show becomes less talked about, nor too swift that viewers are inundated with excessive Miyagi-verse content, but rather striking a balance that feels ideal.

Additionally, what stands out is that the three-stage finale of the Cobra Kai series resembles a trilogy in its structure. The Karate Kid: Legends movie could potentially be Ralph Macchio’s last portrayal of Daniel LaRusso, although there might be plans for a Cobra Kai prequel, sequel, or spin-off by Netflix, which could prolong his tenure in this iconic role.

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2024-12-06 06:12