Summary
The 2025Karate Kidmovie’s story plan afterCobra Kai’s conclusion is making me doubt whether I would still want to watch it. After consistently running strong for five seasons, Netflix’sCobra Kaiis finally coming to an end. While I am sad that the beloved show is reaching its conclusion, I am also glad that the show’s creators are giving it a natural closure instead of unnecessarily stretching its runtime. Fortunately, soon afterCobra Kai’s end, the newKarate Kidmovie will hit the big screens, potentially maintaining all the hype surrounding the franchise thatCobra Kaisuccessfully reinvigorated.
Although it is still a little confusing howRalph Macchio’s Daniel LaRussoand Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han will share the screen in the movie, I cannot help but be grateful for living in a time when the twoKarate Kiduniverses will collide. However, I am still cautiously optimistic about the newKarate Kidfilm because many of its hinted story details do not seem too promising. It may be too soon to draw judgments about the film, but I might lose interest in watching it if this is the direction it will take with its story.
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Cobra Kai Season 6 Not Setting Up Sony’s Karate Kid Movie Is Concerning
The Karate Kid Movie Cannot Simply Ignore Cobra Kai’s Story Developments
Cobra Kai’s showrunner Josh Heald clarifiedthat he and the other creators are not involved with the upcoming Sony Karate Kid movie. Owing to this, the movie has its own separate universe, and the show’s final season will not set it up, even though Daniel LaRusso is one of its main characters. Heald added that, even though Ralph Macchio’s character bridges the gap between the show and the movie, none of thecharacter beats fromCobra Kaiwill feed into the movie project. Here’s the showrunner’s full statement:
The guys and I are not personally involved in the movie. That’s a Sony feature, we kind of exist in this universe, so as we are wrapping our series, Ralph is actually going to go off to participate and film that movie. But our series doesn’t set up the movie, the movie kind of exists in its own piece of its own universe with Jackie Chan’s character, and Ralph’s character, and the various other characters in that story. So, I think Daniel is the piece that that does tie in, but there’s nothing, from a storytelling or a character journey in our season that directly feeds into that project.
Heald’s statement aboutCobra Kai having no narrative connections with the 2025 movie confirms my biggest concern. When the film was first announced, I was excited about its release because Ralph Macchio’s involvement promised it would continueCobra Kai’s storyline in some ways. However, strangely, with no other connective threads between the two, I am starting to find it less appealing because I, like most viewers,have grown to love the Daniel LaRusso I have been seeing for the past 6 years.
Everything from his changing dynamic with Johnny Lawrence to his relationship with his wife and two kids has become a part of his identity after hisCobra Kaiarc. Owing to this, it will not make sense if the 2025Karate Kidmovie suddenly portrays him as someone else without mentioning anything about his Cobra Kai arc. It would be even stranger if the movie ignores the fact that he has a family. I understand that a separate universe means theKarate Kidmovie will feature a different version of Daniel. However, how am I supposed to suddenly forget everything I’ve learned about him inCobra Kai?
Cobra Kai Reinvigorated The Franchise, So Why Is Karate Kid 2025 Ignoring It?
The 2025 Karate Kid Film Would Not Have Happened If It Wasn’t For Cobra Kai
After the first two originalKarate Kidmovies, the franchise kept declining until its run came to an end with the fourth film,The Next Karate Kid. Provisions were made to revive theKarate Kidfranchise with 2010’sThe Karate Kid, which starred Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith as its leads. However, despite performing fairly well at the global box office, the film struggled to be as influential as the original 1984Karate Kid. As Ralph Macchio once explained in an interview (viaCollider), he, too, was given several opportunities to reprise his role as Daniel in many reboots.
Unlike most failed reboots,Cobra Kainot only managed to honor the original’s legacy but also etch its own identity by featuring a new generation of karate rivalries and companionships.
He was open to playing the character again, but none of the pitched ideas seemed exciting enough to convince him to return to the franchise. Three decades after he hung his boots from the franchise,Cobra Kaicame along and gave him a solid reason to play Daniel again. Unlike most failed reboots,Cobra Kainot only managed to honor the original’s legacy but also etch its own identity by featuring a new generation of karate rivalries and companionships.
SinceCobra Kaisingle-handedly revived interest in the long-dead franchise and made it relevant again, it just seems unfair that the 2025Karate Kidmovie is ignoring it. Despite capitalizing on the newfound momentumCobra Kaihas given to the overarching franchise,the Karate Kid film is seemingly disregarding the very elements that contributed to its resurgence. This creative decision could spell trouble because viewers like me would feel alienated by the lack of narrative cohesion between the show and the film.
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Why There’s Still Hope For The 2025 Karate Kid Movie
The Movie’s Setting & Cast Are Its Saving Grace
Since theKarate Kidmovie will unfold on the East Coast,it can safely give Daniel a fresh start without mentioning anything about hisCobra KaiLA past. While it might still raise questions about his family’s whereabouts, the movie’s limited runtime can justify focusing on a new chapter in Daniel’s life. Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han’s team-up in the film could also be exciting enough to overshadow the film’s lack of continuity withCobra Kai. Owing to this, there is still hope for the 2025Karate Kidfilm, but I’m afraid it will struggle to keep viewers invested withoutCobra Kaiconnections.
Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
