Karate Kid: Legends is now in theaters, bringing together Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan for the first time in the franchise. The movie is not a direct sequel to Cobra Kai, but it exists in the same universe and follows its timeline.
The film is set three years after the events of Cobra Kai Season 6, which ended in February 2025. Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) is now more like his mentor, Mr. Miyagi, while training a new student, Li Fong (Ben Wang). Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han, from the 2010 Karate Kid remake, also returns as a mentor.
Originally, the movie was set to release before Cobra Kai ended, but Macchio pushed for a delay. He wanted fans to enjoy the show’s finale first before diving into this new chapter.
“When [Karate Kid: Legends] was initially slated for a December 13, 2024 release, I was screaming constantly every day: ‘This movie has to come out after [Cobra Kai] finishes.’”
The story connects the 1984 Karate Kid and the 2010 remake by revealing a shared history between Mr. Miyagi and Mr. Han. A flashback from The Karate Kid Part II is expanded to show how Miyagi-Do karate has roots in Chinese kung fu.
Unlike Cobra Kai, which focused on legacy characters like Johnny Lawrence and John Kreese, Karate Kid: Legends introduces a fresh cast. The only returning characters are Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han, with a brief cameo from William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence.
The movie moves the setting from California to New York, following Li Fong as he trains for a major karate tournament. Unlike past Karate Kid heroes, Li already knows martial arts but needs to refine his skills under Daniel and Mr. Han’s guidance.
Director Jonathan Entwistle aimed for a more cinematic and family-friendly tone compared to Cobra Kai, which often had darker moments. The film also avoids the show’s self-referential humor, taking a more serious approach to the story.
Several Cobra Kai spinoffs are in development, but Macchio says their future depends on how well Karate Kid: Legends performs. The movie could open doors for more stories in the growing “Miyagiverse.”
“There are a few balls up in the air. I don’t know which one is going to land. I hope all of them do, or some of them do, or one of them does. The success of Karate Kid: Legends could propel all that stuff.”
Fans of Cobra Kai will recognize Daniel’s growth, but this film stands on its own as a new beginning. With a mix of karate and kung fu, it honors the past while setting up future possibilities.
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Credits: Sources include Screen Rant, Sony Pictures, and People.
