Not only did they bring the stories of underdog Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and misunderstood bully Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) to legions of OG fans, they also inspired a whole new generation.
Cobra Kai is set more than thirty years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, with the inevitable conflict between Daniel and Johnny continuing - but now their families are involved as well. Have these two men matured enough in the present to make amends? Or even, do the fans dare to dream, to become friends?
The series welcomed a ton of new characters played by Xolo Maridueña, Courtney Henggeler, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Alicia Hannah-Kim, and Gianni DeCenzo. Familiar faces from the film franchise have also returned, including Yuji Okumoto, Martin Kove, Thomas Ian Griffith, Elisabeth Shue, Sean Kanan, Robyn Lively and Tamlyn Tomita.
One of the only missing faces is Hilary Swank, who played Julie Pierce in 1994's The Next Karate Kid. Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg have been silent about the possibility in several conversations, as has Swank. It will be the final battle - at least for now - and anything goes.
Cobra Kai is written and produced by Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg through their production company Counterbalance Entertainment. Will Smith, James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett produce for Westbrook Entertainment along with Susan Ekins in association with Sony Pictures Television. Macchio and Zabka also serve as executive producers.
