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Karate Kid Director Reveals Why Cobra Kai Characters Are Missing from Legends Movie

BBG News

In a confirmation that many fans had been speculating, director Jonathan Entwistle of “Karate Kid: Legends” revealed why certain characters from Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” series were absent. The new “Karate Kid” film offers a fresh perspective on the Miyagi-verse by featuring Ben Wang as the innovative protagonist, Li Fong. What sets him apart is that he was trained in both Kung-Fu and Karate by two renowned masters in the movie: Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han (from the 2010 “Karate Kid” remake) and Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso (from the original “Karate Kid” trilogy and the “Cobra Kai” series).

In the movie “Karate Kid: Legends,” it serves as a connection between the original films and “Cobra Kai,” given Daniel’s presence. Nevertheless, notable characters from the Netflix series, like Samantha LaRusso, Miguel Diaz, and Robby Keene, are missing and not mentioned in the film, which leaves some ardent fans feeling let down. However, there is a solid explanation behind this decision.

In an interview on Reddit, director Jonathan Entwistle of “Karate Kid: Legends” revealed that he faced a significant challenge due to the fact that “Cobra Kai” is under Netflix’s control. He mentioned that any potential film featuring those characters would depend on Netflix deciding to produce such a movie.

User: “In creating the series, were there any specific sources you could only reference, like Cobra Kai or The Next Karate Kid? If a follow-up is made, would you consider revisiting these references as well? I find it intriguing, given how fresh Cobra Kai is, to potentially incorporate some of its characters. Naturally, Hilary Swank’s return would always be appreciated!

Jonathan Entwistle stated, “The main constraint is that ‘Cobra Kai’ is a Netflix production. The decision to produce a film featuring these characters would lie with the studio. My creative explorations were focused on the characters from the films.

A different admirer echoes this opinion, stating that the film overlooked Cobra Kai. However, Entwistle clarified his statement by emphasizing that he was discussing “‘characters belonging to Netflix:’” instead.

Viewer: “I’m curious as to why the movie seems to bypass ‘Cobra Kai,’ since there isn’t a single mention, dialogue, or explanation about why or how Daniel left his family, wife, and business to appear in this film.

Answer: “You are talking about characters owned by Netflix.”

Daniel LaRusso stands out as unusual due to his significant role in the initial trilogy, with his presence playing a pivotal part in bringing Li Fong into the limelight as the latest Karate Kid.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I had the privilege of hearing directly from Jon Hurwitz and Josh Heald, the masterminds behind Cobra Kai, about their approach to linking our beloved Netflix series with Karate Kid: Legends. They ensured me that they carefully crafted the narrative connections to avoid any inconsistencies between the two projects, aiming for a seamless transition from one to another.

During the process of wrapping up the final season of ‘Cobra Kai’, we learned about another film in production. To prevent any inconsistencies, we wanted to ensure a seamless continuity for our fans. If they watch both, they’d exclaim, “Wow! Cobra Kai said this, and the movie said that.” Ralph Machio played a crucial role in making sure there were no such discrepancies. In other words, he made certain there was nothing contradictory between the two productions.

It appeared that the partnership between the two creative minds proved successful, with Ralph Macchio playing a significant role throughout the entire process.

Karate Kid: Legends” tells the story of Li Fong, who relocates to New York due to his mother’s professional advancement as a doctor. In this unfamiliar city, he forges a fresh friendship with Mia and her father, Victor. However, this bond is tested when Mia’s former partner, Conor, provokes a conflict by challenging Li to a fight at the Five Boroughs Tournament. To help Li prepare for this battle, Mr. Han (Li’s uncle) enlists Daniel LaRusso’s aid in blending Kung-Fu and Karate techniques for training.

In the movie “Karate Kid: Legends,” the main characters are played by Ben Wang portraying Li Fong, Jackie Chan taking on the role of Mr. Han, Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, Sadie Stanley acting as Mia, Joshua Jackson depicting Victor, and Aramis Knight appearing as Conor.

Will More Cobra Kai Characters Appear in Future Karate Kid Films?

Warning – the rest of this article contains spoilers for Karate Kid: Legends. 

Daniel LaRusso wasn’t the only character from Cobra Kai who made an appearance in the movie. The climax of Karate Kid: Legends featured a surprising cameo by Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who was seen socializing at Daniel’s home. This appearance solidified the ending of Cobra Kai, which depicted the two long-time adversaries remaining friends despite their rivalry, as Karate Kid: Legends is set three years after the events in the Netflix series.

In addition to Johnny being part of it, Li Fong wrote a message to Daniel indicating they might work together again should there ever be a follow-up to the movie “Legends“. This implies that a reunion between the two could occur in the future.

In Jonathan Entwistle’s perspective as director of Karate Kid: Legends, it’s challenging not to incorporate characters from the popular series Cobra Kai. However, there remains a possibility for characters such as Johnny, Tory, Sam, and Miguel to reappear due to the ongoing cooperative efforts between the creative teams behind the Netflix show and the films.

Legends, anything seems possible!

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2025-05-30 19:35

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