The One Thing The Karate Kid Franchise ‘Needs’ Following Legends, According To Ralph Macchio

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Fans of The Karate Kid have had a lot to enjoy over the past seven years, with the success of Cobra Kai and the recent film, Karate Kid: Legends. Although the end of Legends hinted at a potential connection between the two stories, Ralph Macchio believes the franchise should explore a different path to stay relevant and continue growing.

Although Karate Kid: Legends received negative reviews from some critics, it proved popular with many viewers, including us at TopMob. Despite a strong 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Ralph Macchio recently hinted at a fresh start for the franchise, suggesting a complete reboot to keep it going strong.

We’ve been talking about how to move forward. With both the TV series and the Jackie Chan movie happening around the same time, things got complicated. I believe we need to start fresh and figure out the best way to relaunch the franchise. The fanbase has remained loyal since 1984, and it’s important to honor the characters and stay true to what makes them special, especially when planning for the long term.

I’m a little puzzled by Macchio’s perspective, given how The Karate Kid movies and shows have evolved. Almost every installment since the second film has built on the original story while also introducing new characters and narratives. Even the recent Legends series came about after efforts to restart the franchise with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith in 2010 didn’t quite take off.

Audiences clearly loved the familiar feeling of The Karate Kid, and both Legends and Cobra Kai brought in new, young actors who could continue the story after the original characters like Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence. When asked if there were any future plans for Cobra Kai, Ralph Macchio shared this information:

Everyone involved with the show, including the writers and actors, is willing to talk and share updates. However, there won’t be any major announcements tomorrow. We don’t have any specific news to share right now, but we’re working on some other things. And rest assured, the spirit of Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid will always live on.

If you’re hoping to continue the story after Cobra Kai, you’ll have to rewatch it on Netflix for now. There are currently no plans for a continuation of the series, especially one featuring Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso. However, a spin-off series based on Cobra Kai or Karate Kid: Legends seems like the most likely way to see these characters return to the screen.

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Putting these plans into action is challenging, as these young actors are all building their careers in Hollywood. Xolo Maridueña has just been cast in One Piece, and Ben Wang, known for Legends, is quickly gaining more roles, recently appearing in The Long Walk and landing a part in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Perhaps starting fresh is what’s needed?

A different approach could be to bring Hilary Swank back into the franchise. She starred in The Next Karate Kid but hasn’t appeared in Cobra Kai or Karate Kid: Legends. While it wouldn’t be a complete reboot like Ralph Macchio has hinted at, it could offer a new storyline, if she’s interested in participating.

Both Karate Kid: Legends and Cobra Kai are now streaming on Netflix. I enjoyed the Cobra Kai TV series a bit more, but I thought the movie was a strong beginning, and I believe a sequel would be popular with viewers.

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2025-12-22 05:08