In the build-up to the release of the movie Karate Kid: Legends, the creators of Cobra Kai assured fans that the two projects not only exist in the same universe but also contain no contradictions as far as the overarching canon is concerned. The Netflix series recently concluded its fruitful six-season run, effectively wrapping up the arcs of Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence in its conclusive episodes.
Now, with Macchio’s character set to appear in the upcoming Legends film, fans of the Karate Kid franchise have raised concerns as to how the movie will integrate Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 Karate Kid movie into the mix without disrupting the existing narrative. According to Cobra Kai showrunners Jon Hurwitz and Josh Heald, fans don’t need to worry about continuity.
Jon Hurwitz and Josh Heald on how Karate Kid: Legends impacted Cobra Kai
In a recent discussion, Cobra Kai showrunners Jon Hurwitz and Josh Heald noted that they paid special attention to avoid any potential continuity clashes with Karate Kid: Legends while crafting Season 6.
While speaking with The Direct‘s Russ Millheim at the 52nd Saturn Awards in Los Angeles, the duo recalled how they were “knee-deep in making” Cobra Kai Season 6 when they learned of the Legends movie. “And you know, we just wanted to make sure that there were no contradictions so that if fans watch it, they’re like, whoa. ‘Cobra Kai’ said this, and this movie said that. And Ralph Machio made sure of that. You know, there was nothing like that,” Hurwitz and Heald added.
The pair also mentioned that while Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso does act as a common link between Cobra Kai and the upcoming Karate Kid movie, Legends is more of an extension of Harald Zwart’s 2010 film, which featured Chan and Jaden Smith in the leading roles. “It’s technically a ‘Karate Kid’ movie. You know, that’s our show’s ‘Cobra Kai,’ and the commonality is they both have Daniel LaRusso. That movie is kind of branching off the tree from the Jackie Chan movie of 2010, and you’ll have to see how they tie those things together,” the two explained.
Karate Kid: Legends is currently on track to hit big screens on May 30, 2025.
