Sony Announces New ‘Karate Kid’ Film With No Involvement From ‘Cobra Kai’ Cast And Crew
Jacob Smith
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Over the last few years, Cobra Kai has become one of the most popular and successful television shows in recent memory, so when Sony announced a new Karate Kid film, fans rejoiced at the idea of Daniel returning to the silver screen.
Well, not so fast my friend because that plan is not in Sony’s cards.
Cobra Kai. Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in episode 510 of Cobra Kai. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
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On Friday afternoon, Sony Pictures announced the “return of the original ‘Karate Kid’ franchise”, revealing that a new movie in the classic series was slated for June 7th, 2024.
As of writing, outside of this release date, no other details are known about the film.
Cobra Kai. (L to R) William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
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When the news broke, many assumed that the film would be related to the hit spin-off series, but Cobra Kai co-creator and executive producer Jon Hurwitz has sadly confirmed that whatever plans Sony has for the Karate Kid franchise, it won’t involve his show.
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver, Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi in episode 502 of Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
“The guys and I would love to make Karate Kid and Cobra Kai movies and hope to someday,” tweeted Hurwitz the day after the announcement. “But this one isn’t from us or focused on the Cobra Kai cast.”
“Don’t know much about it, but wish it well,” he added.
Source: Jon Hurwitz Twitter
This denial of any Cobra Kai involvement in the new film has many long-term fans of the franchise worried about what Sony has planned for the future.
After all, the last time the studio attempted to revisit the series, they took the story of Daniel LaRusso’s (Ralph Macchio) training under Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) and gave us the Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith-led 2010 Karate Kid remake – a domestic box-office bomb which only achieved financial success thanks to the Chinese market.
COBRA KAI (L to R) XOLO MARIDUEÑA as MIGUEL DIAZ in episode 309 of COBRA KAI Cr. CURTIS BONDS BAKER/NETFLIX © 2020
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It was only thanks to the quality of the YouTube-Red-original-turned-Netflix-series Cobrai Kai that the franchise began to recoup its former popularity.
The show, which is set in modern-day Los Angeles and takes place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, has received high praise for not only bringing back the original Karate Kid actors to reprise their roles from the film, but also treating the characters with respect.
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi, Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso in Cobra Kai. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
Unsurprisingly, the fandom did not react well to this news.
“So the new movie has nothing to do with the globally successful television series everyone knows?” asked baffled writer and podcaster Merrill Barr. “Especially domestically?”
Source: Merrill Barr Twitter
Internet film critic Andy Signore responded by asking Sony to not “ruin Karate Kid like you’re ruining Spider-Man with bad, unconnected side-movies.
“The team behind@CobraKaiSeriesmade the brand relevant again,” he continued, “get them and the cast involved please, or no thanks.”
Source: Andy Signore Twitter
“Began to suspect this situation given lack of any concrete info about the movie other than the title in the release calendar,” said Fandom editor Eric Goldman. “I don’t think it’ll contradict Cobra Kai in any way but gives the movie a big uphill battle and feels like a weird thing to even introduce during the show”.
Source: Eric Goldman Twitter
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