TheKarate Kid star Ralph Macchio rallies new and long-time fans of the franchise with a timely surprise. The actor commemorated the film’s 40th anniversary with promising production updates on Cobra Kai and the upcoming reboot movie.
Ralph Macchio confirmed that filming has wrapped for the new Karate Kid movie and the final season of Cobra Kai. He revealed the update in an X post as a gift to fans: “Just wrapped Cobra Kai and the new Karate Kid. Epic stuff on the way!” he wrote, teasing how 2024 would be “one of the most exciting years in the franchise.” The actor has been drumming up anticipation for Season 6 of Cobra Kai since February by sharing behind-the-scenes photos and development updates. In May, he also confirmed the final “super-sized” season’s three-part event and 15 episodes.
On this day, June 22, 1984, the world met Daniel LaRusso. Happy 40th Anniversary to The Karate Kid. Looking ahead to one of the most exciting years yet!
Just wrapped
@CobraKaiSeries and the new @KarateKidMovie
Epic stuff on the way! #KarateKid#CobraKaiSeries
📸 by… pic.twitter.com/n4hft06AvX— Ralph Macchio (@ralphmacchio) June 22, 2024
The new Karate Kid movie started filming in April and was initially slated to debut in December, but fans were deflated when Sony Pictures pushed back the release date to May 2025; the update also sparked rumors the film would be directly linked to Cobra Kai (despite series co-creator Jon Hurwitz asserting otherwise). Still, the hype for a budding Miyagiverse has only increased with Macchio and Jackie Chan cast in the new movie. Jackie Chan played the mentor Mr. Han in the 2010 remake, which mirrored the beats of the original but has so far remained a standalone installment in the franchise.
The Karate Kid Reboot Expands The Miyagiverse
Details on the new Karate Kid film are sparse apart from its East Coast setting and its basic premise: the story revolves around a teen from China who’s inspired and guided by a martial arts mentor. The extent of Macchio’s role in the film has yet to be revealed, but Chan’s involvement fueled speculation that the new Karate Kid will finally induct the 2010 movie into canon. Both actors are reprising their roles in the reboot film, confirming its ties to the 2010 remake and the 1984 original. The new Karate Kid movie also stars Joshua Jackson, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Sadie Stanley, Aramis Knight, Ming-Na Wen, and Wyatt Oleff. The film is the sixth installment in the Karate Kid franchise.
Hurwitz previously teased how the final season of Cobra Kai will expand the Karate Kid universe. He confirmed Season 6 would have more world-building than the previous seasons combined; he also hinted that the show would carry on Mr. Miyagi’s legacy with “so many new places” to explore.
Cobra Kai Season 6 premieres on Netflix on July 18, while the new Karate Kid movie releases in theaters on May 30, 2025.
