Karate Kid: Legends director Jonathan Entwistle explains how the upcoming movie connects with Cobra Kai, revealing how the movie and TV show interact. The story of Karate Kid: Legends will see Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) team up with fellow martial arts instructor Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) to train Li Fong (Ben Wang), a new karate prodigy. This will be the second time Macchio has returned as his character in the 2020s, also having a starring position in Netflix’s Cobra Kai. The TV show ends in February 2025, while the new movie arrives in May.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Entwistle revealed that, while making Karate Kid: Legends, he was in talks with the crew behind Cobra Kai, hoping to build connections between the TV show and the movie. While he didn’t say much about how strong a link they’ll have, the director confirmed much of what he talked about doing with Macchio to connect both stories ended up making it to the movie. Check out what Entwistle had to say below:
I have been a huge fan of Cobra Kai right from the beginning, and that’s one of the reasons that I thought this was such an exciting project. I was excited about the idea that the films and the series can all be part of one family. I’ve had some really detailed conversations with the Cobra Kai team about just cool stuff that we can do in the movie and can make this whole thing feel holistic. And obviously, Ralph is really, really close to it after all those years on Cobra Kai, and they’ve been involved in little steps along the way. Everything we talked about made it into the movie in some way or other, either through Ralph or through the conversations. We’re really excited that we’ve added another piece to the overall universe.
What Entwistle’s Confirmation Means For Cobra Kai In Karate Kid: Legends
There have already been some hints that Cobra Kai season 6 will lead into the new movie, such as Mr. Han seemingly visiting Daniel at his Miyagi-Do Dojo from the series. However, Entwistle’s statement offers concrete confirmation the TV show will be referenced during the events of the film. Although it’s still unclear to what extent the series will play a role, Daniel’s appearance in both means some of his teaching methods he’s applied to other students might transfer over to when he trains Li.
Another possible outcome is that the cast of Karate Kid: Legends features some notable guests from the show. This could include legacy characters from the franchise’s history, like Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), or new faces introduced in the series, like Tory Nichols (Peyton List). It’s also possible they’re mentioned or referenced in important ways, establishing a strong bond between both stories, having them intersect in ways that push the story of the film forward. Cobra Kai’s ending may even lead into the movie, forming an even stronger bond as one flows into the other.
Our Take On Karate Kid: Legends & Cobra Kai’s Confirmed Connections
Given how the Karate Kid: Legends trailer had a heavy focus on the franchise’s legacy, it only makes sense for Cobra Kai to play a role in the movie to some extent. While the film probably won’t hinge on the TV show as necessary context, acknowledging its events can help highlight its thematic elements of honoring the past. With the Netflix series ending just months before the movie comes out, it will prove interesting to see how much the final episodes actually get addressed on the big screen.
