Get ready to see some leg sweeping because more KARATE KID is on the way – and not with Jaden Smith.
You read that right, in what might be the most unexpected news ever it was announced today that a sequel series to the 1984 classic, THE KARATE KID, will be coming to YouTube Red in 2018. The series will star original cast members Ralph Macchio and William Zabka and will pick up where the film left off over 30 years ago.
Thirty years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (Zabka) seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi. The show is about two men addressing past demons and present frustrations the only way they know how: through karate.
The show, called COBRA KAI, is written and executive produced by Josh Heald (HOT TUB TIME MACHINE), and Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (HAROLD & KUMAR) and will be directed by the latter two. The three released a statement saying:
Like everyone who grew up in the 1980s, the three of us are enormous fans of THE KARATE KID. Cobra Kai will be a true continuation of the original films – packed with comedy, heart, and thrilling fight scenes. We can’t wait to reignite the LaRusso-Lawrence rivalry, and we’re thankful to our partners at YouTube Red, Sony Pictures Television, and Overbrook for their shared enthusiasm in making our dream project a reality.
The weirdest part of this is probably the YouTube Red angle, seeing as how the streaming service has only created original content that goes unseen by anyone over 20. But this seems purely for the older end of the generation, for those who remember seeing KID when it was a smash hit in the 80's, and for people like me who watched it fondly in the 90's. I don't know if I need to see this new series, but with a doubt, I am curious to see how it plays with people.