YouTube does not exist in dojo, does it? NO SENSEI!
And now, 36 years to the day after The Karate Kid crane-kicked its way into theaters, Netflix announces that the ongoing saga of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence will continue on its streaming platform.
The series, which premiered on YouTube and continued there for its second season, was happily received by audiences. Starring Ralph Macchio (Daniel), William Zabka (Johnny), and Martin Kove (Kreese), Cobra Kai takes place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. Daniel has a family and owns an auto dealership but struggles to find balance without the guidance of father-figure Mr. Miyagi (portrayed by Pat Morita in the films, who passed in 2005). Meanwhile, Johnny suffers from the affliction of having peaked in high school, and his life has been downhill ever since. It’s in this downward spiral that he begins to find purpose in bringing back infamous Cobra Kai, but the results aren’t quite what he expected.
“The appeal of The Karate Kid saga is timeless, and Cobra Kai picks up right where it left off without missing a beat,” says Brian Wright, VP for Original Series at Netflix. “The rivalry between Daniel and Johnny is one for the ages, and the show has a ton of heart and is a lot of fun. We can’t wait to introduce a new generation of fans to Cobra Kai and are thrilled to be its new home around the world,.”
Cobra Kai was named 2018’s Best Drama by Rotten Tomatoes and earned a 100% Fresh rating for its first season. It has received two Emmy nominations.
A premiere date has not been announced for season 3.
