Spoilers for Karate Child: Legends lie forward, so learn on at your individual discretion.
Karate Child: Legends hit theaters amid the 2025 film schedule weeks in the past, and its launch marks the tip of a journey that started a number of years in the past. Like different followers of the franchise, I used to be conscious of that the movie was introduced in 2022 and naturally, later realized that it might embody each Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han. What I wasn’t conscious of, nonetheless, was simply how a lot back-and-forth there was concerning the movie’s launch date in relation to Cobra Kai. Macchio himself just lately recalled that little bit of drama.
It was revealed comparatively early on that Legends would happen someday after the occasions of Cobra Kai, which was likewise delayed by the 2023 Hollywood strikes. (Extra just lately, it’s been specified that the movie picks up three years after the present.) Ralph Macchio served as an government producer on the film, and he defined to THR that he needed the flick to hit theaters after the aforementioned TV present completed its run. On condition that the movie was initially slated to hit theaters in 2024, Macchio spoke up and let the execs know his emotions:
When [Karate Kid: Legends] was initially slated for a December 13, 2024 launch, I used to be screaming always day-after-day: ‘This film has to return out after [Cobra Kai] finishes.’ And as soon as advertising and marketing acquired collectively and realized that [the December ‘24 release] wouldn’t profit both, they did the suitable factor [by delaying until May 2025]. Karate Child: Legends is now coming at a time the place I prefer to consider that Cobra Kai followers are thirsty for an additional chapter.
Legends really held onto a June 2024 launch date earlier than shifting to December of that 12 months. The franchise’s spinoff TV collection (which is streamable with a Netflix subscription) finally resulted in February 2025. Ralph Macchio’s reasoning for wanting the movie to launch afterwards is that he didn’t need followers to be confused concerning the Karate Child timeline. The state of affairs, as Macchio describes it, sounds considerably tense and, whereas this can be a main IP we’re speaking about, I by no means would’ve guessed the star and EP would’ve needed to hold reiterating his emotions as he did.
In the end, I’d say that the actor was positively appropriate in advocating for a 2025 spot that got here after the ultimate episodes of Cobra Kai. It simply is sensible logistically, as followers don’t should do any form of homework to find out the place the film falls throughout the KK universe. Additionally, because the Outsiders star talked about, it made sense from a personality standpoint, contemplating the place viewers discover Daniel and even Johnny Lawrence (who seems within the post-credits scene):
On the finish of Cobra Kai, he lands in a really optimistic means. He and Johnny Lawrence are one of the best variations of themselves going ahead. In Karate Child: Legends, we discover him being way more Miyagi in his sensibilities and his grounded knowledge. In Cobra Kai, it was designed that the extra knee-jerk and up-in-Johnny’s-face he was, the higher it was to service Johnny Lawrence’s redemption. So I’d be like, “Okay, however when will we land in Miyagi-land?” That’s the place I assumed LaRusso would find yourself with all his knowledge from his mentor, a really grounded mom, an excellent life, an excellent enterprise and an excellent spouse. After which we landed Daniel at that place.
There are nonetheless finer particulars that I might’ve preferred addressed in Karate Child: Legends, although. I might’ve preferred a professional point out of Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker from the (still-loved) 2010 movie. Additionally, I might’ve beloved some deep-cut particulars concerning about Mr. Han, particularly how he went from handyman to revered sensei. After all, these nitpicks are fairly minor in comparison with the extra essential matter of making certain that the discharge technique aligned accurately with the timeline.
If something, Ralph Macchio’s insistence is a real testomony to his dedication to this franchise. He’s been one of many driving forces behind it for years now, and he actually deserves his flowers. It’s but to be confirmed if followers will see Macchio reprise his position as Daniel LaRusso in one other movie or TV present however, regardless of the case, I hope he stays concerned behind the scenes. For now, test him out in Karate Child: Legends, which is taking part in in theaters.