A Cobra Kai is currently in development, but a Mr. Miyagi prequel building up from the original films and from Cobra Kai would be much better than another reboot. More than 12 years after The Karate Kid (2010) reimagined the events of the original film but with new characters, Karate Kid is set to return to the big screen on June 7, 2024, with an all-new story. Given how the new Karate Kid movie won’t have any connections with either the 2010 remake or Cobra Kai, it’s difficult to say what story this potential reboot will follow.
Even before the new Karate Kid movie was announced, Ralph Macchio, who played Screen Rant. Compared to an all-new Karate Kid movie, a Mr. Miyagi prequel sounds much more interesting whether as a TV series or a feature-length film. Cobra Kai has proven how rich the Karate Kid universe is, and while reinterpretations and new stories are always welcomed, completely ignoring what the “Miyagi-verse” has built in favor of a movie reboot does not seem like the best strategy considering how successful Cobra Kai is.
Sony’s New Karate Kid Movie Just Doesn’t Make Sense
While it makes sense for the studio to focus on the Karate Kid IP following the success of Cobra Kai, ignoring the hit legacy series completely misses the point of this “Karate Kid renaissance”. What makes Cobra Kai so successful is how it combines the feeling of nostalgia with something new in a show where both the returning Karate Kid names and the original characters get their time in the spotlight. Cobra Kai was the legacy sequel that major blockbusters like Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Force Awakens struggled to be, and it works both for long-time Karate Kid fans and those who were just looking for a new adventure show.
A new Karate Kid movie with an all-new story would not have either of those advantages. The classic tale about an unlikely hero finding strength thanks to a reluctant master has been told several times before and after The Karate Kid, and it is not the reason why the franchise remains so successful after all that time. Characters like Daniel LaRusso, Mr. Miayagi, and Johnny Lawrence are what set The Karate Kid apart from other similar movies, and the returns of Ralph Macchio and William Zabka in Cobra Kai made the show a must-see. After five successful seasons, ignoring Cobra Kai in Karate Kid's return to the big screen makes no sense.
A Mr. Miyagi Prequel Is What Karate Kid Really Needs
Though an argument could be made that Cobra Kai’s universe is large enough not to ask for a spinoff, something like a Mr. Miyagi prequel could expand the saga in an organic way. The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II both revealed a lot about Miyagi’s past, but there is still a large part of Daniel’s master’s past that could be unveiled in a movie. A Mr. Miyagi prequel would be able to deliver on the nostalgia that Cobra Kai has evoked while also being a more serious, cinematic story. Mr. Miyagi recalling his past was always a highlight of the Karate Kid films, something that could be carried onto a prequel.
A Mr. Miyagi Prequel Would Be Even Better After Cobra Kai
Capitalizing on Cobra Kai’s success is challenging given how comprehensive the show has been regarding its main characters. After season 5, Cobra Kai has revisited all three Daniel LaRusso Karate Kid movies and hasn’t left a lot of room for potential spinoffs. When it comes to Cobra Kai’s original characters such as Miguel and Sam, the show is now closer to wrapping up their stories than to setting up potential spinoffs starring the new “karate kids”. The most logical way to keep the Karate Kid universe alive is by continuing Cobra Kai, yet it would not be surprising if Cobra Kai season 6 turns out to be the last one.
A Mr. Miyagi prequel, on the other hand, would work both as an extension of the Karate Kid movies and something that speaks to Cobra Kai. Although Cobra Kai has not featured any original Mr. Miyagi flashbacks apart from one brief scene in which the sensei enters his new dojo, Pat Morita’s character is often referenced and Miyagi’s presence is always felt. Cobra Kai has also offered more backstory to several Karate Kid characters such as Johnny, Chozen, Kreese, and Terry Silver. Cobra Kai’s approach to those characters’ origin stories could therefore serve as an inspiration for a Mr. Miyagi prequel. Essentially, a Mr. Miyagi prequel would be even better now that Cobra Kai exists.