The beloved ‘Karate Kid’ universe is expanding with ‘Karate Kid: Legends’, released recently on 30 May, 2025. The highly anticipated movie brought together two iconic figures for the first time: Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso, from the original 1984 classic and the recent hit series ‘Cobra Kai’, and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han, the kung fu master from the 2010 reboot.A shared universe, not a direct sequel|While fans might expect a continuation of Netflix’s ‘Cobra Kai’, which concluded its six-season run in February 2025, director Jonathan Entwistle has clarified that ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ is not a direct sequel. Instead, it exists within the same expansive universe, offering a new chapter rather than a direct follow-up. Macchio expressed his enthusiasm for connecting Daniel and Mr. Han, both of whom trained under the mentorship philosophies of Mr. Miyagi, calling it “another ecosystem in the grand universe” of ‘The Karate Kid’.New hero, surprise returnSet three years after the events of ‘Cobra Kai’, the film introduces a fresh protagonist: Li Fong, played by American Born Chinese star Ben Wang. Li is depicted as a martial arts student from Beijing who moves to New York City, where he will learn both kung fu from Mr. Han and karate from Daniel LaRusso.Fans can also hold on tight as a significant return awaits. William Zabka reprises his role as Johnny Lawrence in a cameo appearance near the end of the film. Director Entwistle revealed that keeping Zabka’s involvement a secret was “very hard,” adding to the excitement. Macchio himself lauded Zabka’s contribution, stating, “He graces ‘Cobra Kai’ with a brilliant performance, and he graces us here with a tip of the hat to the legendary Johnny Lawrence.“
