Wax on, wax off…your 80’s headband and check out the trailer for YouTube Red’s revisit to Cobra Kai, the famous rival karate school of Ralph Macchio in the Karate Kid movies. As the clip states, some rivalries never die.
Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) meet again in this 10-episode release of the series which takes its name from the karate dojo whose owner had it out for Mr. Miyagi (the late Pat Morita). Cobra Kai takes place 30 years after the famous 1984 tournament with Johnny looking to reclaim some glimmer of his former self.
Johnny decides to reopen the dojo much to the dismay of Daniel who has moved on to create a career and family. He realizes Johnny will instruct students using the same “mercy is for the weak” mentality of the former instructor. Without his mentor Mr. Miyagi, Daniel must face this new challenge on his own.
The series is being executive produced by Will Smith and his bro-in-law Caleeb Pinkett. Smith’s son Jaden starred in a reboot of the Karate Kid movie in 2010. Supporting next-gen cast members include Xolo Mariduena (Parenthood), Mary Mouser (Freakish), and Tanner Buchanan (Designated Survivor).
YouTube Red has not announced a release date for Cobra Kai but it will be sometime in 2018.