Ralph Macchio Hints at Cobra Kai Spinoffs But Warns Fans to Wait
The Karate Kid star opens up about potential future projects in the beloved franchise while explaining why nothing is happening immediately after the recent movie's release.
Ralph Macchio keeps the door open for more Karate Kid content but wants fans to pump the brakes on expectations. Speaking at the 24 Hour Plays Annual Gala, the actor made his position clear about what comes next.
Me and the guys who write that show and other actors involved, we're all open to communicating. But something isn't coming tomorrow. I don't have that secret yet. Maybe we do a few other things. And Cobra Kai never dies. Karate Kid lives forever.
The buzz around spinoffs died down after Karate Kid: Legends hit theaters. Now we're hearing crickets. What's causing the holdup?
Why The Franchise Needs Time to Regroup
Macchio shows rare self-awareness about oversaturating the market. He admits the timing between the Netflix series finale and the Jackie Chan collaboration created problems.
Between the series and the movie with Jackie Chan, all that colliding at the same time, I just think there needs to be a reset. And then finding the perfect way to launch, because the fan base — it's never gone away. It hasn't gone away since 1984. But you want to service and be organic, and be true to the integrity of the characters. So that's always a challenge once you are on the long game.
The actor acknowledges discussions about future projects continue behind the scenes. But rushing into production isn't the answer.
What Spinoff Ideas Are Actually Being Discussed
Series creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg have one concept gaining traction. A Hawk and Demetri college show set at Caltech. The Binary Bros became fan favorites during their six-season character development.
Macchio personally backs a different direction. He wants to explore Mr. Miyagi's backstory. For longtime fans, that origin story could deliver maximum nostalgia value.
The original series ran 65 episodes across six seasons on Netflix. It earned an 8.4/10 rating on IMDb and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Those numbers prove the audience appetite remains strong.
But which direction will actually get greenlit? The creators seem split between honoring the past and following younger characters into new territory.