Cobra Kai stars revisit epic Karate Kid scene - ‘It’s a piece of pop culture’

Virgin Radio

10 Jul 2024, 09:52

Ahead of Cobra Kai returning for its final season, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka have gone back to where it all started.

The two actors’ characters, Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (Zabka), originated in the first Karate Kid film, all the way back in 1984, with Lawrence very much playing the antagonist.

The classic movie culminates in the two battling it out in the final of the Under 18 All-Valley Karate Championship, and the two actors recently sat down to watch it back. 

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With their characters now united in training their students to take on John Kreese’s (Martin Kove) followers, Ralph and William turned back the clock for a clip that was shared on Cobra Kai’s official X page.

“That’s my mum in the background,” William says, as they watch themselves as kids in the 80s film. 

“We look exactly the same,” Ralph said, with William adding: “I wasn’t sure if it was footage we just shot!”

The film culminates with (spoiler alert - if you can have a spoiler for a film that came out 40 years ago), Daniel winning after executing a front kick which connects perfectly with Johnny’s noggin. “That’s a pretty good kick to the face right now,” Ralph said, before asking: “Now, that kick to the face, why was that not a problem?”

Agreeing, William said: “You can’t just throw your leg out. What do you think is going to happen?”

Ralph told him: “You run straight into it! That’s perfect.”

Popular sequel series Cobra Kai, created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, landed on Netflix in 2018, and concludes with a three-part, 15-episode sixth season, which kicks off this month.

Referring to the original film - and that epic final scene - Ralph said: “It’s a piece of pop culture we got to be a part of creating, where it all began. We’ve never let go. And John, Josh and Hayden as well, they never let go of the source material and the people that created that.

“So it’s a big homage every day for me, honouring Pat Morita [Mr. Miyagi], John Avildsen [director], all those folks that got us here.

He added: “And William Zabka!” 

His pal agreed, saying: “All of the above.”

Watch it here: 

Part one of the final season of Cobra Kai will be available to watch on Netflix from 18th July. Part two - featuring five more episodes - will follow on 28th November.

Part three - with the last ever batch of five instalments - will be released in 2025, although an exact date has yet to be announced.  

The series also stars Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Griffin Santopietro and Oona O’Brien.

Season six, part one of Cobra Kai will premiere on Netflix on 18th July.