One Karate Kid and Cobra Kai Villain will not return for Legends

“Karate Kid: Legends” will connect all the movies and TV shows in the “Karate Kid” franchise, with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) teaming up to bridge the gap between the original “Karate Kid” films. “Kid.” and the reboot of the 2010 film. The upcoming film takes place after the events of “Cobra Kai” and will focus on the aforementioned senseis as they impart their wisdom to a new student, and may find solace in knowing that they won’t have to deal with a villain he has made. LaRusso’s life has been hell since the 1980s.

while speaking in “Kyle Meredith with…” Martin Kove spoke about the possibility of him reprising his role as John Kreese in the upcoming film “Karate Kid.” The original “Karate Kid” trilogy and “Cobra Kai” veteran revealed that he wasn’t invited to be a part of the festivities, but he doesn’t appear to harbor any ill will toward the film’s creators and stars. In his own words:

“It’s been kept pretty well under wraps. I haven’t talked to Ralph about it; I will (…) Ralph was away for about 10 days, he did it and that was it. None of us (the ‘Cobra Kai’ cast) members) were invited to come play. When they don’t invite me, it’s okay, because I know why: they’re causing trouble.

Of course, since “Karate Kid: Legends” takes place after the events of “Cobra Kai,” it’s possible that Kreese will be dead or in jail when the movie begins, so there’s that to consider. Additionally, the film seems more concerned with moving the “Karate Kid” franchise into the future, with new characters taking center stage.

“Karate Kid: Legends” will see Mr. Han join forces with Daniel LaRusso to help kung-fu and karate prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) adjust to life in America. The teenager moves from Beijing to New York after experiencing a tragedy at home, and let’s just say he doesn’t get along with all of his new classmates. Cue the teen getting into fights with some of the Big Apple’s toughest bullies.

The plot synopsis echoes the original “Karate Kid” film, which focuses on LaRusso dealing with bullies after moving to California from New Jersey. Both films are stories about outsiders who find the odds stacked against them as they try to navigate new environments. With that in mind, it’s understandable why Daniel is willing to hire another student, despite having vowed to retire from karate after the Sekai Taikai tournament in “Cobra Kai” season 6.

While “Karate Kid: Legends” primarily looks toward the future, that doesn’t mean the franchise won’t revisit the past in the future. “Cobra Kai” has perfectly created a prequel series for Mr. Miyagi about his younger years, and the show’s creators have been open about their desire to make spin-offs set in this universe. Who knows, maybe they’ll even find room for John Kreese in one of them?

“Cobra Kai” season 6, part 3 premieres on February 13, 2025 on Netflix. “Karate Kid: Legends” hits theaters on May 30, 2025.