What is the one thing that connects Cobra Kai and Karate Kid: Legends that only true fans noticed

Cobra Kai is coming to an end on Netflix after six exciting seasons. However, The Karate Kid franchise is far from over as the next film installment, Karate Kid: Legends, will be hitting the screens soon.

Though the movie is not a direct sequel to the show, both are set in the same universe. Karate Kid: Legends is a sequel to 2010’s The Karate Kid reboot, which was not set in continuity with the original films.

One evident connection between the two is Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio, whose journey continues from the series into the film. However, there is another link between the two projects that only ardent fans of the franchise have noticed.

Both the show and the film ensure that overlooked parts of the Karate Kid series finally get the attention they deserve. Just like Cobra Kai brought new life to The Karate Kid Parts II and III, Legends is doing the same service for the 2010 reboot starring Jackie Chan.

Cobra Kai and Karate Kid: Legends’ connection in bringing attention to the overlooked parts of the franchise

When Cobra Kai came out in 2018, it changed how people perceived its predecessor film series. Before the show, most fans loved the original 1984 movie but did not feel the same about the second and the third parts, which were released in 1986 and 1989, respectively.

The Netflix series brought back old characters and storylines from these movies and made them important. By focusing on the rivalry between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, Cobra Kai brought the movies into the spotlight again.

Karate Kid: Legends is doing something similar for The Karate Kid (2010). Even though the movie had a stellar cast and became popular, it was always considered separate from the rest of the franchise.

The film was focused on Kung Fu instead of Karate and revolved around Mr Han, played by Jackie Chan, who mentored a young boy named Dre. Legends finally bring Mr Han into the overall continuity by teaming him up with Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso.

This officially makes the 2010 movie part of the Karate Kid universe. Hence, both Cobra Kai and Karate Kid: Legends bring the Karate Kid world together. The two honor characters and stories that were once forgotten and make sure that every part of the franchise becomes important.

The Karate Kid: Legends director worked with Cobra Kai creators to form a link between projects

Apart from tying the franchise together, Karate Kid: Legends and Cobra Kai are going to have another link as Daniel LaRusso appears in both. The film is set three years after the events of the television series.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the movie’s director, Jonathan Entwistle, revealed he had discussions with the Netflix show's production team about the interesting plot points that can be included in the movie to tie it to the show. He said:

“I have been a huge fan of Cobra Kai right from the beginning, and that's one of the reasons that I thought this was such an exciting project. I was excited about the idea that the films and the series can all be part of one family.”

Entwistle added:

“I've had some really detailed conversations with the [show's] team about just cool stuff that we can do in the movie and can make this whole thing feel holistic. And obviously, Ralph is really, really close to it after all those years on [the series], and they've been involved in little steps along the way.”

Apart from Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, Karate Kid: Legends stars Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Aramis Knight, Wyatt Oleff, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Jennifer-Lyn Christie, and Danny McBride.

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Cobra Kai season 6 part 3 will premiere on Netflix on February 13, 2025. Karate Kid: Legends will arrive in theaters three months later on May 30, 2025.

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