The 2025 film Karate Kid: Legends is the continuation of the Karate Kid Universe. However, the iconic villain of Cobra Kai will be absent from the Karate Kid: Legends. The story focuses on Kung Fu Prodigy Li Fong, who is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City. Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han come together to train Li when he decides to enter into a competition to help a friend.
This is because the film builds after the events of Cobra Kai. Read further to know more about which Cobra Kai villain will not appear in the upcoming martial arts drama.
Which Cobra Kai villain will not appear in Karate Kid: Legends?
John Kreese, played by Martin Kove, is the most iconic villain in The Karate Kid and its spin-off Cobra Kai. He is the leader of the Cobra Kai dojo and is known for his ruthless and no-mercy philosophy.
On discussing the possibility of Martin's reprising his character as John Kreese, the Cobra Kai veteran confirmed in an interview with Kyle Meredith that he was not invited to be part of the festivities.
"It's kept under wraps pretty well. I haven't talked to Ralph about it; I will [...] Ralph went off for about 10 days, did it, and that was it. None of us ['Cobra Kai' cast members] were invited to come and play. When they don't invite me, it's okay, because I know why: They're inviting trouble."
Kreese's storyline concluded with the spin-off Cobra Kai. Therefore, the universe has now made some space for new characters and protagonists relevant to the shift in the storyline.
How the Cobra Kai narrative have impacted the storyline of Karate Kid: Legends?
The Cobra Kai narrative has helped thicken the central narrative of Karate Kid: Legends. Daniel's journey as a mentor is significantly shaped by his experiences in Cobra Kai, and he also applies those lessons while training Li Fong. This way, the film is expected to continue the storyline.
Daniel, even after retirement from Karate, decides to train Li. This might be because both the characters - LaRusso and Li Fong, are outsiders who have fought against the odds while also facing the challenges in their surroundings.
In addition to this, the film will feature a brilliant returning cast, such as Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, and Ben Wang as Li Fong, among others.
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According to some reports, the franchise will not abandon Cobra Kai completely as Cobra Kai perfectly set the prequel for Mr. Miyagi during his younger years. The creators have also been vocal about their interest in creating its spinoff within the same universe.
Karate Kid: Legends will hit the theatres on May 30th, 2025, in the United States and Canada.
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