Just in time for TV’s sweeps week — or should we say “TV’s sweep the leg, Johnny” week — we have the first footage from YouTube Red’s upcoming series Cobra Kai, a direct sequel/spinoff to the 1984 film The Karate Kid.
What we know: The series marks the return of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). Three decades after high school and the All Valley Karate Championship, LaRusso lives in Encino and runs a string of car dealerships. Lawrence, meanwhile, reopens the Cobra Kai dojo (“Strike first, strike hard, no mercy!”), much to Daniel’s chagrin.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the show seems to revolve more around Lawrence, who takes a victim of high school bullies under his wing while his own son tries not to follow in his father’s misguided footsteps.
Looking at the cast, it doesn’t appear that we’ll see Elisabeth Shue, Martin Kove (who is currently starring in a fun-looking short film called Show No Mercy) or Pat Morita (RIP) show up, or anyone associated with The Karate Kid 2010 remake — although Jaden’s dad Will Smith is a producer on the show.
But the other credits on the show are certainly interesting: Josh Heald (Hot Tub Time Machine) wrote the new treatment, along with Harold & Kumar vets Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, who are directing most of the episodes. The teaser doesn’t struck us as particularly funny, but hey — we’re all learning a few new moves here.
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