Cobra Kaihas brought back numerous familiar faces from theKarate Kidfranchise, but one character didn’t make an appearance in the final season. The Netflix series takes place 34 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament when Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) seeks redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo and revisiting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio).Cobra Kaifeatured many cameosfrom the original movie series, such as Elisabeth Shue, Yuji Okumoto, William Christopher Ford, and many others.
During a conversation withScreenRant, co-creator Jon Hurwitzshared his disappointment over not being able to feature Hilary Swank as Julie Pierce,who ledThe Next Karate Kid. He discussed the difficulty of incorporating all the characters they had hoped to include, mentioning Swank’s Julie was one character they had ideas for but couldn’t fit into the final season. The co-creator expressed regret that it didn’t come together this time buthinted that the franchise remains open to future possibilities. Check out his comment below:
We’ve been thrilled to bring back so many of the legacy characters over the years. I mean, I’d say the biggest one that we’re disappointed we didn’t get to have was Hillary Swank as Julie Pierce. She’s somebody who we were giant fans of. We had some thoughts as to some things that we could do with her this final season, but it wasn’t in the cards this time. But who knows? Cobra Kai never dies and maybe one day.
What This Means For Cobra Kai’s Conclusion Sans Hillary Swank
Swank Couldn’t Make An Appearance Due To Production Concerns
InThe Next Karate Kid, Julie, a karate enthusiast, loses her parents before meeting Mr. Miyagi. Upon meeting him at her grandfather’s military reunion, Mr. Miyagi is surprised by her knowledge of karate and takes her to a Buddhist monastery to train her. WhileJulie’s return would have been a nostalgic inclusion to the finale, unfortunately, the producers faced obstaclesin fitting her into the narrative. However, there may be room forher cameo inKarate Kid: Legends.
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While Julie’s role was not part of the final season, returning characters like Shue’s Ali Mills and Kove’s John Kreese have kept the franchise’s continuity alive. Like Swank,a similar instance happened with Jackie Chan, where viewers also anticipated his cameo, but it fell through. However, he will return as Mr. Han inKarate Kid: Legends. WhileCobra Kaihas revived many of its preceding characters, the challenge of including every past character pointstoward how the series must ultimately prioritize its narrative focus.
Our Take On Cobra Kai’s Final Season
Swank May Make An Appearance Down The Road
Though Julie’s absence in theCobra Kaiseason 6 finale is unfortunate, the series still delivered a satisfying conclusion. Over time, the show has successfully incorporated past characters without relying on them to drive the story, but for Swank, it wasn’t on the cards. The opportunity for future reunions is always there, but for now,Cobra Kaistands as a fitting end to a contemporary take onKarate Kid’sfranchise.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
