Karate Kid: Legendsis avoiding an element that would have ruined the legacy sequel that, ironically, is synonymous withCobra Kai. Thestory ofKarate Kid: Legendswill be told in May 2025 and reunites Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan as two pillars of the franchise. WhileKarate Kid: Legends' castwill include newcomers to the franchise, including Ben Wang as the titular young fighter, Macchio and Chan are undoubtedly the selling points of the legacy sequel that ties together the arcs of Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han.
Karate Kid: Legendscomes as the next step in the franchise after theconclusion ofCobra Kaiseason 6, a TV spin-off of the original 1984 movie. Interestingly, theconnections betweenKarate Kid: LegendsandCobra Kaiare expected to be minimal. While Macchio has been a mainstay ofCobra Kaisince its inception, the new film is rumored to take place three years after the TV show. This will allowKarate Kid: Legendsto stand on its own in many ways, with none being more important than the film avoiding an element that is closely associated withCobra Kai.
Karate Kid: Legends’ Tone Is Completely Different From Cobra Kai
The Self-Aware Tone Is Long Gone
The element in question isKarate Kid: Legends’tone. As evident by thefirst trailer forKarate: Kid: Legends, the film is moving away from the less serious, self-referential tone ofCobra Kai. AlthoughCobra Kaihas been very well-received since it began in 2018, one of the bigger criticisms of the show has been its reliance on somewhat sillier elements, especially in its latter seasons. From the humor that references the silliness of the show’s premise to the melodrama that surrounds most ofCobra Kai’s characters, the show certainly does not strike a tone that many would consider serious.
WhereKarate Kid: Legendsis concerned though, it seems that this tone fromCobra Kaihas been removed. The trailer for the film was surprising to many in that it seemed a lot more serious thanCobra Kaidoes, in a way that is reminiscent of both 1984’s and 2010’sThe Karate Kid. The action seems grounded, the plot seems more understated than a global karate war, and the intensity of the relationships betweenKarate Kid: Legends’main characters seem versed in much more realism than the melodrama associated withCobra Kai.
Karate Kid: Legends Emulating Cobra Kai’s Tone Would’ve Been Its Ruin
The Movie Was Wise To Avoid The Overall Feel Of Cobra Kai
DespiteCobra Kaibeing reviewed incredibly wellacross all six of its seasons,Karate Kid: Legendsdid the right thing in avoidingCobra Kai’s tone. For one, the tone ofCobra Kaiis what makes the show what it is. The silliness of the show may receive some criticism, but without the self-referential, almost aloof way the show treats its plot points, it likely would not have made it past the first season. Therefore,Karate Kid: Legendsavoiding this same tone sets it apart fromCobra Kai, all while being set in the same, interconnected universe.
Karate Kid: Legendsfeeling as serious as it does is a major positive for many, proving that copyingCobra Kai’s humorous tone would not have worked…
Moreover, ifKarate Kid: Legendshad copiedCobra Kai’s tone completely, one could argue that it would proven to be the film’s downfall. Feature films in theKarate Kiduniverse have proven the be inherently more serious thanCobra Kai, especially 2010’sThe Karate Kid. Merging one of the main characters from that film with Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso only with a much less serious tone would have robbed the film of its narrative impact.Karate Kid: Legendsfeeling as serious as it does is a major positive for many, proving that copyingCobra Kai’s humorous tone would not have worked.
Karate Kid: Legends Will Still Have To Deal With Cobra Kai Comparisons
Regardless ofKarate Kid: Legends' tonal differences fromCobra Kai, the former will undoubtedly still be faced with comparisons to the latter. By being set in the same universe asCobra Kai, audiences familiar with both will subconsciously compareKarate Kid: Legendswith the spin-off show. Be it the fight sequences, the choreography, the aforementioned tone, or how it handles the student-teacher relationship that is so prevalent in theKarate Kidfranchise,Legendscannot escape theCobra Kailinks.
As such, it is up to the filmmakers to differentiateLegendsas best as they can. By telling a new story with new and familiar characters, the film can stand apart from what has come before it. The fight choreography shown in the trailer already looks mightily impressive, hinting thatKarate Kid: Legendsmay overcome that specific comparison toCobra Kai. If it can provide compelling character arcs that have not been seen before in the franchise and a strong story, all while avoidingCobra Kai’s meta tone,Karate Kid: Legendscan stand alone as another branch of theKarate Kidtree.
Karate Kid: Legends
Cast
Karate Kid: Legends is a sequel to Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film sees Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles, continuing the legacy of martial arts mentorship and rivalry in a new era of challenges and apprentices.
