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Despite not being involved in the acclaimedCobra Kaiseries, Jackie Chan is set to return to his fan-favorite role of Mr. Han, who will finally cross paths with Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso in the newKarate Kidmovie. While fans are reasonably pumped about the new big-screen entry in the franchise, whose title has been finally unveiled, one major star’s connection to the new release remains uncertain.
Considering there are no details regarding William Zabka’s involvement inKarate Kid: Legendsyet, his absence doesn’t completely justify the new entry in the series.
Karate Kid: LegendsNeed Its Legendary Johnny Lawrence
Not only Netflix’s Cobra Kai reignite the Karate IP, it also added more depth and nuance toWilliam Zabka‘s Johnny Lawrence, who served as the main antagonist in the ’84 release. Moreover, the dynamic between him andRalph Macchio‘s Daniel LaRusso served as the backbone for the Netflix show. So, with the new big-screen release in the series beingtitledKarate Kid: Legends, it only makes sense for the creators to incorporate one of the most legendary characters in the franchise.
“I felt the story was only repeating itself”: Just Like You, Ralph Macchio Also Hates the Worst Karate Kid Movie But Admitted It Played a Crucial Role in Cobra Kai
But as of now, it’s not confirmed if William Zabka will appear in some capacity in the new release, which is bringing backJackie Chanas fan-favorite Mr. Han, who was last seen in the loose 2010 remake. Apart from Chan and Machhio’s inclusion, the confirmed cast currently includes Ben Fong, Joshua Jackson, Ming-Na Wen, Shaunette Renée-Wilson, and Aramis Knight.
Ralph Macchio onCobra Kai’s Impact on the OG Karate Kids
Even though Macchio declined the offer to star in the Jaden Smith-ledKarate Kid, as he wascaught off-guardby the news of the remake, he was totallyinclinedto revisit his character inCobra Kai. Unlike the 2010 release, the Netflix series offered new insight into the life of these fan-favorite characters, especially Zabka’s Lawrence, as it leans towards the ambiguity and complexities involved with them.
The whole series is like, I don’t know what Johnny Lawrence’s life was and he doesn’t know what Daniel LaRusso’s life was, but then when they come back together, now you have this richness.
While most will hope that Zabka isn’t totally absent from the newKarate Kidinstallment, it’s important to note that even if he’s involved, his importance in the movie might be undermined. Keeping in mind that it’ll be Chan’s first appearance as Mr. Han in over a decade, it won’t be far-fetched to say that the new release might heavily lean towards Hans’ dynamic with LaRusso.
“F–k you Ralph Macchio I want her”: Antony Starr’s Most Challenging Role in The Boys Was Acting Alongside His Crush Who Played Cobra Kai Actor’s On-Screen Lover
Karate Kid: Legendswill release on 23 July 2025.
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2539
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
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Jackie ChanRalph MacchioWilliam Zabka
