Warning: This article contains Spoilers
Fans were excited to see familiar faces in Karate Kid: Legends, especially after the huge success of Cobra Kai. But when the new movie hit screens, many were surprised to find that none of the original Cobra Kai characters made an appearance—except for Daniel LaRusso and a short cameo from Johnny Lawrence.
So, why were Cobra Kai favorites like Miguel, Tory, or Hawk missing?
Director Jonathan Entwistle Breaks It Down
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Karate Kid: Legends director Jonathan Entwistle gave a clear answer: it all comes down to legal rights.
“We could use anything from the original movies,” Entwistle said. “We could use Daniel and Miyagi. But anything specific to Cobra Kai wasn’t allowed—it’s not Columbia Pictures’ property.”
Netflix Owns Cobra Kai, Not Sony
Here’s where it gets complicated: even though Cobra Kai and Karate Kid both come from Sony Pictures, Cobra Kai is a Netflix original series. That means Netflix holds the streaming rights and creative control over the characters introduced in the show.
Cobra Kai actually started on YouTube Red before Netflix picked it up and turned it into a massive hit. But since Karate Kid: Legends is a Sony/Columbia Pictures film, the team couldn’t legally use Cobra Kai-specific characters, storylines, or even references.
So Why Was Johnny Lawrence Allowed?
One exception was Johnny Lawrence, played by William Zabka, who appears briefly in the movie. That’s because Johnny was first introduced in the 1984 Karate Kid movie. Since he’s a legacy character from the films, not the Netflix series, he was fair game.
Director’s AMA Confirms More Details
Entwistle also took to Reddit to answer fan questions. In a comment, he confirmed:
“The key limitation is that Cobra Kai is a Netflix show. It would be down to them to make a movie with those characters. I was playing with the characters from the original films.”
So for now, the movie is considered a separate chapter in the Karate Kid universe—not a sequel to Cobra Kai.
Why This Is A Letdown For Fans
This revelation is a big disappointment for fans who were hoping to see more from Miguel, Robby, Sam, Tory, and others. Cobra Kai played a major role in reviving the franchise and building a new generation of Karate Kid stories. Their absence makes Legends feel a little disconnected.
Even characters from Daniel’s family, who were central in Cobra Kai, are completely missing—because they were created for the Netflix series.
Could This Change In The Future?
It’s not all bad news. If Sony and Netflix ever team up, there’s a chance we could get a proper crossover film that unites both worlds. Plus, the creators of Cobra Kai have already teased possible spinoffs after the show’s sixth and final season.
So while Karate Kid: Legends might not have brought back everyone we hoped for, the door isn’t completely closed. As the saying goes: Cobra Kai never dies.
Source:
The Hollywood Reporter | Jonathan Entwistle on Reddit | Collider
