It’s been 40 years since Ralph Macchio became a household name with his portrayal of a skinny New Jersey kid who takes down a bully (or two) with the help of Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi.
Today, Macchio is looking back with pride. “On this day, June 22, 1984, the world met Daniel LaRusso,” the Cobra Kai star wrote on X. “Happy 40th Anniversary to The Karate Kid. Looking ahead to one of the most exciting years yet!”
He ain’t kidding. Besides the final season of Netflix’s Cobra Kai, which will be released in three parts with the first premiering on July 18 followed by Part 2 on Nov. 28, there’s also another Karate Kid movie in the works that will feature Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles from previous films. Plot details are vague other then it being set on the East Coast and focuses on a teen from China who finds strength and direction via martial arts from a mentor.
The movie was set to premiere in December but was pushed back by Sony to May of 2025 so it wouldn’t conflict with the final season of Cobra Kai, which picks up with club being eliminated from the Valley as senseis and students decide if they will compete in the world championships of karate.
Cobra Kai stars Macchio, William Zabka, Martin Kove, and Yuji Okumoto all reprising their roles from the Karate Kid film franchise. Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Griffin Santopietro, and Oona O’Brien also star.