News

When Jackie Chan returns to the Karate Kid universe, his new prodigy will be played by Ben Wang instead of Jaden Smith. Wang will play the role of the new young karate fighter Li Fong in Karate Kid: Legends and he looks amazing in the trailer of the film. It appears that he would surpass Smith and the entire Cobra Kai stars as the best “Karate Kid”.

Ben Wang with Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid: Legends | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing

Ralph Macchio will also join Chan for the new film, which is helmed by Jonathan Entwistle of I’m Not Okay with This and The End of the F***ing World fame. The film is penned by Rob Lieber and will be produced under Sony’s banner.

The new Karate Kid – Ben Wang – fights better than Jaden Smith and the Cobra Kai stars Ben Wang in a still...

Alongside Ferris Bueller and Marty McFly, the Karate Kid defined the lives of every theatergoer from the ’80s. The eponymous movie starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka in their timeless roles left a lasting impact on pop culture that has persisted despite the decades that have passed by.

The Karate Kid [Credit: Columbia Pictures]

When YouTube Red revisited the era with a worthy peek into the past, it wasn’t long until Netflix recognized the potential of Cobra Kai, picked it up, and marketed the spin-off series to a wider audience. 34 years later, the legacy left behind by Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio, and William Zabka continues to have the same effect on the audience as The Karate Kid did back in the 1980s.

William Zabka & Ralph Macchio’s shared connection Ralph Macchio and William Zabka in The Karate Kid [Credit: Columbia Pictures]

For movie buffs and collectors of past memories, The Karate Kid offers...

The Karate Kid is so much more than a film. It’s an emotional rollercoaster where every character has complexities and every adult has their own demons to deal with. Pat Morita, one of the veteran actors in the film, had his own set of thoughts to express that were better left unspoken.

Morita portrayed the role of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid | Credits: Delphi II Productions

Before we dive into one of the most emotional scenes of Pat Morita’s in The Karate Kid, we need to take a look at some historical events during World War II since Morita was… unfortunately, a part of it.

Pat Morita sang a song in The Karate Kid

Complexity is a part of the human nature. However, very few movies can give such intricate and detailed depths in a short span of time as Ralph Macchio’s The Karate Kid did.

In the Karate Kid: Legends trailer, two revered karate masters return to teach the next prodigy their craft. Ralph Macchio, who starred in the first three installments of The Karate Kid, and Jackie Chan, who played the maintenance man turned sensei in the The Karate Kid revival with Jaden Smith, star in the next chapter of the martial arts franchise.

Karate Kid: Legends, which released its trailer Tuesday, follows protege Li Fong, played by Ben Wang, who moves to New York with his mother after being uprooted from his Beijing home.

The sensei are teaming up. On Tuesday, Sony released a trailer for Karate Kid: Legends, which will return the Karate Kid franchise to the big screen and unite two strands of the franchise for the first time. In the film, Ralph Macchio’s karate master Daniel Larusso, from the ‘80s Karate Kid movies and “Cobra Kai,” and Jackie Chan’s kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, from the 2010 reboot with Jaden Smith, work together to train a teenage karate student named Li Fong (Ben Wang).

The trailer finds Mr. Han seeking Daniel’s help in training Li, a New Yorker with a lot of promise but some personal troubles. When they meet, Daniel assumes Han is looking for his late sensei, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), who taught him everything he knows. “I did not come looking for Sensei Miyagi,” Han says. “I came looking for you.”

The cast also includes Joshua Jackson,...

There’s a new Karate Kid in town, and he’s got not one, but two senseis ready to show him the ropes.

In Karate Kid: Legends (which hits theaters Friday, May 30), a family tragedy forces kung fu prodigy Li Fong (American Born Chinese’s Ben Wang) to be uprooted from his home in Beijing and relocated to New York City. “Li struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates, and although he doesn’t want to fight, trouble seems to find him everywhere,” reads the official description. “When a new friend needs his help,...

With its dramatic Sekai Taikai tournament, the final three-part season of Netflix's martial arts comedy-drama "Cobra Kai" is proving to be a fittingly epic conclusion to the series. As it happens, however, the "Karate Kid" franchise may yet continue on the small screen once the dust settles. In fact, "Cobra Kai" creators and showrunners Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald, and Jon Hurwitz already have a lock on the character they want to explore next -- and in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, they revealed that it's none other than the series' centerpiece, Mr. Miyagi.

What's more, the trio has already started working towards the goal of a potential Miyagi prequel series by briefly digitally resurrecting "The Karate Kid" actor Pat Morita with AI on "Cobra Kai," in addition to dropping numerous clues that Miyagi's past might be far more complicated than his prize pupil Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) ever knew.

Throughout Cobra Kai, the memory of Mr. Miyagi has always loomed large, but in Season 6 Part 2, that became a little more literal. After searching for new clues about his former mentor-slash-father figure’s deadly history with the Sekai Taikai tournament, Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) had a vivid dream about Miyagi in both younger and older forms. In Episode 10, “Eunjangdo,” Daniel dreamed of himself fighting a younger version of Miyagi at the Sekai Taikai and hearing from the aged version that his master never told him the truth about his past because Daniel wasn’t strong enough to accept the truth. The task of both choosing a new actor—Brian Takahashi—to play such an iconic character and relying on visual effects to resurrect the visage of Pat Morita was a doubly heavy task for the show’s creators. Co-creator Hayden Schlossberg told TV Insider that the decision to visualize a...

Remember when they used to make animated series out of any hit franchise going? Mark Harrison does…

Let’s dive straight in…

Rambo: The Force Of Freedom

In an alternate ending for 1982’s First Blood, traumatised Vietnam War veteran John Rambo commits suicide. However, in post-production, director Ted Kotcheff and writer/star Sylvester Stallone opted for the canon ending where Rambo surrenders.

Had they kept the original, we certainly wouldn’t have four more Rambo sequels, and it might have dented the film’s viability for animated spin-off series as well. As it is, Ruby-Spears Productions created Rambo: The Force Of Freedom, a G.I. Joe-alike action series that ran for 65 episodes in 1986.

Battling the evil organisation S.A.V.A.G.E., Rambo and his “toyetic” friends travel the globe, pausing only to play with animals and teach children how to be good. Stallone was reportedly not best pleased but continued pancaking enemy combatants...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Netflix has the biggest content library of any streaming service, and for that reason, many movies from the past are available on it. So, we thought about all the fans of old brilliant movies that are now characterized as classics and decided to compile a list of the best classic movies on Netflix that you should check out right now.

Scarface Credit – Universal Pictures

Scarface is a crime drama film directed by Brian De Palma from a screenplay by Oliver Stone. Based on the 1930 novel of the same name by Armitage Trail and its 1932 film adaptation, the 1983 film follows Tony Montana and his close friend Manny, who build a ruthless and successful drug empire in Miami. However as Tony’s power grows so do his enemies, but the biggest threat to his empire is his own paranoia. Scarface stars Al Pacino,...

This article contains spoilers for "Cobra Kai" season 6 part 2.

For a show that has spent years establishing the martial arts prowess of its central cast, "Cobra Kai" season 6 part 2 is not kind to a number of established karate masters. Most younger characters spend their time in complex and often embarrassing Sekai Taikai tag battles that require heavy teamwork, which locks champion fighters like Hawk (Jacob Bertrand) out of chances to shine individually.

The adults don't have it any easier. Favorites like Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) lack their customary conclusive fight scenes, and instead spend their time brawling with kidnappers and struggling against fearsome foes. Meanwhile, noted powerhouses Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto) and Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim) are distracted by an unexpected but entertaining martial arts-themed courtship ritual. Even the potentially amazing confrontation between major villains Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) and John Kreese (Martin Kove...

This article contains spoilers for "Cobra Kai" season 6 part 2.

Memorably aggressive as he is, the South Korean Cobra Kai dojo's golden boy Kwon Jae-Sung (Brandon H. Lee) has turned out to be a short-lived antagonist ... literally. In the final episode of "Cobra Kai" season 6 part 2, titled "Eunjangdo," Kwon is one of the most enthusiastic participants in the all-out brawl started by the disqualified Russian Sekai Taikai team, and manages to fight just about every prominent character of the new generation in the span of mere minutes.

However, his mobile, spin-heavy style eventually meets its match in the season's resident Ivan Drago expy, Axel Kovačević (Patrick Luwis). Bloodied and frustrated, Kwon grabs John Kreese's (Martin Kove) fallen Eunjangdo blade that gives the episode its name and performs his final, acrobatic flying attack -- only for Axel to handily counter it. Kwon falls down, accidentally stabs himself in the chest with the Eunjangdo,...

Serendipity seems to follow Ralph Macchio — and it most recently took him to Australia.

In October, Coldplay released the song “The Karate Kid,” and it’s exactly what you think it’s about, down to the lyrics about “Daniel.” That, of course, is the name of the lead character played by Macchio in three “The Karate Kid” movies and six seasons of Netflix’s “Cobra Kai.” After Macchio heard the tune, he shared it on social media — and that’s when Coldplay concocted a plan. Frontman Chris Martin asked Macchio to come to Australia, where they were playing a series of dates, and film the music video. The ruse included bringing the actor on stage to help perform “The Karate Kid.”

“It was just one of those whirlwind things,” says Macchio, who just returned from Down Under. “It’s just a beautiful track. It blew my mind that he wrote the song,...

The second half of Cobra Kai‘s sixth season brought plenty of emotions, but not all of them landed well with fans. The idea of bringing Mr. Miyagi back for a cameo seemed like a great move — not just for the story, but for the fans too. However, since the actor has passed away, they had to turn to technology to make it happen.

Still from The Karate Kid (Credits: Columbia Pictures)

The AI, however, didn’t hit the mark. The fake image didn’t sit well with fans, who took to social media to share their disappointment. While it seems the character’s return was carefully discussed and planned to honor the late Pat Morita’s legacy, the final result told a different story.

Cobra Kai Fans Didn’t Like Seeing Mr. Miyagi Revived With AI Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in Cobra Kai (Credits: Netflix)

Season six of...

This article contains spoilers for the "Cobra Kai" season 6 part 2 finale, "Eunjangdo."

Netflix's "Cobra Kai" has done a commendable job at expanding and updating the story told by "The Karate Kid" movies, but it has always dealt with one key issue. The central figure of the franchise, Mr. Miyagi from "The Karate Kid," has only been present in spirit since Pat Morita passed away in 2005.

"Cobra Kai" has gotten around this by having Miyagi's student and successor Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) put his old teacher and friend on a pedestal ... but with "Cobra Kai" season 6 part 2 finally revealing Miyagi's big, dark secret, that pedestal is quite thoroughly broken now. Daniel learns in the episode "Blood in Blood Out" that the venerable karate master once killed a man during a match. In the very next episode, "Eunjangdo," we actually see Miyagi on the screen once again, courtesy of AI. In an interview with TV Line,...

Spoiler Alert !!!The article contains spoilers for the latest season of Cobra Kai.

Cobra Kai‘s latest episodes have taken the internet by storm, and while there are those who believe the show has managed to deliver a great batch of episodes once again, there is one other detail that has fans taking up arms against the show online.

Daniel Larusso and Miyagi in Karate Kid || Credit: Columbia Pictures

The problem with the latest batch of episodes started when in one sequence, Daniel Larusso had a dream about fighting a younger Miyagi, after finding out that his old master had killed someone during a tournament. However, the controversial moment arrived when the younger version of Mister Miyagi turned into an older version, which was a likeness of the late Pat Morita from the original Karate Kid.

Jon Hurwitz talked about the CGI Mister Miyagi The infamous digital Mister Mitagi cameo || Credit: Netlfix

Jon Hurwitz,...

Cobra Kai Season 6: How Did They Bring Back Mr. Miyagi? Character's Surprise Return Explained - Main Image

Mr. Miyagi made a surprise return in the tenth episode of Cobra Kai season 6 through a dream sequence, and a lot of fans were shocked to see him again.

Considering that Pat Morita died in 2005, you might be wondering how they managed to bring back the iconic character on-screen after consistently being mentioned since the first season.

Mr. Miyagi's Return in Cobra Kai Season 6 Episode 10

Episode 10 of Cobra Kai season 6 started with a dream sequence where Daniel Larusso found himself facing off against a young Mr. Miyagi in a Sekai Takai match.

Throughout the season so far, we've seen Daniel deal with the shocking revelation from Miyagi's past as he learned that his mentor was a brutal fighter during his younger years and ended up killing his opponent when he competed in Sekai Takai.

Spoiler Alert: The following reveals major plot points from Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 2

In what will be no doubt the biggest spoiler of the entire Cobra Kai series, co-creators Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg managed to do the impossible.

In the final episode of the Netflix series’ sixth season, part 2, the trio—and some of the latest technology available today—resurrected Mr. Miyagi.

The sixth and final season of the hit martial arts dramedy has focused largely on the mystery past hidden away by the legendary Nariyoshi Keisuke Miyagi. It was revealed he was responsible for the death of a competitor at a Sekai Taikai competition when he was a younger man.

Learning this history wrecks Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) and will take him time to process. He finds it impossible to reconcile the man he admired with this stranger who did something unforgivable. Are they one and the same?...

Ladies and gentlemen: Are you ready to rumble?!

Well, too bad — we’re rumbling anyway. Nearly one year to the day after being announced — and following one false start in July due to stomach ulcers — Jake Paul and Mike Tyson faced off in the ring Friday night for one of the most mega-hyped events in sports history.

This unlikely showdown between Paul, a 27-year-old former YouTube star, and Tyson, a 58-year-old former undisputed heavyweight with his own, Gen X-beloved video game, is virtually impossible to ignore — and marks a giant leap forward in terms of Netflix’s live-streaming ambitions.

If promoters Most Valuable Promotions are to be believed, the fight will be the most-watched in history. Netflix has not announced any viewership expectations. Paul himself predicted that 25 million would tune in.

Before a single punch had been thrown, it had already been one of the most debated, reviled and mocked fights ever mounted.

This article contains spoilers for "Cobra Kai" season 6.

We're nearing the end of "Cobra Kai," the little legacy sequel series that survived an entire streamer shutting down to become one of the best shows Netflix is producing. The first part of the sixth and final season delivered a good calm before the storm (read our review here), mostly focusing on settling the different character rivalries — particularly Samantha and Tory, and Miguel and Robby. At the same time, preparations were underway for the Seikai Taikai, including a fun mini-tournament to see who would go to Barcelona to represent team Miyagi-Do.

Perhaps the biggest idea introduced in the first part of the season involved Mr. Miyagi. The character played by Pat Morita in the original films, Miyagi's legacy has long loomed large over Daniel Larusso and "Cobra Kai." The first part of season 6 spent a good amount of time with Daniel reckoning...

When Netflix launched as a streaming platform, one of the most thrilling innovations was making whole TV seasons available at once. At first, these were older shows that had already aired in the traditional fashion, and had been licensed from the studios that produced them. But when Netflix started making its own original series, those would also premiere every episode of a new season simultaneously — waiting a week for your story to continue was a relic of the 20th century!

Soon, however, the downside of having super-users marathon six or 10 or 13 episodes in a weekend became clear: Publicity and social media buzz around a new title quickly burned itself out, and both high- and low-quality shows turned into an undifferentiated mass of content, constantly achurn. In more recent years, Netflix tried to put the content toothpaste back in the tube, slowing down the episode drops for select titles — a few...

The following contains major spoilers from the Season 6, Part 2 finale of Cobra Kai!

Daniel Larusso has had a rough go of it in Cobra Kai’s final season thus far, as the mysterious box full of Miyagi’s secrets leads him to question his mentor’s past and teachings. And in the first few moments of the Season 6, Part 2 finale, a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad nightmare rattles him to his core and gives us viewers a shock of our own.

More from TVLine<em>Cobra Kai</em> Bosses on Tory’s Defection, Miyagi-Do ‘Dysfunction’ in Part 2 Premiere: ‘It’s the...

Starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, The Karate Kid (1984) is where it all started. As the first installment in the franchise, the film acted as the first step in a domino effect, effectively changing cinema with its release. Not only did it result in a few more films and a couple of television shows, but it also helped in popularizing karate in the United States.

Ralph Macchio and William Zabka in The Karate Kid (1984) | Credits: Columbia Pictures

Apart from commercial and critical success, The Karate Kid also refreshed the career of Pat Morita who played the role of Daniel Larusso’s mentor, Mr. Miyagi. The film also holds the record for being the first ever mainstream movie for showing the story of internment camps and a non-American soldier – a role that got Pat Morita his first and only nomination at the Academy Awards.

The Karate Kid and Mr. Miyagi Pat...

Here’s everything we know about the Karate Kid reboot ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Get your karate kick ready! The reboot of The Karate Kid is swinging into theaters in May 2025, and the buzz is electrifying. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle and scripted by Rob Lieber, this fresh spin marks the sixth installment in the iconic franchise. Principal photography just wrapped, and the excitement is palpable!

Recently, Entwistle took to Instagram, dropping a behind-the-scenes gem featuring Ben Wang—our new hero—clutching a clapboard like it’s the Holy Grail of martial arts. This moment signifies more than just a wrap; it starts a new era in the Karate Kid universe. Wang is set to play Li Fong, who’s stepping into the spotlight and ready to kick some serious butt while honoring the classic elements that made us all fall in love with the original.

Return of the Legends

Hold onto your black belts!

Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) are two halves of one of the most iconic on-screen rivalries of all time. 1984’s The Karate Kid remains a timeless flick, passing the test of time with flying colors. While more installments keep coming in the franchise, the Og movie will always hold a special place in our hearts and the Johnny-Daniel rivalry is one of the biggest reasons why.

The Karate Kid (1984) | Credits: Columbia Pictures

Due to certain reasons, the on-screen rivalry translated into real life as Ralph Macchio revealed that he and William Zabka never really got along on the set of The Karate Kid. He also revealed that the film’s director would keep the two actors away from each other on set. Years after the release of The Karate Kid, they finally shook hands and saw eye-to-eye after the funeral of Pat Morita.

William Zabka & Ralph...

Sony may have skipped San Diego Comic-Con, but they came to the Big Apple on Friday for New York Comic Con showing off exclusively to the room, and not to anyone else, the first trailer for Karate Kid: Legends, which brings back not only Og Ralph Macchio’s Danny Larusso from the original 1984 movie and Cobra Kai series, but also Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 Jaden Smith reboot. The film is billed as reuniting all the Karate Kid worlds.

Karate Kid: Legends opens May 30. The one sheet and the title debuted this morning. No talent was onstage.

The trailer for Karate Kid: Legends begins in a martial arts academy, where Chan’s instructor from the 2010 film shows up to recruit the movie’s young star, Ben Wang. At the academy, we also get our first look at Macchio — as well as a glimpse of a portrait of Pat Morita...

The Karate Kid franchise has had its fair share of twists and turns over the years, evolving from the beloved 1984 classic featuring Ralph Macchio to the 2010 remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. Recently, fans even received the beloved Cobra Kai TV series starring actors like Macchio and others from the original film, as well as a few new faces.

Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid | image: Columbia Pictures

Now we’re gearing up for the highly anticipated 2025 sequel of Karate Kid, starring Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan. But one thing remains questionable as to how the upcoming movie might connect the 1984 original with the 2010 reboot in a cohesive universe. Given how drastically Mr. Han’s universe differs from Mr. Miyagi’s, there needs to be some connection. Apparently, one scene from Jaden Smith’s movie has the potential to successfully bridge the gap.

Jackie Chan Taught Jaden Smith Mr.

Ayyyyyyy, look who reunited at this year’s Emmys!

Happy Days alumni Henry Winkler and Ron Howard took the stage during the awards ceremony Sunday, giving fans of the ABC sitcom a glimpse of the former Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli and Richie Cunningham together again.

More from TVLineEmmys: <em>Shōgun</em>, <em>The Bear</em> and <em>Baby Reindeer</em> Win Big — <em>Hacks</em> Named Best ComedyEmmys 2024: The 11 Best, Worst and Weirdest MomentsEmmys Ratings Hit a 3-Year High, Up 54% From January Telecast

In celebration of Happy Days‘ 50th anniversary, Winkler and Howard greeted each other on a recreation of one of the show’s best-recognized sets: Arnold’s Drive-In,...

The Karate Kid, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith in the lead, was a new take on the iconic franchise that was originally started by Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. Despite being different than the 1984 film, the 2010 reboot found its success by establishing a wholesome bond between Chan and Smith.

As still from The Karate Kid (2010) | Credits: Columbia Pictures

In a recently viral BTS video from The Karate Kid, the fans also got to see how Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, and Will Smith formed a sweet bond on set. The fans were delighted to see the Men In Black actor jokingly calling out Chan in a scene where Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker almost fell into the water.

Will Smith did not hesitate to even call out Jackie Chan on The Karate Kid set Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith in The Karate Kid (2010) | Credits: Columbia Pictures

Will Smith raised massive...

Cobra Kai. Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024 While many people saw The Karate Kid as a typical sports movie, with the underdog triumphing against all odds, it did have some deeper undercurrents to it. One of the standout scenes in the original film focused on the tortured history of Daniel Larusso’s teacher and mentor, Mr. Miyagi, As it turns out, Miyagi was a war hero during World War II, but that didn’t keep his family out of the internment camps where many Japanese Americans were held during the height of the hostilities. Learning about Miyagi’s past stunned Larusso and served as a key moment in the characters’ relationship. Looking back on that first film at a Niagara Falls Comic Con Panel a few years back, star Ralph Macchio has vivid memories of filming that scene with Pat Morita, and...

The creators of Netflix’s Karate Kid sequel/spin-off series Cobra Kai have been chatting about the series as well as wanting to make a Mr Miyagi focused prequel.

Cobra Kai, Netflix’s The Karate Kid spin-off series, is currently in the middle of its sixth and final season. The series will conclude sometime in 2025 when the final part of the concluding season will be released, so there’s still plenty of Cobra Kai still to watch.

The creators of the series, Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz, chatted about the series with The Hollywood Reporter, and revealed that they would love to explore the world of The Karate Kid even more, especially the character of Mr Miyagi.

Pat Morita’s iconic character appears in the series via archive footage, but the creators are interested in expanding the character’s past. When The Hollywood Reporter asked them if they...

It’s been two weeks now since fans of Netflix’s super popular series Cobra Kai have been able to watch the first part of the three-part final season (the first five episodes of season six have been viewed worldwide 24.3 million times since the July 18 release, per the streamer).

And in the five episode-premiere, it initially appeared there would be peace in The Valley of Los Angeles between Danny Larusso (Ralph Macchio), Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and the various kids of their respective karate schools. But as events and rivalries typically go in this world of high school angst with black belts, peace received a flying kick out of the dojo.

But that simply meant more thrills to come, according to Cobra Kai’s creators Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz. The Hollywood Reporter recently caught up with the trio to talk about the upcoming Part 2 (dropping Nov. 15) and...

Jay Leno is known for two things: hosting The Tonight Show and preventing other people from hosting The Tonight Show. Okay, three things if you count repeatedly crashing vintage motor vehicles. The point is, Leno isn’t generally known for being a great actor, even despite the fact that, in his pre-talk show days, he literally starred in a Rush Hour-esque action-comedy with Pat Morita. It wasn’t good.

Leno later admitted that his only starring vehicle, Collision Course, was “terrible” and the clunky process put him off of film acting entirely.

But despite that disastrous experience, Leno was apparently still game to co-star in an upcoming movie. And it’s a drama. About The Beatles. Seriously.

Midas Man tells the story of Brian Epstein, who famously discovered and managed Liverpool’s Fab Four before tragically dying at the age of 32. The promising film stars legit dramatic actors like Eddie Marsan,...

[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 1] It all started in 1984 with a kid who wanted to learn karate. Fast-forward to 2024, and it’s now a worldwide phenomenon. The original Karate Kid is about a young boy named Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) who was taught karate by martial arts master Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) to fight off bullies from the brutal Cobra Kai dojo. Since then, there have been movies and remakes, an animated series, and its most notable spinoff, the Netflix television series Cobra Kai. For 40 years now, the legacy of The Karate Kid franchise has been kept alive by its legions of die-hard fans and that momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon with an upcoming 2025 film in the works. Since its 2018 premiere, Cobra Kai has continued the stories of karate rivals Daniel Larusso and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) while capturing the magic that made the original films so special.

Cobra Kai is once again returning to the screens, though this time, it will be with its sixth and final season. Scheduled to be released in three parts of five episodes each, the series will bring back Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso and Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz among others. However, besides the main lead cast, some other characters from the original saga may return as well.

Cobra Kai. | Credit: Netflix.

Although nothing has been said to confirm yet, the news came from Macchio who hinted that someone could be making a cameo in the upcoming episodes of the series. While he didn’t list names, his response was enough to let know that fans might get to see some other characters from the original film series who couldn’t appear. Like Hilary Swank’s Julie Pierce.

Ralph Macchio Teases Major Cameos in Cobra Kai Season 6

At the recently held...

The Karate Kid Part 3 still remains a point of contention for the masses. The original Karate Kid is a beloved classic, and the sequel, The Karate Kid Part 2, managed to capture much of its charm. However, the same cannot be said about the third installment, which felt like the black sheep of the trilogy.

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid Part II (1986) || Columbia Pictures

Adding to this sentiment among the fans is Ralph Macchio, the actor behind the lead character, Daniel Larusso. But despite him not being a fan of the movie, he acknowledged that it played a major role in shaping the storyline of the hit series Cobra Kai.

Ralph Macchio Revealed How The Karate Kid, Part 3 helped in the storyline of Cobra Kai Ralph Macchio in Cobra Kai (2018) || Netflix

The story of The Karate Kid revolves around Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio), a bullied teenager who,...

The series premiere of Cobra Kai finds Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) at a low point in his life. Over the course of a few days, Johnny loses his job; his stepfather buys his way out of the promises he’d made Johnny’s late mother to look after him; and when some reckless teens crash into Johnny’s beloved Firebird, the tow company brings it to the Larusso Auto Group, forcing Johnny back into proximity with its owner, Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio), Johnny’s childhood nemesis.

Through the many seasons that followed, Johnny has learned about the legal requirements for opening a karate dojo, and as his companies have come in and out of his ownership, he’s learned some basics of graphic design and branding, too. Most importantly, though, Johnny’s learned how to be a good father both to his biological son, Robby (Tanner Buchanan), and to his...

This article contains spoilers for "Cobra Kai" season 6.

The specter of Mr. Miyagi has always loomed large over "Cobra Kai." The TV sequel to the "Karate Kid" movies takes place 40 years after the events of the 1984 original, focusing on Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) teaching a new generation of kids about karate.

From the beginning, the show followed the original film's themes of the bond between teachers and students and the influence the former hold over the latter. We see this in both the trauma Johnny tries to overcome from his years under Kreese, but also how much Daniel has put Mr. Miyagi up on a pedestal. Really, every aspect of Daniel's life, from his personality to his values, are all shaped by Miyagi's teachings. His car dealership's logo is a bonsai tree and his dojo is at Miyagi's old house, which Daniel inherited from his sensei.

Cobra Kai Season 6 trailer has revealed that Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi had buried some secrets before his death. Ralph Macchio’s Daniel Larusso will uncover these secrets of his seemingly perfect master, which causes him some emotional conflict. As Daniel and Johnny prepare their students for the Sekai Taikai, the new plot point will surely present a challenge to the original Karate Kid hero.

William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, and Yuji Okumoto in a still from Cobra Kai | Netflix

In fact, the new turn of events in the series may have been a result of Macchio constantly asking the writers to give him something more to work with than the rivalry with Johnny Lawrence. He wanted the writers to give him a new challenge that throws him off balance and gives an intriguing element to the final season of the show.

Ralph Macchio Is Thrilled About The New Mr. Miyagi...

Streaming on: Netflix

Episodes viewed: 5 of 5

Since 2018, Cobra Kai has been as tasty as comfort TV gets. Serving up easily digestible bites of nostalgia and new kicks, this sprightly sequel series to the Karate Kid film trilogy fleshed out the OGs while spotlighting an equally compelling band of younglings. As emotional as it is brutal, it has picked at regret, ego, failure, family, abandonment, bullying and betrayal with surprising depth and tenderness. It’s also just an all-out blast, an un-guilty pleasure featuring more than a few heart-stopping moments alongside thrillingly choreographed bone-snapping brawls, all underlined with unashamed operatic (or at least soap-operatic) verve. Now, with its sixth giant season, it is ending. But does it have anything left to say?

Season 5 wrapped things up neatly. By that point, the original movies had been exhaustively mined. Milked dry. Cobra Kai’s final miracle was to turn even The Karate Kid...

Cobra Kai has brought several people from the Karate Kid franchise back. The incredibly popular sequel series has Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprising their roles from the original movies to tell an enemies-to-allies story with the new season on the way. However, a new Karate Kid movie is coming with Jackie Chan, who will resume his role as Mr. Han.

Now, fans want this to unite the Karate Kid universe on Cobra Kai.

Jackie Chan Returning For New Karate Kid Movie

There were three Karate Kid movies with Ralph Maccio playing Daniel Larusso and a fourth with Hilary Swank as the new lead, but with Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi still around. Then, in 2010, a new Karate Kid movie came out with Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, a new mentor to a young man played by Jaden Smith.

Jackie Chan in The Karate Kid | YouTube

In 2025, a new Karate Kid movie is coming,...

On July 17, 1999, a little animated show created by an animator and marine biology educator debuted, and it changed Nickelodeon, TV animation, and pop culture forever. "SpongeBob SquarePants," which follows its titular sentient sea sponge living in the underwater city known as Bikini Bottom and working as a fry cook at a popular burger joint, quickly took the world by storm. It overtook "Pokémon" as the highest-rated children's show on television (at the height of Pokémania), and it reinvented Nickelodeon, solidifying the network as the home of the biggest all-ages animated TV shows.

A big part of the show's success is its visual storytelling. The episodes are full of visual gags and an eye for physical comedy that's reminiscent of Golden Age of Animation cartoons like "Merrie Melodies," there's a wealth of sharp scripts with smart jokes, and the show has a terrific ensemble cast of memorable characters and enough background...

Fans are psyched for the next chapters of Cobra Kai! The hit karate show on Netflix is wrapping up season 6, but don’t worry – the story is far from over. Josh Heald, one of the brains behind the series, teased some cool ideas they’ve got brewing.

In an interview, Heald said there’s lots they want to explore. “We never stop chatting about new ways to continue this franchise,” he shared. They’ve tossed around ideas like spin-offs set long ago or focusing on different characters. It’ll be up to Netflix and Sony to greenlight any future projects.

What makes Cobra Kai work so well is seeing how the characters evolve. Johnny Lawrence goes from bully to hero. Even old rivals of Daniel like Chozen and Mike find a way to make amends. But it was actor Pat Morita, best known as Mr. Miyagi, who first brought Daniel...

Coming-of-age films have been around for decades, but they seemed to really hit their stride in the 1980s. Films centering around first love, outsiders and bullying rose in popularity throughout the decade, and one of the most beloved turns 40 years old this summer. “The Karate Kid” opened June 22, 1984 and unleashed a new idol for teens to adore, boosted the popularity of martial arts in the U.S. and skillfully delivered the lesson that inner strength is just as powerful (even more so) as outer strength. Let’s take a look back at a classic that proved that a film doesn’t have to have big name stars to become a blockbuster. Read on for more about “The Karate Kid” 40th anniversary.

Screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen had been beaten up by a gang of bullies as a teen, and had turned to martial arts to learn to defend himself. Years later,...

The original The Karate Kid from 1984 is widely regarded as one of the most critically acclaimed martial arts action dramas to date, starring Ralph Macchio in the lead as the fan-favorite Daniel Larusso. While Macchio’s inclusion was one thing, what further made the movie as iconic as it turned out to be was the character of Kensuke Miyagi, who was played immaculately by Pat Morita.

The Karate Kid. (1984) | Credit: Columbia Pictures.

However, even before this masterpiece was brought to life, the late producer Jerry Weintraub almost ruined pretty much all chances of its succeeding and even nearly took away the film’s greatest achievement. This was because the producer was hardcore against the late Morita even auditioning for the role of the fan-favorite coach, believing he was anything but right for the respective role!

The Karate Kid Almost Dropped Pat Morita as Kensuke Miyagi

Of all the characters the...

When William Zabka’s Cobra Kai burst onto screens in 2018, fans of The Karate Kid universe rejoiced at the opportunity to revisit the iconic characters from the Og franchise and explore their lives decades later. However, behind the scenes, there were turmoils going on regarding one crucial figure’s initial reluctance.

Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid (1984) | Columbia Pictures

Although the story for the 2018 show revolved around the redemption of William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence, it was actually Ralph Macchio whose reluctance to join the project threatened the show’s future. The beloved actor who portrayed Daniel Larusso in the original films initially tried staying away from anything related to The Karate Kid franchise.

Cobra Kai Execs were Worried About William Zabka’s Co-Star’s Reluctance to Return

Since the release of The Karate Kid in 1984, the movie catapulted the lead actor Ralph Macchio to stardom, who portrayed the determined underdog Daniel Larusso.

Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid films has been one of the most iconic characters in pop culture. The role played a massive part in elevating the late Asian-American star. While it can be stated that it was a blessing for Morita, the late actor had some significant regrets for doing the commercially and critically successful film.

Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid | Columbia Pictures

Typecasting is one of the most prevalent issues in the industry. Several prominent faces like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hugh Grant hustled to come out of it and land more varied projects. As claimed by the late actor’s daughter, Pat Morita also fell into the trap of typecasting after The Karate Kid.

How did The Karate Kid affect Pat Morita’s career?

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita from The Karate Kid

Initially, Pat Morita was not a favorite for the role of Mr.

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!”

On this day, June 22, 1984, the world met Daniel Larusso. Happy 40th Anniversary to The Karate Kid. Looking ahead to one of the most exciting years yet!

Just wrapped

@CobraKaiSeries and the new @KarateKidMovie

Epic stuff on the way! #KarateKid #CobraKaiSeries...

To celebrate the release of Columbo: The 1970’s Complete Collection on Blu-Ray available now, we have the Blu-Ray Boxset to give away to a lucky winner!

Peter Falk stars as the cigar chomping, trench coat wearing, police lieutenant Columbo in the series that set the standard for the murder mystery genre. This 20-disc Blu-ray set contains the first 7 seasons of this ground-breaking series, including the 2 original pilot TV movies, now restored and remastered by NBC Universal in 4K. Enjoy once again this classic series that won a staggering 13 primetime Emmys®!

The list of guest stars is endless (many of which appeared in more than one episode in more than one role) and includes Jack Cassidy, Vincent Price, Martin Sheen, Vera Miles, Vitto Scotti, Johnny Cash, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Vaughn, Janet Leigh, Ed Begley Jr., George Hamilton, Leonard Nimoy, Pat Morita, Leslie Nielsen, Patrick McGoohan, William Shatner and Falk...

Fabulous Films have released the Columbo – The 1970s Complete Collection Seasons 1- 7 on Blu-ray in the UK.

Peter Falk stars as the cigar chomping, trench coat wearing, police lieutenant Columbo in the series that set the standard for the murder mystery genre. This 20-disc Blu-ray set contains the first 7 seasons of this ground-breaking series, including the 2 original pilot TV movies, now restored and remastered by NBC Universal in 4K. Enjoy once again this classic series that won a staggering 13 primetime Emmys®!

The list of guest stars is endless (many of which appeared in more than one episode in more than one role) and includes Jack Cassidy, Vincent Price, Martin Sheen, Vera Miles, Vitto Scotti, Johnny Cash, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Vaughn, Janet Leigh, Ed Begley Jr. George Hamilton, Leonard Nimoy, Pat Morita, Leslie Nielsen, Patrick McGoohan, William Shatner and Falk’s second wife Shera Danese who played 6 roles in 6 different episodes.