The End of an Era? Cobra Kai‘s Farewell and the Possibilities Beyond
The sixth and final season of Netflix’s hit series Cobra Kai is set to premiere next year, but the creators are already hinting at the potential for more stories within the beloved Karate Kid universe. While the final season will bring the journey of Cobra Kai to a satisfying conclusion, the creative team, consisting of Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, are eager to explore new avenues within the established world of the franchise.
"The three of us would love to continue to work within this universe," Heald shared with io9. "It’s our favorite universe to play in and we have a lot of other ideas that are on our minds already that we’re starting to discuss with our partners."
While the creators remain tight-lipped about specific details, they emphasize that any future projects will not diminish the impact or closure of Cobra Kai.
"We achieved everything in this series that we set out to do," Heald stated. "And we were unapologetic in our drive and our goals to do some really, really big things as the sixth season winds down."
The team acknowledges that although many storylines will be resolved by the end of the series, there will be intentional loose ends, leaving room for further exploration.
"There’s always more on the table because each new season just creates new branches of that tree," explained Heald. "And the three of us never stopped talking about, ‘Oh, you know what would be great if you do this?’ There’s always more to tell that you’ll be curious about."
One potential avenue for expansion is the upcoming Karate Kid movie, set to star Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso alongside Jackie Chan as Mr. Han from the 2010 remake.
However, the Cobra Kai team clarifies that this film is a separate entity, not connected to their fictional universe.
"Mr. Han is not part of our canon," Heald says. "I think it’s more that Daniel is part of that canon. We’ve been telling our story the same way we’ve been telling it since season one. The feature team making this movie presents yet another opportunity for another filmmaker to come in and present their vision of a movie that takes place within a Karate Kid universe."
So, if not the upcoming movie, what possibilities are on the horizon? The creators have alluded to various avenues they consider exploring, including:
- Following the journey of students as they navigate college life.
- Exploring the potential for a new sensei to emerge from the ranks of the Miyagi-Do students.
- Expanding the story to encompass other karate dojos in the Valley.
While the specific format – be it a show, a movie, or something else entirely – remains uncertain, the creators’ enthusiasm for continuing the Karate Kid story is evident.
With the final season of Cobra Kai on the horizon, the anticipation for the series finale is palpable. Yet, the creators’ eagerness to explore new avenues within the Karate Kid universe, combined with the multitude of possible storylines, leaves fans brimming with excitement for what the future may hold.
As the curtains close on Cobra Kai, it seems the legacy of the Karate Kid is poised to continue, offering a wealth of possibilities for thrilling new chapters in this iconic story.
