Cobra Kai season 6’s antagonist may now have become clear after the confirmation of Jackie Chan’s return to the Karate Kid franchise. Since the show began in 2018, Cobra Kai has been a love letter to all things Karate Kid. Even the more critically-panned installments of the franchise like The Karate Kid Part III have proven integral to the story of Cobra Kai, proving that both the worst and best of Karate Kid movies have a part to play in the legacy sequel.
This is likely to continue in Cobra Kai season 6’s story, which is rumored to feature the ensemble cast of the show journeying to compete in the Sekai Taikai. This will expand the story of Cobra Kai worldwide by introducing karate dojos from across the world to compete against one another. In light of the announcement of the premise for the 2024 Karate Kid movie, the perfect antagonist for Cobra Kai‘s students at the Sekai Taikai becomes evident.
2024’s Karate Kid Movie Will Combine The Original Series With The 2010 Remake
Firstly, the announcement in question is the return of Jackie Chan to the Karate Kid franchise. In 2010, a remake of The Karate Kid was released featuring Chan as the Mr. Miyagi-like character, Mr. Han. Since Cobra Kai began further integrating aspects of the Karate Kid sequels into its story, many wondered if this would also be the case for the remake. The 2010 Karate Kid was set in China and did not include anything that contradicted the original films, meaning the possibility of a crossover was always achievable.
While Cobra Kai itself has not been confirmed for a 2010 Karate Kid crossover as yet, it was announced by Sony Pictures that Jackie Chan would return to the franchise for the new Karate Kid feature film in 2024. The film will see Chan’s Mr. Han cross paths with Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso, though little else about what the film will entail has been released. That said, this premise alone confirms that the world of Cobra Kai and the original series of films exists within the same continuity as 2010’s The Karate Kid, meaning the show could begin laying the groundwork for 2024’s crossover.
Cobra Kai Season 6’s Sekai Taikai Could Introduce Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker
Concerning how this crossover would usher in Cobra Kai season 6’s antagonist, it could be possible through the Sekai Taikai. Mr. Han is a known karate sensei after 2010’s The Karate Kid and could have continued this journey after the events of the film. In order to set up the 2024 movie, Cobra Kai season 6 could feature Mr. Han entering his students into the Sekai Taikai where he crosses paths with Daniel LaRusso.
Mr. Han’s star pupil could be none other than Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker from the 2010 Karate Kid movie. Now an adult, Dre could wish to prove his long karate journey by winning the Sekai Taikai. This would make Dre the perfect antagonist for Cobra Kai season 6 as a foil for the likes of Hawk, Miguel, or Robby from the show’s cast. Not only would this perfectly weave together the continuities of Cobra Kai and 2010’s The Karate Kid, but it would allow the former to have a different kind of antagonist than it usually presents.
Dre Parker Would Be The Perfect Rival For Cobra Kai’s Students
Through Dre Parker, the perfect opportunity for a rival rather than a villain arises. Throughout Cobra Kai‘s five seasons, the villains of the show have always been clearly definable. From Terry Silver to John Kreese, Cobra Kai’s villains have tiny shades of gray, yet it is mostly always clear who the audience should be rooting against and who they should be rooting for. This would not be the case if Dre Parker became a contestant in the Sekai Taikai opposite Cobra Kai‘s students. Dre has previously been a protagonist of the Karate Kid franchise, with his and Mr. Han’s characters being the standouts of the 2010 remake.
In positioning Dre as an antagonist for Cobra Kai‘s students, he would also be a character that the audience could root for. Dre is not an evil, threatening villain like Silver or Kreese, meaning he could make for a much more interesting antagonist. Also, he has been through a similar journey to the likes of Miguel and Hawk meaning the characters of Cobra Kai could find common ground with someone supposed to be their enemy. This would allow Cobra Kai to not only introduce an interesting rival similar to its main characters but also set up the story of Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso’s 2024 team-up.
