Karate Kid 6 is currently in the works at Sony Pictures, and while a couple of iconic actors from the franchise are set to star in the upcoming film, one performer has not been confirmed to appear despite their importance in the movies and Cobra Kai. The first Karate Kid film premiered in 1984 and kickstarted a mega-successful franchise that includes five (released) movies and two television shows. Following the triumph of Cobra Kai on Netflix, the production company is going forward with a sixth film that will bring together stars from previous projects.
Not much is known about the sixth film aside from the fact that two significant characters will appear in it. Additionally, Jonathan Entwistle is directing the movie, and Rob Lieber is writing it. However, when it comes to the plot and how it will tie together the original series with the 2010 remake, Sony Pictures is remaining tight-lipped. While the recent news regarding the cast list is an exciting indication of the direction Entwistle and Lieber are going with Karate Kid 6, it’s also concerning since it doesn’t include one prominent name from the franchise.
Sony’s New Karate Kid Movie Announcement Doesn’t Include William Zabka’s Johnny
According to Deadline, Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan are set to reprise their respective Karate Kid roles in the upcoming sixth film. Macchio played Daniel LaRusso in the first three Karate Kid movies and is one of the main characters in Cobra Kai on Netflix, and Chan portrayed Mr. Han (based on Mr. Miyagi from the original series) in the 2010 remake. However, one important character in the franchise was missing from the released cast list for the upcoming project — William Zabka.
Zabka played Daniel’s opponent, Johnny Lawrence, in The Karate Kid in 1984 and went on to make a cameo in the first sequel before returning to his role in Cobra Kai in 2018. Despite his significant presence in the Netflix television series, Zabka has not been confirmed as one of the cast members in Karate Kid 6. One would think his character would be a part of the story, and he could still be since Sony Pictures has only announced that Macchio and Chan will star in the movie. Related: Karate Kid Is A Movie In Cobra Kai’s Universe? Why The Theory Actually Works
Why Johnny Lawrence Should Be In The New Karate Kid Movie
Only time will tell if the upcoming Karate Kid film will feature William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, but it would be a mistake to exclude him. Zabka is one of the main reasons Cobra Kai has been successful and lasted for five seasons (with a sixth and final one on the way). Johnny’s redemption in the Netflix show is one of its highlights, and it would not feel right if Zabka didn’t star alongside Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid 6.
