Ralph Maccio Returns In Karate Kid Spinoff

Ralph Macchio and William Zabka are reprising their roles from the Karate Kid in a 10-part series on YouTube’s Red subscription service. Cobra Kai will depict LaRusso and Johnny 30 years after their initial All Valley Karate Tournament clash.

The main storylines involve Johnny looking to rebuild his life by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo while Daniel struggles with life after the death of Mr Miyagi. The pair then renew their rivalry via karate, though it’s not clear if this means as battling coaches or in a physical clash.

The show being named Cobra Kai rather than Karate Kid isn’t just because LaRusso would now be in his late 40s. YouTube says it reflects that the new story will be as much about Johnny as it will LaRusso.

It’s arguably the most high-profile original content for YouTube Red, which charges a subscription fee for a mix of original content, ad-free streaming and offline viewing.

Although YouTube Red is only available in five countries (Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea and United States), some of the original content has been made available as a standalone purchase in a selection of other countries.