Why Johnny’s Cobra Kai Story Is Crucial To The Karate Kid Sequel (Even If He Doesn’t Appear)

Johnny Lawrence’s story will come to a close with Cobra Kai season 6, but it will still be essential to the plot of 2025’s Karate Kid movie. The upcoming film will star Ralph Macchio’s Daniel and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 The Karate Kid reboot, as they work together to teach a new titular karate kid the ropes. Billy Zabka’s Johnny is so far not expected to appear, with Cobra Kai‘s final season instead serving as the conclusion of his big rivalry with Daniel. However, this isn’t to say his story won’t have an impact.

Johnny and Daniel’s rivalry started decades before the Cobra Kai season 1 kicked off in 2018. The pair hated each other from the moment they met in 1984’s The Karate Kid, and the All-Valley Tournament served as the initial resolution to this conflict. Of course, Cobra Kai has revealed that this wasn’t the end, and Johnny and Daniel have continued to be competitive with one another, even going into season 6. Still, they have also learned to cooperate and have teamed up to take down their common enemies. Ultimately, it’s precisely this that will bleed over into Karate Kid.

Why Daniel’s Rivalry With Johnny Will Still Be Important In The New Karate Kid Movie

Johnny’s Character Is Key In Daniel’s Development

Johnny has held an important place in Daniel’s life, for better or worse. The original karate kid has learned a lot from his old rival over the years, and one of the most important aspects of his Cobra Kai arch is the realization that Mr. Miyagi’s way of doing things wasn’t the only way. Daniel slowly accepted that Johnny’s methods were valid and that another person’s perspective on karate and life could be valuable when teaching students. Now, going into the 2025 Karate Kid movie, these lessons will be highly important.

Chan’s Mr. Han from The Karate Kid (2010) has similar teaching methods to Mr. Miyagi, and, by extension, Daniel, but his martial arts style is entirely different. Han doesn’t even teach karate—it’s stated clearly throughout his movie that he is a master of kung fu. This means that Daniel and Han teaching together will require an adjustment period that Macchio’s character wouldn’t have been ready for if it weren’t for his time with Johnny in Cobra Kai. So, while the Karate Kid franchise is moving away from Johnny, it would be impossible for it to shake off his legacy.

Will Johnny Have A Cameo In The New Karate Kid Movie?

Billy Zabka has so far not been credited for 2025’s Karate Kid, so Johnny Lawrence most certainly won’t be a primary character in the upcoming film. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the character won’t make an appearance at all. Depending on how his story ends in Cobra Kai season 6, it’s feasible that Johnny could make a trip to wherever Daniel and Han will be teaching or competing in the film, and he would surely be a welcome sight. However, even if the character doesn’t appear in the flesh, his role in Daniel’s life means that Johnny will at least be mentioned in the new Karate Kid sequel.

Cobra Kai

Set decades after the events of the Karate Kid franchise, Cobra Kai shifts gears and puts viewers into the perspective of a former rival/antagonist, Johnny Lawrence. In his 50s and down on his luck, a chance encounter with a bullied young man leads Johnny back to Karate. Agreeing to help him, Johnny takes the opportunity to revive his former home, the Cobra Kai dojo – becoming a refuge for outcast teens.

Cast

Tanner Buchanan , Xolo Mariduena , Mary Mouser , Connor Murdock , Ralph Macchio , Nichole Brown , Jacob Bertrand , Griffin Santopietro , William Zabka

Seasons

5

Writers

Josh Heald , Jon Hurwitz , Hayden Schlossberg , Michael Jonathan , Mattea Greene , Bill Posley , Stacey Harman , Joe Piarulli , Bob Dearden

Directors

Jon Hurwitz

Showrunner

Jon Hurwitz

Expand