Latest news with #Miyagi-verse
Mint
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Cobra Kai creators reveal they reached out to Hilary Swank for final season cameo
Washington [US], June 29 (ANI): As 'Cobra Kai' brings the 'Karate Kid' universe to a close with its sixth and final season, the show's creators have revealed that they made an effort to bring back a familiar face, Hilary Swank. The two-time Oscar-winning actress portrayed Julie Pierce in 'The Next Karate Kid' (1994), a character who has been absent from the franchise for over three decades. Josh Heald, who co-created the series with Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, shared in an interview that they reached out to Swank's team early on in the process of developing the final season, according to Deadline. The creators had an idea for how Julie Pierce could fit into the Cobra Kai storyline without requiring a full commitment to the season. "We did reach out in the very early days before the season to see if there was a path [for her to appear]," Heald said in an interview, adding, "We had an inkling of an idea about how she could come into this story and not have to commit to 10 episodes or something," as quoted by Deadline. Heald further explained that they approached Swank's team with a "genesis of an idea" about how Julie could return to the larger 'Karate Kid' universe. They were hoping for an opportunity to meet with her and discuss the potential storyline in greater detail. However, despite their efforts, the creators were unable to secure a meeting with Swank. Heald described the response from the actress as "very respectful" but added that she was not in a place where she was ready to revisit the role. "She didn't want us to go through the trouble of flying out to her and putting our heart on the sleeve," Heald explained, adding, "Because it just wasn't something she was ready to do at that moment," as quoted by Deadline. Despite the missed opportunity, Heald acknowledged that Julie Pierce remains a "big piece of the Miyagi-verse" and is a character they would like to revisit in the future. "For us, it was a little disappointing because we like getting everybody, but at the same time, we didn't sacrifice any huge story that we had fully developed," he said, adding, "It's more fruit on the vine for if we can revisit this universe going forward." The Cobra Kai creators have brought several legacy characters back into the fold during the show's run, including Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka's Johnny Lawrence, and Jackie Chan's Mr. Han from the 2010 Karate Kid reboot. The series, which began as a nostalgic revival of the Karate Kid saga, has proven to be a global hit, blending old and new characters with fresh storylines. With Cobra Kai officially concluding its run, the creators have left the door open for future possibilities in the Karate Kid universe, including the potential return of Julie Pierce. Fans of the franchise continue to hold out hope that Swank may one day reprise her role in a future spinoff or project related to the Miyagi-verse. While the final season of Cobra Kai will not feature Swank's Julie Pierce, the creators expressed optimism that there could be future opportunities to bring her back into the fold. As Heald noted, "We'll see what the future holds." (ANI)
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sweep the leg! 🥋
Sweep the leg! 🥋 With apologies to Prince, we're gonna party like it's 1984. A new "Karate Kid" movie is in theaters with Ralph Macchio, and the Miyagi-verse expands by bringing Jackie Chan into the fold with some serious martial-arts action and a nod to the old-school fight montage. (Kids, we used to have these all the time back in the day!) Speaking of throwbacks, the "Sex and the City" saga continues with a new season of "And Just Like That ..." And if you're already missing "The Last of Us," we feel you, fam, and are here to help. Oh, yeah, I mentioned a party: This week, Watch Party's celebrating its first birthday! I've had a blast bringing you great recommendations for the big and small screens, and there's lots more to come. Thank you to everyone who's subscribed and shown love the past year, and if you have a friend or loved one who's not on board yet, let them know the bandwagon's got plenty of room. Now on to the good stuff: Watch a new 'Karate Kid' show off his moves in the all-star 'Legends' While it may not be the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the "Star Wars" galaxy, the Miyagi-verse has interestingly become one of the most enduring pop-culture franchises thanks to the "Karate Kid" spinoff show "Cobra Kai." And for the first time in a while, martial arts drama and youngsters in gis are back in cinemas with "Karate Kid: Legends." Ben Wang is the new karate kid, a teen who moves from China to New York City, runs afoul of a bully and gets trained by sensei Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and kung fu shifu Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) for a big karate competition. "Legacy" can't quite figure out what kind of "Karate Kid" it wants to be but, man, Wang is a star. (Peep my ★★½ review.) I sat down with Macchio and Wang at CinemaCon, the convention of movie theater owners, to chat about how "Legends" expands the Miyagi-verse (named for Mr. Miyagi, obviously), and how the legacy of the original "Karate Kid" still fuels the franchise. Wang's new character is "dealing with an internal struggle a little bit different than what my struggle was back in the day, but at the end of it, you're rooting for people you care about," Macchio says. "That's the storytelling.' Stream 'Sex and the City' spinoff 'And Just Like That ...' on Max Confession time: I'm not exactly the target audience for all things "Sex and the City." (My wife, though? TOTALLY into it.) I do enjoy some silliness, however, and that's apparently what Season 3 of the Max revival show "And Just Like That ..." has in spades, according to TV critic Kelly Lawler. In her ★½ review, she writes that the series is "still as lightweight and shallow as a knockoff pair of Manolo Blahniks, unimaginative and dull, this year with a side of ATVs and 'Little House on the Prairie' jokes." (Hard to go wrong with ATVs, honestly.) My man Patrick Ryan got the scoop from Cynthia Nixon about guest star Rosie O'Donnell having a cameo as a sex-starved nun and also got the lowdown on Carrie Bradshaw's very chic "cloud hat" from Sarah Jessica Parker. Get your dystopian fix after finishing 'The Last of Us' So, how about that cliffhanger in the latest season finale of "The Last of Us"?! It's going to be hard to wait till the third season for that. In the meantime, we've got plenty of coverage of the recent closing chapter (streaming now on Max). Kelly recaps who survived and who died, plus she teamed with our colleague Brendan Morrow to look at where Season 3 could go if the show, like it has so far, sticks to its video-game roots. And if you've finished the season and are already missing all the nightmarish drama, we've got five more dystopian shows to watch. Always good to remind folks to watch "Andor" if they haven't had the pleasure. Even more goodness to check out! Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email btruitt@ and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.
Express Tribune
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Karate Kid: Legends' brings old masters to new students
For over four decades, the Karate Kid franchise has been kicking its way into pop culture history, with multiple films and the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai keeping its legacy alive. Now, Karate Kid: Legends is poised to unify the two cinematic iterations of the saga — the beloved 1980s originals featuring Ralph Macchio and the 2010 reboot with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. With a fresh protagonist, an intriguing mentor dynamic, and a long-awaited crossover, the trailer promises a thrilling new chapter in the Miyagi-verse. The trailer was dropped on Wednesday and introduces us to Li Fong, played by Ben Wang, a teenager trained in kung fu by Jackie Chan's Mr Han. However, when Li relocates to the US, he faces bullying and decides to switch disciplines, turning to karate for self-empowerment. This transition cleverly bridges the gap between the franchise's two distinct martial arts styles. Who better to teach him than the original Karate Kid himself, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio)? The trailer teases an emotional moment as Mr Han visits LaRusso, urging him to take Li under his wing. Seeing these two iconic mentors meet is an undeniable highlight, blending nostalgia with fresh energy. Visually, the trailer exudes classic Karate Kid charm, with training montages, tournament hype, and dramatic face-offs that pay homage to the franchise's enduring formula. There's an undercurrent of grief in Li's story — his move to America seems tied to the loss of his older brother, a plot thread left ambiguous in the trailer but hinting at deeper emotional stakes. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F**ing World), the film marks his feature debut, with a screenplay by Rob Lieber. While Cobra Kai has successfully reignited interest in the Karate Kid universe, Karate Kid: Legends aims to bring the saga full circle by blending two generations of martial arts storytelling. Fans are unsurprisingly eager to see if the film captures the essence of both the original films and the reboot. Despite the excitement surrounding the crossover, some elements of Karate Kid: Legends may feel predictable. The franchise has always revolved around an underdog proving himself through discipline and perseverance, and this film appears to follow suit. However, the novelty of seeing Mr Han and Daniel LaRusso in the same film, alongside a new protagonist, could be enough to keep audiences invested. With a supporting cast that includes Joshua Jackson, Ming-Na Wen, Shaunette Renée Wilson, and Sadie Stanley, the film is set to expand the Karate Kid universe. Karate Kid: Legends releases in the US on May 30, and if the trailer is any indication, fans are in for an action-packed, nostalgia-fuelled ride.
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Two branches, one tree': How 'Karate Kid: Legends' expands the Miyagi-verse
LAS VEGAS – Just like the "Star Wars" galaxy and the Marvel cinematic landscape, the Miyagi-verse is continually growing, and no one's prouder than original "The Karate Kid" star Ralph Macchio. "I feel very Luke Skywalker," Macchio says with a laugh before taking the stage at CinemaCon to talk about the franchise's next chapter, "Karate Kid: Legends" (in theaters May 30). After three 1980s "Karate Kid" movies where Macchio's Daniel LaRusso learns from Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) – and more recently six seasons of Netflix's "Cobra Kai," where Daniel makes peace with former rival Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) – the Miyagi-Do sensei expands his world view in "Legends." Daniel meets kung fu master Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), from the 2010 "Karate Kid" reboot, as well as new karate kid Li Fong (Ben Wang) in the movie, which premiered its new trailer Tuesday. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Li is a kung fu prodigy learning under his shifu Han in China when Li and his mom (Ming-Na Wen) relocate to New York City to attend a prestigious school. But Li struggles to find his way, befriending a classmate (Sadie Stanley) but making enemies of a feared karate foe (Aramis Knight). When Li enters the Five Boroughs karate tournament, Han ventures to Southern California to find Daniel, thinking the best way for his student to win is to combine kung fu skills with Miyagi karate. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. See the new 'Karate Kid: Legends' trailer Is 'Karate Kid: Legends' connected to 'Cobra Kai'? Macchio, 63, an executive producer on the new movie as well as "Cobra Kai," describes "Legends" as "a different ecosystem" within the Miyagi-verse. "You have this story of this new kid in a new land that draws on all the themes of the original 'Karate Kid': bullying, single parenting, dealing with loss, overcoming obstacles, good over evil, martial arts and finding your center and grounding yourself." It's also set "a couple years" after the end of "Cobra Kai," as Han knocks on Daniel's door to pay homage to his old sensei and reveal a longtime connection. "The Han family and the Miyagi family knew each other over history," Macchio says. Or, as he puts it: "Two branches, one tree." Wang arrives into the Miyagi-verse "first and foremost" as a fan, says the 25-year-old "American Born Chinese" star, picked to be the next "Karate Kid" from among thousands of submissions as part of a global search. He was 10 and "the target audience" when the "Karate Kid" film with Chan and Jaden Smith came out, Wang recalls. "In fact, that's around the time of my life when I started doing martial arts. So now thinking back, maybe that had something to do with it." Wang got into the Macchio films because his aunt's favorite movie is the original "Karate Kid" from 1984. But one big difference between Li and Daniel is that the former makes his franchise debut with martial-arts experience under his belt. "Because this kid isn't starting from zero, you get to sell fights that are more advanced than what you would be able to do in a movie where the kid starts from nothing," Wang says. So Li's well past where Daniel started with "Wax on, wax off." Yet all the "Karate Kid" movies, old and new, share "a similar question of why do we fight and what do we fight for?" Wang says. Adds Macchio: "Staying true to the theme is important when you're carrying a brand forward that has different chapters."
