The Karate Kid: Legends timeline reveals how long after Cobra Kai the movie will take place. The sixth film in the franchise, directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Rob Lieber, features the return of Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, reprising his role from the first three films and Cobra Kai, and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, reprising his role from 2010’s The Karate Kid. The upcoming Karate Kid: Legends features a new young lead named Li Fong (played by Ben Wang) alongside a cast that includes Joshua Jackson, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Ming-Na Wen, and Danny McBride.
Now, Variety‘s new interview with Ralph Macchio has revealed that Karate Kid: Legends will take place three years after the events of Cobra Kai. The Daniel LaRusso actor also talked about protecting the legacy of his character and the Miyagi-verse and how Cobra Kai will lead into the new movie, even though they are separate stories. He also expressed excitement about collaborating with Jackie Chan and returning the franchise to the big screen. Read Macchio’s full comments below:
It was not a quick decision, because it was about protecting the Daniel LaRusso character, and finding where he would be at that point, and then protecting the whole legacy in the Miyagi-verse. Once we were able to line that up, for the Cobra Kai story to lead into the new film — even though they’re separate ecosystems — it all made sense for me. Then, working with Jackie was just super exciting. I started this on the big screen. How cool is it to get it back to the big screen?
What The Karate Kid: Legends Timeline Means For The Movie
It’s A Separate Story From Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai season 6, part 3 premieres on February 13, 2025, so it’s currently unclear how the final episodes will lead into Karate Kid: Legends. Since a significant amount of time will pass, the movie won’t be set in the direct aftermath of the show. This seems appropriate since they are separate stories, as Ralph Macchio says, with Karate Kid: Legends following a new character named Li Fong, a Chinese teenager who moves to the East Coast and begins studying martial arts, presumably under the tutelage of Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han.
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With Cobra Kai leading into Karate Kid: Legends, the new film is also expected to bridge the gap between the Miyagi-verse and 2010’s The Karate Kid. That movie initially served as a loose remake of the original film from 1984, featuring a similar storyline set in a different continuity, shifting the location to China and replacing karate with kung fu, despite its title. However, with Karate Kid: Legends bringing back Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han in one movie, the films now exist in the same fictional universe.
Our Take On The Karate Kid: Legends Timeline
It Should Be A Smart Move
Setting Karate Kid: Legends three years after the events of Cobra Kai appears to be a smart move that should benefit the franchise. By creating a significant gap between them, the movie should serve as an entirely new story centered on Li Fong, and audiences shouldn’t be expected to catch up on six seasons of a television series that began on YouTube Red/Premium before moving to Netflix. Karate Kid: Legends appears to offer a standalone narrative that honors the legacy of the Miyagi-verse and bridges the gap with 2010’s Karate Kid, uniting beloved characters in an exciting new chapter.
Karate Kid: Legends releases on May 30, 2025.
Source: Variety
Karate Kid: Legends (2025) is a sequel to Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film sees Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles, continuing the legacy of martial arts mentorship and rivalry in a new era of challenges and apprentices.
- Director
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Jonathan Entwistle
- Release Date
-
May 30, 2025
- Studio(s)
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Columbia Pictures
, Jerry Weintraub Productions
, Overbrook Entertainment
, Sony Pictures Entertainment - Distributor(s)
-
Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Writers
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Robert Mark Kamen
, Christopher Murphey
, Rob Lieber - Cast
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Ralph Macchio
, Jackie Chan
, Ben Wang
, Ming-Na Wen
, Joshua Jackson
, Sadie Stanley
, Aramis Knight
, Wyatt Oleff - Character(s)
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Daniel LaRusso
, Mr. Han
, Li Fong
