Karate Kid: Legends Takes Place 3 Years After Cobra Kai Ending

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The upcoming movie titled “Karate Kid: Legends” marks the newest addition to the long-running “Karate Kid” series, appearing soon after the Netflix conclusion of “Cobra Kai“, which spanned six seasons. The original 1984 film starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita kickstarted the enduring popularity of this franchise, resulting in a trilogy, a sequel in 1994 titled “The Next Karate Kid“, featuring Hilary Swank, and a reboot in 2010 with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, where kung fu was integrated into the series’ martial arts history.

In 2018, many of the original actors came back for the Netflix series “Cobra Kai“, where Ralph Macchio’s character Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence were training a new group of students once again. The final episode of “Cobra Kai” aired in February 2025, but the franchise didn’t stop there. A spin-off titled “Legends” premiered on May 30, featuring Li Fong as a new talent in the “Karate Kid” world. Although the movie came out just a few months after “Cobra Kai‘s” conclusion, it takes place several years following the show’s final episode.

Karate Kid: Legends Takes Place 3 Years After Cobra Kai’s Ending

Legends Is A New Story That’s Completely Separate From The Netflix Series

In the action-packed series “Legends”, we see the first-ever collaboration between Chan’s Mr. Han and Macchio’s LaRusso. This unique blend combines Han’s kung fu skills with Daniel’s Miyagi-Do martial arts, a discipline Daniel has been sharing for quite some time due to “Cobra Kai”. However, in “Legends”, Daniel appears somewhat different from his portrayal in the “Cobra Kai” finale. He sports a longer hairstyle and seems to be at a different phase of life. Macchio, during an interview with “Variety”, explained that this discrepancy is because “Legends” occurs “three years” after the events of “Cobra Kai”. This was done intentionally by Macchio to ensure consistency with Daniel’s character development.

Making the decision wasn’t rushed, as it involved shielding the Daniel LaRusso character, determining his position at that specific time, and ultimately safeguarding the entire Miyagi-verse legacy. Once we managed to coordinate these elements, it became clear how the Cobra Kai narrative could seamlessly transition into the upcoming film – despite being distinct universes. Additionally, collaborating with Jackie was an absolute thrill. I initially began this journey on the big screen. Isn’t it amazing that we’re now bringing it back to the big screen?

The movie follows after the Netflix series, but it barely connects to it apart from a brief appearance by Johnny at the end. This is never referenced by Daniel, so those unfamiliar with Cobra Kai won’t feel left out. Still, viewers who are fans of the show might be disappointed as the film seems to overlook the series’ plotline entirely.

Karate Kid: Legends Takes Place in 2023 Based On The Timeline

The Film Would Take Place Three Years From When Cobra Kai Ended Canonically

Although “Cobra Kai” aired from 2018 to 2025 on television, the show didn’t adhere to that timeline. The series typically continued right where the previous season left off without major time skips between seasons. Additionally, many of the younger characters are still in high school and haven’t graduated yet, which suggests that the events of Season 6’s Sekai Taikai in 2020 occurred before the actual premiere date of the show, making it five years earlier than its real start.

Given that “Legends” is set three years following the conclusion of “Cobra Kai”, it implies the movie unfolds in 2023. Maybe this is why “Cobra Kai” isn’t mentioned within the film. The younger characters such as Miguel, Robbie, Tory, and Samantha might be at significantly different stages in their lives, necessitating the film to bridge those gaps for viewers who have watched the series. For now, it seems more appropriate to concentrate on Li’s storyline, with potential introductions of other “Cobra Kai” characters down the line.

How Long After The 2010 Movie Does Karate Kid: Legends Take Place?

There’s A Significant Amount Of Time Between The 2010 Film And Legends

2010’s “The Karate Kid” was originally conceived as a standalone, loosely-based reboot of the original movie, rather than a continuation of the main series. However, Jackie Chan’s reprisal of his role as Mr. Han in “Legends” has since established it as the fifth installment in the franchise by retconning the earlier film. In the 2010 movie, Mr. Han was a maintenance worker who resumed martial arts to train Dre, a character played by Jaden Smith. In “Legends”, Mr. Han now runs a bustling kung fu school where he previously trained Li before Li moved to New York City.

According to the chronology, there is a span of 13 years separating Legends and the 2010 film. This time gap allows for Mr. Han’s kung fu school to flourish into a profitable venture. Interestingly, Dre, who was supposedly like Daniel to Mr. Miyagi, does not appear in this movie at all. The Karate Kid series spans over several decades, and it will be intriguing to observe if it continues to evolve from Karate Kid: Legends.

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2025-06-04 12:08