The film was given a bit of a reboot in 2018 with YouTube series Cobra Kai which included Macchio and Zabka reprising their roles. The web series takes place some 30 years after the events of the original film. Cobra Kai is set to premiere seasons 4 in December with a fifth season about to go back into production. After that cliffhanger of a season 3 finale, we’re left wondering if Johnny and Daniel will ever be able to bury the hatchet, learn to work together and finally defeat Kreese (Martin Kove). We’ve done the digging for you to find out everything we can about Cobra Kai season 4.
What is Cobra Kai?
Cobra Kai is a spinoff of the original ’80s Karate Kid movies that takes place in present day. After the events of Karate Kid III, life moved on for Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, and while life has been kind to Daniel, it hasn’t been to Johnny. In the beginning of the series, Johnny’s aging, depressed and angry at the world, working one dead-end job after another. He now lives in Reseda, having fallen from his wealthy trappings and away from his verbally abusive and estranged stepfather (played by the late Ed Asner in this series). After saving his teenage neighbor with the karate skills he learned in high school, he finds a renewed interest in the sport and opens up a new Cobra Kai dojo. In doing so, he catches the eye of his old nemesis, Daniel LaRusso, now a successful businessman who owns several car dealerships.
What happened in Cobra Kai season 3?
In season 3 of Cobra Kai, Daniel took a trip to Japan in hopes of reviving his declining car dealership business. While there, he meets up with his old flame, Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) as well as his ex-rival Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto). These old dogs teach each other new karate tricks. Johnny starts a new dojo, Eagle Fang, and helps Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), who was injured at the end of season 2, regain his strength and stamina in hilarious fashion. When Daniel and Johnny become distracted and put their dojos on the back burner, their students find themselves under the tutelage of John Kreese (Martin Cove) with violent results. In the season 3 finale, both Johnny and Daniel realize they must come together and bury the hatchet if they are to defeat Kreese and his minions.
What can we expect in Cobra Kai season 4?
Season 4 finds the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang dojos joining forces to take down Cobra Kai at the All Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament… and whoever loses must hang up their gi for good. As Samantha (Mary Mouser) and Miguel try to maintain the dojo alliance and Robby (Tanner Buchanan) goes all in with Kreese at Cobra Kai, the fate of the Valley has never been more precarious. What tricks does Kreese have up his sleeve? Can Daniel and Johnny bury their decades-long hatchet to defeat Kreese? Or will Cobra Kai become the face of karate in the valley? It is this writer’s theory that Daniel and Johnny will combine their styles of fighting and the melded style will be the one that takes down Kreese and Cobra Kai.
When will season 4 of Cobra Kai premiere?
Announced during Netflix’s online TUDUM event, season 4 of Cobra Kai will premiere on December 31. Check out the announcement below.
Cobra Kai season 4 cast
Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso)
Daniel has started his own dojo, Miyagi-do, to counter the teachings of the Cobra Kai. He and his wife own and operate several car dealerships in the San Fernando Valley, though business has been steadily dwindling as of late. The seemingly ageless Macchio (he’ll be 60 by the time season 4 premieres!) took on the role of Daniel LaRusso when he was in his early 20s. (The Karate Kid was released way back in 1984.) Prior to that he had a memorable turn in The Outsiders. His real-life son is named Daniel, after his Karate Kid character. Macchio also serves as an executive producer.
William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence)
Johnny is a down and out jack-of-all-trades—and master of none. He has struggled with every job he’s had. He’s no longer with Shannon Keene, the mother of his estranged son, Robby Keene. In an effort to get his life back on track, Johnny reopens the Cobra Kai Dojo. Johnny Lawrence was Zabka’s first movie role. He later studied filmmaking and wrote and produced a short film called, Most, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Zabka also serves as an executive producer.
Martin Kove (John Kreese)
Kreese is Johnny’s old sensei and a guy who’s as shady as they come. Giving him the benefit of the doubt and believing people can change, Johnny allows Kreese back into his life and his dojo. Unfortunately, Kreese is just as nasty now as he was 30 years ago. He forcefully takes back leadership of the dojo and teaches Johnny’s students that they should let nothing stand in the way of victory. Kove has been acting since the early ’70s but it’s The Karate Kid that put him on the map. He starred in the two follow-up movies—The Karate Kid II and The Karate Kid III and had later roles in Wyatt Earp and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Kove will join Dancing with the Stars as part of the cast of season 30. Here’s hoping there will be a dance that incorporates a “sweep the leg” movement!
Xolo Maridueña (Miguel Diaz)
Miguel is Johnny’s protege. Once bullied, Miguel learned to defend himself under Johnny’s tutelage. Prior to Cobra Kai, Mariduena played Victor Graham on Parenthood and has had roles on Major Crimes and the Twin Peaks reboot. He has been cast to play Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle in the upcoming HBO Max film, Blue Beetle.
Tanner Buchanan (Robby Keene)
Robby is the estranged son of Jonny Lawrence. He starts out as a troublemaker but changes his ways after training with Daniel LaRusso. He becomes one of Johnny’s best students before an accident sends his life spiraling. Before Cobra Kai, Buchanan played the President’s son, Leo Kirkman, on Designated Survivor. He has also had recurring roles on Girl Meets World and The Fosters.
Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso)
Samantha is Daniel’s teenaged daughter. She is also trained in karate and studies at her father’s reopened Miyagi-Do Karate. After the brawl at West Valley High School, she becomes conflicted about martial arts. Mouser does a lot of voice work and has also had roles on Scorpion, Criminal Minds and Scandal.
Jacob Bertrand (Eli/Hawk)
Eli was once a nerd, but now a punk. After he decided to change the narrative and stop being bullied for his cleft lip, Eli got a mohawk and altered his moniker to Hawk. Bertrand began his career as a child actor and has had roles on Community, Parks and Recreation and The Middle.
Gianni Decenzo (Demetri)
Dmetri is the nerd who wants to fight but doesn’t know how. He joins Miyagi-Do after trying to join Cobra Kai twice with mixed results. Decenzo has appeared on Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, Liv and Maddie and The Middle.
Peyton List (Tory Nichols)
Tory is a troubled teen who speaks her mind and juggles multiple jobs, school, her boyfriend and a sick parent. She is willing to fight anyone who angers her and is responsible for starting the school karate war. List started her career as a child model. Both she and her twin brother, Spencer, as well as her younger brother, Phoenix, are all actors.
Courtney Henggeler (Amanda LaRusso)
Amanda’s is Daniel’s wife and business partner in their car dealerships. She is also the mother of Samantha and Anthony. Amanda tries to be the voice of reason when Daniel’s rivalry with Johnny Lawrence is reignited. Henggeler has had roles on The Big Bang Theory, Jane the Virgin and Bones.
Vanessa Rubio (Carmen Diaz)
Carmen is Miguel’s mom and love interest for Johnny. Rubin’s previous credits include The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings and Master of None.
New Cobra Kai season 4 cast
Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver)
Griffith returns to the Valley to reprise his character, Terry Silver, who was the main antagonist in The Karate Kid III. Silver is recruited by his old army buddy, Kreese, to return to Cobra Kai.
Dallas Dupree Young (Kenny)
Young has had roles on The Fosters, Mixed-ish, 9-1-1, and Good Trouble. Kenny is a new student at the high school and is being bullied by his classmates. He decides to join a dojo so he can learn to defend himself.
Oona O’Brien (Devon)
This is O’Brien’s first credited role. Devon is recruited by one of the dojos after there is a change to the All-Valley tournament.
Why did Aisha leave Cobra Kai?
Aisha (Nichole Brown) was noticeably absent from the third season of Cobra Kai. It was briefly explained in the season 3 premiere that Aisha’s parents moved her to a private school after the epic but catastrophic fight at the end of season 2. While no official reason was given, many speculate there really just wasn’t room in season 3 to include her character but there are plenty of hints that she may return in season 4. Co-showrunner John Heald told TV Line “that sometimes people need to exit to make their [re-entry] a little bit different and bigger,” In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Heald said, “no one’s ever written out of our show.” Other characters that were absent from season 2 showed up again in season 3 with a meatier storyline, so there’s a good possibility we’ll see Aisha again.
When was Cobra Kai season 4 filmed?
Producer began on Jan. 20 and wrapped around April 15. William Zabka tweeted that filming—at least his part—had officially wrapped on May 1, 2021.
Where is Cobra Kai filmed?
While the show takes place in the Los Angeles suburbs of Reseda and Encino, filming for Cobra Kai took place mainly in Atlanta and the surrounding areas with some exterior shots filmed in Los Angeles to help establish location. A portion of season 3 was filmed in Japan when Daniel goes there for business and finds himself in Mr. Miyagi’s hometown and reunites with Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita). While scenes with Daniel and Kumiko were filmed in Atlanta, a skeleton crew and actors Ralph Macchio and Yuji Okumoto were able to travel to Okinawa, Japan to film their scenes. Okumoto reprises his role as Chozen, the “villain” in the Karate Kid II.
Where can I watch Cobra Kai?
You can stream all three seasons of Cobra Kai on Netflix. Season 4 will drop on the streamer in December.
How many episodes are there in season 4 of Cobra Kai?
Seasons 1, 2 an 3 each contained 10 episodes so are fingers are crossed that the fourth season will also be 10 episodes (or more!)
Will there be a season 5 of Cobra Kai?
You bet! Netflix renewed Cobra Kai for season 5 in August 2021, four months before the season 4 premiere.
Will Netflix premiere episodes of Cobra Kai weekly or will they drop all episodes at once?
The first two seasons of Cobra Kai originally appeared on YouTube. The third season premiered on Netflix and all episodes dropped on the same day.
Is there a trailer for season 4 of Cobra Kai?
Netflix released this teaser for Cobra Kai season 4: Next, The 12 Most Inspiring Teachers from TV and Movies
