Netflix
In 2018, Sony Pictures TV teamed up with YouTube Red to produce Cobra Kai, a sequel series to the hit Karate Kid films from the 1980s. Most notably, both of The Karate Kid‘s surviving primary stars, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, signed on to reprise their respective roles as former rivals Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence. The show picked up decades later, as Johnny revived the Cobra Kai dojo to turn his life around and mentor the next generation of martial arts enthusiasts. Daniel took that as a sign to start up his own dojo, and his rivalry with Johnny was born again.
Netflix picked up Cobra Kai after the second season, and the show has become an even bigger hit. Now, Cobra Kai is in production on its sixth and final season, but this series may not be the end of the Miyagi-verse that began in 1984 with The Karate Kid. Here’s everything we know about Cobra Kai season 6 to prepare you for the new season.
What happened in Cobra Kai season 5?
Netflix
In Cobra Kai season 5, the Cobra Kai dojo was ascendant after Tory Nichols’ victory in the All-Valley Karate Tournament. Daniel was despondent, and he disbanded his Miyagi-Do dojo. Meanwhile, Johnny did not give up on bringing down Terry Silver, the man who usurped control of Cobra Kai and was even more underhanded than Johnny’s imprisoned mentor, John Kreese. Eventually, Johnny and another one of Daniel’s ex-rivals, Chozen Toguchi, were able to reinvigorate Daniel’s fighting spirit to save the soul of the valley’s karate competition.
With the help of Tory and the other students who remained loyal to Daniel and Johnny, their combined dojo managed to get the evidence that Silver bribed judges at the All-Valley tournament to ensure Tory’s victory. That was enough to get Silver arrested. Meanwhile, Kreese faked his death in prison and successfully escaped to get his revenge on both Johnny and Daniel.
Is there a trailer for Cobra Kai season 6?
Yes, there is! After months of waiting, Netflix has debuted the first trailer for Cobra Kai season 6 part 1, and it reveals that there are still some simmering tensions in the unified dojo. That’s especially true for Johnny and Daniel, who just can’t seem to see eye-to-eye about what’s best for their students.
Cobra Kai Season 6: Part 1 | Official Trailer | Netflix
Netflix has also released a brief synopsis for the season, which may hint at a more international scope if the kids under Johnny and Daniel step up to face the best karate experts in the world. This also raises the question about which of the students will make the cut.
“Picking up with Cobra Kai eliminated from the Valley, our senseis and students must decide if and how they will compete in the Sekai Taikai — the world championships of karate.”
Who is in the cast for Cobra Kai season 6?
The following cast members are either confirmed or extremely likely to return for Cobra Kai season 6.
Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
Jacob Bertrand as Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz
Martin Kove as John Kreese
Peyton List as Tory Nichols
Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny Payne
Following the arrest of Terry Silver in Cobra Kai‘s fifth season finale, it’s unknown if Thomas Ian Griffith will be in the regular cast for the final season. However, it would be shocking if Silver doesn’t show up again. Cobra Kai also has a large supporting cast of performers who have appeared regularly. Sony Pictures TV has yet to confirm which supporting characters will return next season.
Will Hilary Swank guest star in Cobra Kai season 6?
Netflix
There is no definitive answer for that yet. The producers of the show seem interested in having Hilary Swank reprise her role as Julie Pierce from The Next Karate Kid, since she was the last known student of Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). Since Macchio’s Daniel did not return for The Next Karate Kid, he never shared the screen with Julie, and it’s unknown if he ever met her.
During a December 2023 interview with Deadline, showrunners Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg noted that they are all fans of Swank, a two-time winner for Best Actress at the Oscars. The showrunners also left the door open for Swank or other veterans from the Karate Kid movies to appear in the final season. Swank most recently starred in Alaska Daily for ABC, which has now been canceled. Whether that will allow Swank to appear on Cobra Kai remains to be seen.
Who is C.S. Lee playing in Cobra Kai season 6?
Showtime
As revealed in November 2023 via Deadline, Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s C.S. Lee is one of the major additions to Cobra Kai season 6. Lee will step into the role of Master Kim Sun-Young, the man who originated the ruthless Cobra Kai fighting style, The Way of the Fist. Master Kim has previously appeared in flashbacks in The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, with Jun Chong and Don Lee, respectively, playing the part.
Because Master Kim is dead, Lewis’ appearances in Cobra Kai are likely to be flashbacks. Master Kim is also the grandfather of Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim), a character introduced in Cobra Kai season 5.
How many episodes will be in Cobra Kai season 6?
There will be 15 episodes in Cobra Kai season 6, making it the longest season to date. That’s also the reason why the season is being split into three five-episode parts.
Is the new Karate Kid movie connected to Cobra Kai season 6?
Sony Pictures
Quite possibly. Via EW, Macchio has signed on to reprise his role as Daniel in Sony’s next Karate Kid movie. Jackie Chan, who starred as Mr. Han in the 2010 Karate Kid remake, will return in the new film. Ben Wang, who starred in the Disney+ series American Born Chinese, headlines the untiled Karate Kid movie in the titular role. Additional cast members include Joshua Jackson and Ming-Na Wen.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the untitled Karate Kid film will “bring the story to the East Coast and focus on a teen from China (Wang) who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor (or two).”
Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F***ing World) is slated to direct the new Karate Kid movie from a script by Rob Lieber. Sony Pictures has a December 13, 2024 release date lined up. Because of the various strike delays, don’t be too shocked if this release date gets pushed back to 2025 or later.
Will Cobra Kai season 6 expand the Karate Kid universe?
Season 6 expands the Karate Kid/Cobra Kai universe more than the first 5 seasons combined. The world building has been truly exhilarating. Excited for everyone to see the diversity of scenes we've been filming episode to episode. We're going to so many new places in the… https://t.co/jreCfuNgqJ
— Jon Hurwitz (@jonhurwitz) March 18, 2024
While plot details remain under wraps, Cobra Kai season 6 will continue to expand the Karate Kid universe. The show has frequently reintroduced former characters and settings from previous Karate Kid movies. However, Cobra Kai’s ability to grow the universe is one of the many reasons for the show’s success. Hurwitz tweeted that season 6 will be no different, with the addition of new characters and places in the Miyagiverse.
“Season 6 expands the Karate Kid/Cobra Kai universe more than the first 5 seasons combined,” Hurwitz tweeted. “The world building has been truly exhilarating. Excited for everyone to see the diversity of scenes we’ve been filming episode to episode. We’re going to so many new places in the Miyagiverse.”
When will Cobra Kai season 6 begin filming?
Cobra Kai Season 6 | We’re Back! | Production Announce | Netflix
Following the announcement that Cobra Kai will arrive later in 2024, Netflix dropped a new video with clips from the cast that revealed season 6 is now filming. There are no spoilers in the video below, although there are some broad hints that don’t really go anywhere here. C.S. Lee, the newest addition to the cast, also appears and mentions that he’s going into training for his role.
Given the strike-related delays, it will take a fast turnaround for the Cobra Kai team to finish filming the final season in time for a 2024 debut. But now that the cameras are rolling, it’s not an impossible goal.
When will Cobra Kai season 6 premiere on Netflix?
Netflix
As promised in Netflix’s first-quarter earnings call, Cobra Kai season 6 will begin in the second half of 2024. The first five episodes of the final season will drop on July 18, with the next five episodes arriving on November 28. Netflix hasn’t set a date for Cobra Kai season 6 part 3, but the final five episodes will premiere in 2025.
Additionally, Netflix has released a behind-the-scenes photo of season 6 that features Johnny, Daniel, and their karate students standing in the backyard of the Miyagi-Do dojo. Cobra Kai was also featured in Netflix’s sizzle reel for 2024.
NEXT ON NETFLIX 2024: The Series & Films Preview
