Let’s just get one thing clear, we’re talking about the epic Karate Kid movie from 1984 and not that dreadful remake from 2010. In fact, we just pretend that doesn’t exist. Kinda like the Red Dawn remake. [Shudder]

You may or may not be aware, but a mini series has been made set in the present day – some 34 years after Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) went to head-to-head with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) at the Under-18 All-Valley Karate Tournament – where Larusso and Lawrence match up once more.

Released today on YouTube Red Originals, which is a subscription channel, it looks at how life after that incredible final unfolded very differently for both characters and a series of events take place that ultimately bring these two men back into conflict again.

There’s a ton of clips on You Tube, just search for Cobra Kai, and quite a few teaser trailers, but this was the official trailer…

What’s really interesting is that this mini series, unlike the original Karate Kid movie which also involves Johnny (as the main antagonist), focuses the story from Johnny’s point of view, and not Daniel’s.

It also utilizes never before seen footage from the original 1984 movie as co-creators and executive producers Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Josh Heald (Hot Tub Time Machine), and Jon Hurwitz (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) explain in this featurette…

(If you want to check it out, the Cobra Kai Dojo is located at: 25002 Victory Blvd. Van Nuys, CA. 91401)

The 10-episode first season has mostly subtle, but some not so subtle, scenes and callbacks to the original films. And, if Hurwitz, Schlossberg, and Heald have their way, anything fans don’t see in this first season could come back in the future.

“As far as we’re concerned, the first four Karate Kid movies are all canon,” Heald said. “Our hope is this is a show that has multiple seasons so, for us, we view all the characters from those movies as characters that have the potential to show up on the show.”

Cobra Kai is now on YouTube Red. You can watch the whole series, including first two episodes for free, at this link.

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