When William Zabka’s Cobra Kai burst onto screens in 2018, fans of The Karate Kid universe rejoiced at the opportunity to revisit the iconic characters from the OG franchise and explore their lives decades later. However, behind the scenes, there were turmoils going on regarding one crucial figure’s initial reluctance.
Although the story for the 2018 show revolved around the redemption of William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence, it was actually Ralph Macchio whose reluctance to join the project threatened the show’s future. The beloved actor who portrayed Daniel LaRusso in the original films initially tried staying away from anything related to The Karate Kid franchise.
Cobra Kai Execs were Worried About William Zabka’s Co-Star’s Reluctance to Return
Since the release of The Karate Kid in 1984, the movie catapulted the lead actor Ralph Macchio to stardom, who portrayed the determined underdog Daniel LaRusso. His portrayal resonated deeply with audiences, turning the film into a cultural phenomenon and cementing Macchio’s place in cinematic history.
However, as time passed, Ralph Macchio seemingly diversified his roles in an effort to avoid being typecast, demonstrating his range in various film and television projects. Therefore, when the idea for the 2018 show Cobra Kai was initially pitched as a tale revisiting the rivalry between Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence, Macchio initially expressed reluctance.
According to Cobra Kai creator Josh Heald, although he needed the involvement of OG stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, to ensure the project would get produced, Heald recalled how it became tricky for the executives to land Macchio for the role. While they were sure about Zabka reprising his role as Johnny Lawrence, it was Macchio’s hesitation that raised concerns.
Ralph Macchio’s Journey from Hesitation to Embracing His Role in Cobra Kai
Having meticulously crafted his career beyond the shadow of Daniel LaRusso, Ralph Macchio was understandably cautious about revisiting the character that defined his early fame. Thus addressing the actor’s initial reluctance, creator Josh Heald told THR, how William Zabka right away trusted their instincts, while Macchio refused to engage with anything related to The Karate Kid franchise.
We knew William pretty well, having previously worked together. And right away he trusted our instincts with shepherding Johnny Lawrence into the new millennium.
Ralph Macchio went on refusing to reprise his role, which simply delayed the production of the show since Josh Heald and other co-creators were adamant about casting the OG actor as Daniel LaRusso. Speaking with Business Insider, Heald mentioned the reason why Macchio was unwilling to return and later revealed how the creative team remained persistent and eventually secured the actor for the show.
None of us knew [Ralph Macchio] but we had heard he was very hesitant to engage with anything Karate Kid related over the years. He had spent 30 years turning down anything related to The Karate Kid, much preferring the safety of letting Daniel LaRusso’s legacy stay in the past.
[We secured a lunch date with Macchio], and that lunch turned into a four-hour lunch where we pitched him the whole show… by the end of that week Ralph was in.
Despite his initial reservations, Ralph Macchio eventually recognized the potential of Cobra Kai to explore deeper themes of redemption, rivalry, and the complexities of adulthood. That’s when the actor agreed to return as Daniel LaRusso with a nostalgic throwback alongside a nuanced exploration of how time and maturity have shaped his character.
Cobra Kai is available on Netflix.
