Karate Kid Second Reboot Faces Disappointing Setback to Celebrate 40 Years Anniversary of Ralph Macchio’s 1984 Legendary Outing That Spawned Into Fan-Favorite Cobra Kai

Enthusiastic fans have eagerly welcomed the news of a second Karate Kid reboot from Sony. The iconic 1984 movie had its first reboot in 2010, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. Despite the mixed response to the Harald Zwart-directed movie, the Karate Kid franchise found a refreshing revival with the long-running television show, Cobra Kai.

Originally scheduled to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Ralph Macchio movie, the 2024 reboot’s release date was set for June 7, 2024. However, fans of the franchise are now met with some disappointing news.

Also Read: “It won’t be easy”: Ralph Macchio Had a Major Concern With Will Smith’s Karate Kid Reboot Despite Starring Marital Arts Legend Jackie Chan

Karate Kid 2024 Faces Delay in Release Date

The new Karate Kid movie has officially been delayed due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Sony has announced that the revised release date is now December 13, 2024. This places the movie in direct competition with other popular releases, including Marvel’s Thunderbolts and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Although fans may be disheartened about missing the 40th anniversary date, they are still eagerly awaiting what the reboot has in store. The last reboot, which hit theaters 13 years ago, was a retelling of the 1984 movie and had nothing new to offer. The TV show Cobra Kai started airing in 2018 and brought back some beloved characters from the original 1984 movie including Ralph Macchio‘s Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka‘s Johnny Lawrence.

Also Read: “We both said no for decades”: Ralph Macchio Refused Karate Kid Reboot for Years That Led to $359M Movie With Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, Returned for Cobra Kai 8 Years Later

Will Karate Kid 2024 Offer a Fresh Perspective On The Storyline?

A possible theory is that the upcoming film will capitalize on the popularity of the TV show. Cobra Kai demonstrated how characters and their world could be further explored, and the Karate Kid reboot might follow that path. There are speculations regarding Macchio’s potential reprisal of his role as Daniel LaRusso in the new movie. Considering the actor’s current focus on completing Cobra Kai season 6, it is uncertain if his role in the reboot will be significant.

Another intriguing possibility for the storyline is exploring Mr. Miyagi’s life. The 2024 version might serve as a prequel to the 1984 and 2010 reboots, going into the origin and backstory of Mr. Miyagi. While this concept deviates from the Cobra Kai storyline, it is undoubtedly one that fans would love to see.

Also Read: “The film was ahead of its time”: Ralph Macchio Slammed Critics for Calling The Karate Kid “Too White” Despite Japanese Co-Star Pat Morita Getting an Oscar Nomination

As for updates on the story or cast of the Karate Kid reboot, fans will have to wait for some more time.

Source: ScreenRant