Latest news with #CobraKai
New York Post
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Cobra Kai' creators reveal Hilary Swank declined to join show: ‘Disappointing'
Hilary Swank said thanks, but no thanks. The creators of the hit Netflix show 'Cobra Kai' have revealed that they tried to get Swank, 50, to appear in the popular 'Karate Kid' sequel series. But the Oscar-winning actress, who played Julie Pierce in 1994's 'The Next Karate Kid,' politely declined. 10 The creators of 'Cobra Kai' have revealed that they tried to get Hilary Swank to appear in the popular 'Karate Kid' sequel series. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Swank portrayed Julie Pierce in 'The Next Karate Kid' in 1994. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 'Cobra Kai' creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg opened up about the situation during a sit-down with Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday. 'We did reach out in the very early days before the season to see if there was a path,' Heald said, revealing that they approached the actress shortly before the show's sixth and final season began production in 2024. 'We had an inkling of an idea about how she could come into this story and not have to commit to 10 episodes or something,' he continued. 10 Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi and Swank as Julie Pierce in 'The Next Karate Kid.' ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 The Oscar-winning actress politely declined the 'Cobra Kai' creators' offer for her to appear in the Netflix show. Getty Images 'It was going to feel like it could be a one or two-episode arc, similar to what we did with Elisabeth Shue,' Heald added, 'where you can bring Ali back in at a pivotal moment and affect an important relationship.' Shue, who starred as Ali Mills alongside Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso in the original 1984 'Karate Kid,' reprised her character for the last two episodes of the Netflix show's third season. Although Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg did reach out to Swank's reps to find out if they could have a discussion with her and introduce themselves, the trio never even got that far. 10 'We had an inkling of an idea about how she could come into this story and not have to commit to 10 episodes or something,' creator Josh Heald explained. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 'She was just in a place where she wasn't looking to do that,' Heald said. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 'On her end, it was very respectful, but we never got that opportunity to sit down and pour our heart out the way that we typically do when we bring back characters from the legacy,' Heald explained. 'She was just in a place where she wasn't looking to do that.' 'She had had babies. I think she was in production on something at the time, and it was a respectful pass on even the idea of a meeting,' he added. 'She didn't want us to go through the trouble of flying out to her and putting our heart on the sleeve because it just wasn't something she was ready to do at that moment.' Swank welcomed twins with her husband, Philip Schneider, in April 2023. She joined the cast of Showtime's 'Yellowjackets' for Season 3, which premiered this year. 10 'Cobra Kai' followed Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) 34 years after the events of the original 'Karate Kid' movie. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Many other characters from the six-movie 'Karate Kid' franchise joined Macchio and Zabka on the small screen for 'Cobra Kai.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Despite Swank's refusal, the three creators still hope to see her return as Julie Pierce in a potential 'Cobra Kai' spinoff. 'It's a big piece of the Miyagi-verse that's still out there,' Heald said. 'For us, it was a little disappointing because we like getting everybody, but at the same time, we didn't sacrifice any huge story that we had fully developed.' 'It's more fruit on the vine for if we can revisit this universe going forward,' he concluded. The Post has reached out to Swank's reps for comment. 10 'Cobra Kai' premiered on Netflix in 2018 and wrapped up its sixth and final season in February. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 'Cobra Kai,' which premiered on Netflix in 2018 and wrapped up its sixth and final season in February, followed Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) 34 years after the events of the original 'Karate Kid' movie. While Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg were unable to convince Swank to return, they did bring back other characters from the six-movie franchise to join Macchio, 63, and Zabka, 59, on the small screen. Yuji Okumoto reprised his character Chozen Toguchi from 1986's 'Karate Kid Part II,' and Sean Kanan (Mike Barnes), Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver) and Robyn Lively (Jessica Andrew) all returned to their roles from 1989's 'Karate Kid Part III.' 10 Ralph Macchio with some of his 'Cobra Kai' cast members during a screening of the show in Los Angeles in March 2025. Getty Images Plus, Macchio recently reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso for the 10th time for the franchise's newest film, 'Karate Kid Legends,' which premiered on May 30. The movie also saw Jackie Chan return as Mr. Han from the 2010 'Karate Kid' remake. 'Reprising this role means paying that legacy forward,' Macchio said upon the release of 'Karate Kid Legends' last month. 'It's about spreading that wisdom and knowledge in a good way, in a positive way.' Pat Morita, who played the beloved character Mr. Miyagi in the original 'Karate Kid' trilogy and 'The Next Karate Kid,' died in 2005. He was 73.
Geek Tyrant
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Hilary Swank Turned Down COBRA KAI and the Creators Are Still Bummed About It — GeekTyrant
Cobra Kai pulled off something few legacy sequels manage to do, reignite the heart of a beloved franchise and bring back nearly every major player from the original Karate Kid films. But, one character never made it back into the dojo… Julie Pierce, played by Hilary Swank in The Next Karate Kid . Now, the show's creators are opening up about how that door was closed before it ever really opened. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cobra Kai co-creator Josh Heald explained they had plans in place for Swank, but it just never came together. 'We did reach out in the very early days before the season to see if there was a path [for her to appear]. We had an inkling of an idea about how she could come into this story and not have to commit to 10 episodes or something. ' It was going to feel like it could be a one- or two-episode arc, similar to what we did with Elisabeth Shue, where you can bring Ali back in at a pivotal moment and affect an important relationship.' The creative team team did a great job managing to pull legacy characters back into the fold. William Zabka and Ralph Macchio were game from the beginning. Yuji Okumoto (Chozen), Sean Kanan (Mike Barnes), and Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver) all returned and got meaningful story arcs. Elisabeth Shue even came back for a key moment. So naturally, they thought Swank might be up for something similar. But that wasn't the case. 'On her end, it was very respectful, but we never got that opportunity to sit down and pour our heart out the way that we typically do when we bring back characters from the legacy. 'She was just in a place where she wasn't looking to do that. She had had babies. I think she was in production on something at the time, and it was a respectful pass on even the idea of a meeting. 'She didn't want us to go through the trouble of flying out to her and putting our heart on the sleeve because it just wasn't something she was ready to do at that moment.' Still, for the creators, it's clearly a missed opportunity. They had the 'beginnings of a genesis of an idea' for Julie Pierce and were eager to see how she could've fit into the larger Miyagi-verse. But they never got to pitch it. For fans holding out hope, all might not be lost. The creators are already developing spinoffs and have hinted there's more story left to tell in the world Mr. Miyagi built. So who knows? Maybe Julie's moment could still come, just not in the way we expected.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Cobra Kai' creators say it was 'disappointing' Hilary Swank turned down an offer to return
The creators of Netflix's Cobra Kai managed to pack in an impressive amount of Karate Kid Easter eggs in the show's final season, but there was one major callback they weren't able to make happen: an appearance from The Next Karate Kid's Julie Pierce, played in the 1994 film by future Oscar winner Hilary Swank. It wasn't for lack of trying. Knowing how much fans wanted Julie to show up — and being huge fans of the Karate Kid franchise themselves — Cobra Kai creators Josh Heald, Jon Huwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg began outreach to Swank's representatives in the lead-up to the show's sixth and final season. "We did reach out in the very early days before the season to see if there was a path [for her to appear]," explains Heald. "We had an inkling of an idea about how she could come into this story and not have to commit to 10 episodes or something. It was going to feel like it could be a one- or two-episode arc, similar to what we did with Elisabeth Shue, where you can bring Ali back in at a pivotal moment and affect an important relationship." Armed with what Heald calls "the beginnings of a genesis of an idea," he, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg reached out to Swank's team "to find out if we could have a discussion with her about it and introduce ourselves." That approach has worked before, not only on Oscar nominee Shue, who reprised her role as Ali — who dumped Johnny (William Zabka) for Daniel (Ralph Macchio) in the original Karate Kid — in Cobra Kai season 3. Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg also brought back Yuji Okumoto (Karate Kid Part II antagonist Chozen Toguchi), Sean Kanan (Karate Kid Part III villain Mike Barnes), Thomas Ian Griffith (Part III's big bad, Terry Silver), Robyn Lively (whose Jessica from KKIII turned out to be the cousin of Daniel's wife, Amanda, played by Courteney Henggeler!), and many more. Unfortunately, the conversation with Swank never happened. "On her end, it was very respectful, but we never got that opportunity to sit down and pour our heart out the way that we typically do when we bring back characters from the legacy," Heald says. "She was just in a place where she wasn't looking to do that. She had had babies. I think she was in production on something at the time, and it was a respectful pass on even the idea of a meeting. She didn't want us to go through the trouble of flying out to her and putting our heart on the sleeve because it just wasn't something she was ready to do at that moment." But Cobra Kai never dies — and neither do the creators' hopes about a possible visit from Julie Pierce in a future Miyagi-verse project someday. (The trio is already at work on potential Cobra Kai spinoffs.) "It's a big piece of the Miyagi-verse that's still out there," says Heald. "For us, it was a little disappointing because we like getting everybody, but at the same time, we didn't sacrifice any huge story that we had fully developed. It's more fruit on the vine for if we can revisit this universe going forward." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Harold & Kumar to get another sequel! Creators of the cult classic stoner film confirm; everything to know
Remember Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle? (2004) Well, everyone's favourite stoner cult classic is now getting a fourth part as the creators behind Netflix's Cobra Kai — Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald — have officially signed on to write a new installment of the franchise. Hurwitz and Schlossberg will also direct the film, which is currently in development under Lionsgate's Mandate Pictures. It's a homecoming of sorts for the duo, whose Hollywood careers were launched by scripting the 2004 original and then directing its 2008 follow-up, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. The franchise also boasts a third film — A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson. John Cho and Kal Penn, who famously played the uptight Harold Lee and the carefree Kumar Patel, are expected to return, but no contracts have been finalised. Neil Patrick Harris, who played a drugged-up, fictionalised version of himself in the series, has not yet been confirmed either. The original Harold & Kumar film, directed by Danny Leiner, follows the two unlikely best friends as they embark on a late-night quest for White Castle burgers. Fueled by marijuana and munchies, they stumble into absurd scenarios, from racist cops and escaped cheetahs to a drug-fueled Neil Patrick Harris joyride. While the announcement has stirred up excitement among nostalgic fans, not everyone is sold on the idea of a fourth film. 'The first one was great. The second one was mostly boring but had a few funny moments. The third one is absolute trash. I'm not particularly excited for a fourth movie,' one fan admitted on X. Others speculated about the plot, guessing everything from an ICE-themed satire to Harold & Kumar's midlife crisis. But most expressed confusion over the announcement coming before the leads had officially signed on. 'Weird to announce it when the two stars haven't signed deals,' one user pointed out. 'They must be very close or Kal and John have a leg up in negotiations and the studio's pressuring them by announcing it,' reasoned another. For many, the idea of seeing Harold and Kumar return, even to a suburban nightmare instead of a burger joint, is enough to spark some cautious excitement.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I Was Screaming Constantly Every Day' I Had No Idea There Was So Much Drama Between Ralph Macchio, Cobra Kai And Karate Kid: Legends Before It Hit The Big Screen
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Spoilers for Karate Kid: Legends lie ahead, so read on at your own discretion. Karate Kid: Legends hit theaters amid the 2025 movie schedule weeks ago, and its release marks the end of a journey that began several years ago. Like other fans of the franchise, I was aware of that the film was announced in 2022 and of course, later learned that it would include both Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan's Mr. Han. What I wasn't aware of, however, was just how much back-and-forth there was about the film's release date in relation to Cobra Kai. Macchio himself recently recalled that bit of drama. It was revealed relatively early on that Legends would take place sometime after the events of Cobra Kai, which was likewise delayed by the 2023 Hollywood strikes. (More recently, it's been specified that the film picks up three years after the show.) Ralph Macchio served as an executive producer on the movie, and he explained to THR that he wanted the flick to hit theaters after the aforementioned TV show finished its run. Given that the film was originally slated to hit theaters in 2024, Macchio spoke up and let the execs know his feelings: When [Karate Kid: Legends] was initially slated for a December 13, 2024 release, I was screaming constantly every day: 'This movie has to come out after [Cobra Kai] finishes.' And once marketing got together and realized that [the December '24 release] would not benefit either, they did the right thing [by delaying until May 2025]. Karate Kid: Legends is now coming at a time where I like to believe that Cobra Kai fans are thirsty for another chapter. More on Karate Kid: Legends I Thought Karate Kid: Legends Was Going To Be A Cash-Grab, But As A Fan, I Was Pleasantly Surprised Legends actually held onto a June 2024 release date before shifting to December of that year. The franchise's spinoff TV series (which is streamable with a Netflix subscription) ultimately ended in February 2025. Ralph Macchio's reasoning for wanting the film to release afterwards is that he didn't want fans to be confused about the Karate Kid timeline. The situation, as Macchio describes it, sounds somewhat tense and, while this is a major IP we're talking about, I never would've guessed the star and EP would've had to keep reiterating his feelings as he did. Ultimately, I'd say that the actor was definitely correct in advocating for a 2025 spot that came after the final episodes of Cobra Kai. It just makes sense logistically, as fans don't have to do any kind of homework to determine where the movie falls within the KK universe. Also, as the Outsiders star mentioned, it made sense from a character standpoint, considering where viewers find Daniel and even Johnny Lawrence (who appears in the post-credits scene): At the end of Cobra Kai, he lands in a very positive way. He and Johnny Lawrence are the best versions of themselves going forward. In Karate Kid: Legends, we find him being far more Miyagi in his sensibilities and his grounded wisdom. In Cobra Kai, it was designed that the more knee-jerk and up-in-Johnny's-face he was, the better it was to service Johnny Lawrence's redemption. So I'd be like, 'Okay, but when do we land in Miyagi-land?' That is where I thought LaRusso would end up with all his wisdom from his mentor, a very grounded mother, a good life, a good business and a good wife. And then we landed Daniel at that place. There are still finer details that I would've liked addressed in Karate Kid: Legends, though. I would've liked a legitimate mention of Jaden Smith's Dre Parker from the (still-loved) 2010 film. Also, I would've loved some deep-cut details regarding about Mr. Han, specifically how he went from handyman to revered sensei. Of course, those nitpicks are quite minor compared to the more important matter of ensuring that the release strategy aligned correctly with the timeline. If anything, Ralph Macchio's insistence is a true testament to his commitment to this franchise. He's been one of the driving forces behind it for years now, and he certainly deserves his flowers. It's yet to be confirmed if fans will see Macchio reprise his role as Daniel LaRusso in another film or TV show but, whatever the case, I hope he remains involved behind the scenes. For now, check him out in Karate Kid: Legends, which is playing in theaters.
